I get a sense that most entrepreneurs are suffering from a fear of success far more than a fear of failure.
What is the fear of success?
Some people worry that if they achieve something new, they will not be able to keep it up and may even suffer as a result.
The reason I fear success is because success means going out of my comfort zones, and I don’t want to be out of my comfort zone, so I’m better off being where I am is comfortable.
The perplexing paradox of success. It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it?
One would think that entrepreneurs, those fearless champions of risk and disruption, would be driven by an insatiable hunger for success.
But as counterintuitive as it may be, there is a curious phenomenon that pervades the entrepreneurial landscape, a fear of success that surpasses even the dread of failure.
Now, when we delve into the twisted recesses of the entrepreneurial psyche and unravel the enigma at hand.
Picture this: a startup entrepreneur, brimming with ideas and aspirations, on the cusp of greatness. The allure of success beckons like a seductive siren, promising fame, fortune, and acclaim.
Yet, in the depths of their entrepreneurial soul, a nagging fear begins to take root, an aversion to the very success they so ardently pursue.
Why?
Well, I think the answer lies in the treacherous territory that success presents: the uncomfortable realm beyond one’s cozy comfort zone.
The thing is success is not a mere destination but a transformative journey. It demands that one shed the cloak of familiarity and venture forth into uncharted waters.
Imagine, for a moment, an entrepreneur who has carved out a comfortable niche. They have become accustomed to the cozy confines of their current circumstances.
They know the rules of the game, the lay of the land, and the idiosyncrasies of their domain.
To achieve success, however, would mean dismantling this safe haven and venturing into unexplored territories, where the rules are rewritten, the stakes are higher, and the uncertainty is palpable.
Herein lies the crux of the matter: the fear of success stems from a deep-rooted resistance to leaving the warm embrace of one’s comfort zone.
It is the fear of the unknown, the fear of losing control, and the fear of stepping into a world where one’s past achievements no longer guarantee future triumphs.
After all, why should one risk the comfortable confines they have painstakingly built when they can remain ensconced in the familiar?
But this fear of success, however perplexing it may seem, is not without its merits.
It serves as a cautionary voice, a reminder of the dangers that lie beyond the boundaries of comfort.
It forces entrepreneurs to question their motives, confront their vulnerabilities, and reevaluate their priorities. Yet, we must also acknowledge the dangers of succumbing to this fear.
By clinging to the cozy familiarity of their comfort zones, entrepreneurs may inadvertently stifle their own growth and potential.
In the grand tapestry of entrepreneurship, fear is an ever-present companion.
But let us not allow this fear to dictate our destiny.
To succeed, our desire for success must outweigh our fear of failure.
In the words of the great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who aptly proclaimed:
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
Find your why, confront your fear, and let success be the catalyst that propels you beyond the confines of your comfort zone.
rochemamabolo 