Embrace fear to achieve success

Earlier this year when I was planning a career change, I asked everyone I met questions.

On what drives them, what wakes them up in the morning, how they deal with setbacks and on and on. By far, one of the biggest conversations we had was around fear. Specifically, overcoming fear and pushing on regardless.

I met a young, seemingly fearless lady who seemed to have it all together. She had risen up the career ladder quite fast and then changed her career trajectory just when it seemed like she was at the top of her field. At least that's what it looked like on the outside.

On speaking with her, I discovered that her ride had not been smooth and neither had her achievements come easy.

In fact, she outlined more times in which she had failed than those that she had succeeded. She embraced failure as the way in which she had learnt her most valuable lessons. And every time she failed, she was one step closer to achieving her goals and to separating what works from what doesn't.

David Schwartz said 'Do what you fear, and fear disappears'. Many times, we promise ourselves that we will pursue our dreams, finally launch our ventures, build our careers. Then at the first sign of trouble we start to doubt ourselves and make excuses, already labelling ourselves as failures.

But there isn't one successful person that did not fail at some point. The difference is that instead of treating the experience as a defining moment, they chalk it up to experience and move on.

At the end of the day, you are only accountable to yourself for your dreams, not to the world that you think is judging you.

It is said that the wealthiest place on earth is a graveyard. It is where all unfulfilled potential, destiny, hopes and dreams, all the big ideas meet their end.

As we gear down towards the end of the year, make a solemn promise to yourself to start living up to your potential. it's going to be scary, and maybe there will be some failures along the way. Do it anyway.