Failure - Why Does it Scare Us?

By Ray Bertani

Whether or not you have a fear of failure would depend on the definition that you gave to the word "failure." Or should I say, the definition that the people around you gave to the word and you accepted as being true. The unfortunate truth is that the fear of failure is responsible for more unrealized dreams and potential than any other factor in human existence. If this fear was some how abolished from our psyches, just imagine what could be accomplished. What would you do if you new without a doubt that you could not fail and therefore had no fear? The answers are endless and the accomplishment would be astounding...unfathomable.

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill

The problem lies in the fact that we have been so conditioned to see failure as the worst possible outcome, to see it as demoralizing, humiliating, and life altering that we would rather not attempt something if there is even a small probability of failure, even if the potential upside is huge,. "What if I fail?" "What if I lose all my money?" "What if she/he says no?" "What if I end up looking foolish?" Once we put ourselves in this frame of mind not only are we all but eliminating our chance of taking action, we're ensuring that if we do take action there is going to be a better than average chance that the action will not lead to the outcome that we are looking for. How much focus, drive, determination and enthusiasm are you going to be putting toward something that begins with the mindset of "what if I fail?" What frame of mind are you going to be in? What is your self talk going to be? What will your focus be on? Will it be on succeeding, or will it be on not failing? These are two very different focuses and bring two very different feelings with them. One brings a feeling of anticipation and exhilaration and the other bring a feeling of anxiety, insecurity and fear. Which feelings would you rather have when starting a new venture?

The fact of the matter is that nothing of great value was ever accomplished without multiple failures preceding it. Any successful person will tell you that if you want to succeed quicker, you must fail faster. Remember this; failing to hit a ball seven out of ten times will get you in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

What would the world look like if everyone gave in to their fear of failure or gave up after failing? Have you ever heard of a company called Traf-O-Data? My guess is that you haven't. The objective of the business was to analyze automobile traffic flow. The reason you probably don't know about this company is because it flopped, it was an utter failure. What would have happened if the founders of Traf-O-Data, humiliated and reeling from the failure of their business gave up and got themselves a secure nine to five job that brought them a steady paycheque with little risk of failure, and no risk of success? Well for one thing there would be no Microsoft. All our lives would be drastically different and Bill Gates and Paul Allen wouldn't be among the wealthiest people in the world.

Walt Disney, founder of the Disney Empire, creator of Mickey Mouse and fellow animator Ub Iwerks opened an animation studio called Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists in 1920. That business went belly up within months. What if Disney decided to quit after that failed attempt? This would be a very different world without the company that Walt Disney created following his failure. I don't know about you, but I don't even want to think about a world without Mickey Mouse. This leads us to an interesting question, "is what we consider failure, actually failure?"

"To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." -- Elbert Hubbard

There are some who would say that there is no such thing as failure...I'm one of them. That every experience we have has a purpose in our life, whether we define the experience as a failure or a success again, much like the other words and events in our life, is subjective and according to our own reality or world view. Was the demise of Traf-O-Data a failure or was it the best thing that could have happened for Bill Gates and Paul Allen? Imagine if the business had been a success. What are the possible scenarios that could have arisen? Would they have gone on to create Microsoft, or would they have been content to live a successful life as traffic flow analyzers. They probably would have been millionaires if the business had succeeded, but would they have been billionaires? We'll never know. The only thing we know for sure is that the lessons they learned while developing the code on Traf-O-Data was instrumental in their next startup...a little company by the name of Microsoft. Hurray for that failure. Would anyone define Bill Gates and Paul Allen as failures? No one I know.

Ray Bertani is a Human Resources Consultant, Public Speaker and Leadership and Personal development Trainer and Coach. He is the Managing Director and Founder of "Cura Solutions", a Professional and Personal Development firm located in the Metro Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada, dedicated to helping great people achieve their potential.

Cura Personal Developement Solutions prides itself on adding significant and lasting value to each and every client it serves. For more information on how "Cura Solutions" can help you achieve your dreams, visit them at www.curasolutions.ca click on the personal development icon.

If you would like to inquire about Cura's Coaching and Training Programs or book Ray to speak at your next Corporate or Association Conference or Event, he can be reached by email at ray@curasolutions.ca or by phone at 604-802-4490 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 604-802-4490 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Free eNewsletter

Sign Up for Joanne's mail list in the left hand column by adding your first name and primary email address and receive the latest updates, free articles and reports delivered to your inbox!