Do you fear success?

Part of driving change is overcoming your fear of failing and especially overcoming your fear of succeeding.

What if the change you’re driving actually happens?

What if pushing your limits creates an exciting opportunity to achieve even more success?

What would you do?

Theodore Roosevelt said,

There were all kinds of things I was afraid of at first…but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to be afraid.”

Tonight I overcame my fear and submitted an abstract for the upcoming Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization (TOCICO) conference. I hit the “submit” button about an hour ago.

Between loading my abstract and hitting the “submit” button, I sat at my computer for a while, honestly afraid.

But I wasn’t afraid of being rejected; I was afraid of being accepted.

What if they pick me? What if they want to hear about driving change? What then?

You’re reading this personal story because if you’re driving change you’ll encounter more than a few times when fear of success will overtake you.

What if your plan works?

What if their problem goes away?

What if everyone’s lives actually get better?

Too often we allow change to stall, not from failure, but from feared success.

When you’re driving change, try to live like Theodore Roosevelt.

Act as if you’re not afraid until you actually cease to be.

Think what you’ll accomplish then!

5 thoughts on “Do you fear success?”

  1. “Do I fear success?” – Honestly, I don’t think it even factors into my logic… but I’ve never submitted my ideas for an award either 😉

    Great job! Let us know if you get selected.

  2. Pingback: Making a ruckus while failing « Engine For Change

  3. Pingback: Refresher 2 « Engine For Change

  4. Pingback: Selected! « Engine For Change

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