By Sunny Simon
This morning I met with a client who is working on the cusp of something big, but at the same time terrified he will fail. Some coaches might advise he invite fear into his life and work through it. I’m not part of that fear camp. Wasting precious energy dealing with anxiety won’t get the job done.
Fear of failure is natural, but if we give into spending time listening to those scary gremlins in our heads, we divert our attention from doing what results in success. During our discussion today I recommended a few strategies for him to try this week.
Like most individuals, my 50 year old client experienced many triumphs in life. Why not spend time revisiting those victories. In order to achieve past goals, Wayne obviously drew on his inner strength. Knowing there is no secret to success, grinding through the rough spots and working harder than the rest of the tribe is what got him to the goal line. Reminding him, he is no stranger to hard work and grabbing the brass ring did put a smile on his face.
Wayne also revealed he is surrounded by some individuals who constantly lean on him for strength. There are seasons in life we must respect. Now is not the time to take on the project of helping others deal with their issues. I love the quote attributed to award-winning author Mo Williems, “If you every find yourself in the wrong story, leave.”
Converting the business concept into a viable successful entity takes laser focus. Out-grinding the competition leaves no room for diversion and allowing others to zap your strength. Using the phrase “going underground” for awhile helped my client realize he need not be all things to all people. It is not selfish to spend the bulk of your time on your own goals. Once he experiences the big win, he can take a time out, and use his leisure time pursuing other endeavors.
Lastly, my advice was filling the day with continuous action to yield the needed progress on goal. We both had a good laugh over that one. Discipline is his middle name so action is never a struggle. Wayne hits the gym every morning like a gladiator. With a solid workout under his belt he is ready to leap fearlessly and embrace the rhythm of living in the moment and getting the job done.
How about you? Ready to toss fear aside and move your mountain? If the answer is yes, now is the time to begin.
Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching and the author of the blog www.lifeonthesunnyside.net
