by: Ruth Bridgewood
“If you want to be successful, you must be willing to be uncomfortable.” Gil Eagles, Motivational Speaker
To realise your potential and achieve your goals, you must be willing to be uncomfortable – to do things that you’re afraid to do. Although that sounds simple, most people back away when they face a frightening situation. However, life’s “winners” are usually the people who do the things others are afraid to do. For example, one of the most successful people I know is a guy who is totally comfortable with “cold calling” (making unsolicited phone calls). Because he has no fear of rejection whatsoever, he has become a millionaire and has built a business employing dozens of people.
To be a successful person, you must confront your fears and take action!
The Comfort Zone
If you’ve ever been gripped by fear and anxiety before trying some new activity or venture, it’s usually because you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. This is an important concept which has a direct link to your success and the development of your potential.
Each of us has a comfort zone, a zone of behavior that is familiar to us and where we feel comfortable and safe. Think of your comfort zone as the inside of a circle. The activities and situations that lie inside the circle are the routine and familiar parts of your everyday life, such as speaking with family and friends or completing your usual daily tasks at work or home.
However, you occasionally face experiences or challenges that are outside your comfort zone. When faced with something outside your comfort zone, you suddenly feel nervous or worried about the outcome of the situation. You question yourself “Can I handle it?”, “Will they laugh at me?” “What will people think?”
Think about what fears are holding you back from reaching the next level of success or fulfilment in your life. Whatever it is, just be honest and admit it. Most likely, thousands, if not millions, of people have the very same fear you have! In fact, let’s take a closer look at what most people are afraid of.
Jeff Keller, author of “Attitude is Everything” tells how, during his presentations, he distributes index cards to the audience members and asks them to write down, anonymously, the fears that are standing in the way of their professional and personal growth. Then, he collects the cards and read them aloud.
What do you think people write on those index cards? In most audiences, regardless of profession or geographical location, the same answers come up again and again. Here are some of the most common fears they identify:
1. Public Speaking or Giving Presentations. In virtually every group, this is the #1 fear. The vast majority of people are terrified about speaking in front of a group of people.
2. Hearing the word “NO” or having their ideas rejected. This response is very common among salespeople, especially those who make cold calls.
3. Changing Jobs or Starting Their Own Business. Over the years, more and more people are listing this fear. We have a lot of unhappy workers in corporate Australia today, and they yearn for a more satisfying work environment… but they’re afraid to do anything about it!
4. Telling Managers or Executives “Negative News” (what the managers or executives don’t want to hear). This one is self-explanatory.
5. Talking to People in Upper Management. Many entry-level workers and even managers are terrified about speaking to executives in the company. They even hesitate to make “small talk” with the president or CEO of their organization – for fear they’ll say some-thing silly or appear stupid.
6. Fear of Failure. Those who won’t try something new for fear that it won’t work out.
Well, are you surprised by any of the fears on this list? Do you have any of them now – or have you had them in the past? The truth is, the overwhelming majority of people experience these fears at some point in their lives.
And if you have some fears that weren’t on this list, don’t worry about it. You are stronger than any of your fears… and you can overcome them!
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