Let me guess – you’re excited. You’ve mapped out your goals for the New Year. Your calendar is filled with strategic actions steps and you’ve put the disappointments of last year behind you. You’re focused, you’re committed, and you’re ready to turn your business into the success you always dreamed of.
However, there’s a problem. This is the same place you were last year, at this time. You were just as excited, focused, committed and ready. Somewhere along the way, things fell apart. Your anticipated goal results didn’t occur as planned. What happened?
Previously, I wrote about this as part of a fear if success. In both, Is the Fear of Success in Your Future? and Why It’s Easy to Self-Sabotage Success, where I detailed how the fear of success is closely aligned with the fear of failure and how personal limiting beliefs can support a fear of success.
Understanding that you’re dealing with a fear of success helps, but what’s important is having a three easy step plan to move you out of fear and into actual success.
Taking Action
Most of you are ready to take action. You have your SMART goal plan (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based). You’ve broken your plan down into smaller action steps and created milestone markers with rewards. The expectation is that if you are consistent and committed to following your plan and should achieve your goal.
What you don’t have is a plan to counter your fear of success. Click To Tweet
You’re more likely to let your self-sabotaging behavior get in the way of your success
The Three Easy Steps Plan
Step 1 Get out of “what if” and into “what can I do”
Start by thinking how your life will be different when you’re successful. Of course, all the basics come up – financial security, pay off debts, help others, free to travel, etc. These are the tangible changes.
However, it doesn’t take very long before the “what if’s” creep in.
- What if I can’t continue to maintain my success?
- What if I don’t have what it takes?
- What if someone has a better idea, a better a training program, or a bigger contact list?
Rather than letting your brain get caught up in all the negative thinking, of what if’s, focus on the important aspects of what your success allows you to do?
My success allows
- More confidence and peace of mind
- Sharing with others and making a difference
- Donating and supporting worthwhile causes
- Keeping others from learning the hard way
- Showing others that success is possible
Why invest all your time and energy into meeting success goals, if those what if’s fears and doubts are lurking ready to sabotage any progress you might make?
The idea is to identify what success allows you to do beyond your immediate wants and needs. By addressing the what if concerns early on, they keep from becoming the fears and doubts that keep you from being successful.
Step 2 Make a list of all your procrastination actions
Be honest. You have all kinds of procrastination things you do to avoid acting on your success.
Begin by making a list of all the things you have to do before you can start. Is it checking and responding to emails and social media, or catching up on the news first? Do you need something to eat or a trip to the bathroom? What mundane unfinished household tasks demand your attention first? What errands have you been putting off that are now in urgent need of being taken care of?
What exactly do you have to do before you’re in the right frame of mind to concentrate on your success?
It doesn’t make much difference what your procrastination reasons are. They become behaviors that stand in the way of your success.
The idea is not to let your procrastination reasons come first and be more important than the success you want to attain.
When procrastination reasons come first, success is far behind. When success comes first, the rest of the things in life that need attention will still get taken care of.
Step 3 Reframe Your Success Identity
If asked what success would look like, I’m sure you can easily envision what it would be like. But, you can just as easily give all the reasons why you haven’t been successful so far. And, that’s where the two worlds collide.
On one hand, you have skills and abilities for success and on the other hand, your fears and insecurities are keeping you from success.
Again, it’s a question of what’s more important. Your skills and abilities are what you have already learned. Fears and insecurities are about what you don’t know and haven’t learned, as yet.
If you make fears and insecurities more important than what you already know, then they stand in the way to your success. Is that what you want?
The idea is to reframe your success identity. Build up your current level of confidence in your skills and abilities and then acquire the skills in the areas of your fears and insecurities. This may mean making a commitment to training, getting a coach or mentor, or outsourcing the success skills you need.
These three easy steps can quickly put and keep you on your path to success. Are they only things you will need to do? No, other things will occur to challenge your success. But, know that you’ve already prepared yourself to figure out what’s the most important thing you need to do next.
Do you have anything that’s more important and standing in the way of your success?
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Procrastination is the biggest issue that I often see Joyce, not only with others but sometimes with myself too. I’ve learned to dance around it by setting myself a deadline to do the task or perhaps do another task which is important and then tackle the one that I know will give me the desired ROI.
When we start to recognize the avoidance behavior, it can make a big difference in how we approach what we need to accomplish. I’m much more vigilant now in catching myself and have to admit I’m getting more done than ever before. I like your idea of reframing it as a ROI. That makes something certainly more worthwhile doing.
Excellent list Joyce! I can easily tell you the one thing that tripped me up when I began focusing on building resilience. When I published my book about resilience the only other books on that topic on Amazon were by researchers, scientists, and psychologists who focused on crisis recovery and childhood trauma. I almost didn’t write that book because I was embarrassed I didn’t have a list of letters after my name demonstrating my credibility, but I believed that people could benefit from learning about how resilience benefits us on a daily basis so I finally went for it. I’ve had such great feedback about that book I’m so glad I managed to get over my self-induced barrier.
Marquita, I would never have guessed your struggles, but I can relate. I chose not to pursue a Phd. because of time and expense, and often wondered over the years if I had made the right decision. Then I came to realize that while academic credentials confer respect and authority, many cannot translate their information into understandable and practical use. I think we both serve a greater purpose in making our areas of interest more relatable so a larger audience can benefit. Being able to do that deserves its own credential – MC, Masters of Communication.
You’ve nailed it. Taking action is key. Sometimes there are many reasons that stop us but sometimes we need to be unreasonable!
Absolutely, right Lorii. We got to be unreasonable at times if we want success.
Empowering especially to women!
Many of my coaching clients believe that they truly want to be successful, but they don’t notice the little voice in their head that says things such as: “I am afraid of success! What if it doesn’t work out? What if I can’t maintain it?” That little voice can be a true saboteur,
Rachel, that little voice can sure be destructive at times. It’s a real overcoming for people who have been at the mercy of negative remarks from parents, teachers and peers. There are some who will learn to rise above and find their own power and gifts, while others will believe what others say about them. That’s part of the challenge of pursuing success – to keep moving forward, regardless.
Reframing your success identity is huge. It makes all the difference. With the proper effort, we can become how we perceive ourselves.
Thanks for commenting, Jennifer. Reframing your success identity is important, especially over time. What was once important may no longer be, or new avenues of information or opportunities arise. What we thought we couldn’t do now become more possible. It’s one big success adventure.
For me it’s not so much procrastination as unexpected things coming up. Had such a plan to get a project worked on this weekend but then garage remote needs a battery so off to the battery store, bathroom towel rack breaks and two trips to the hardware store to fix that, and more…Sometimes I have to tell myself that it’s ok – so long as I am moving forward and getting closer to my goal.
Oh, I can so relate, Angela. When life gets in the way of my schedule, I really start to get stressed. What’s good is that you removed the problems that would have continued to nag at you. Once out the way, it’s time to re-focus and get back to work. I find that I’m better focused because I’m more intent on making up for lost time. You’re definitely right, keep moving forward is the best policy.
Nice article…think that it all comes down to doing, making a ton of lists and writing what you are afraid of is not going to solve much according to me. We just need to set goals that are doable step by step and see that it actually can work. By doing I think one finds success in small steps.
Katarina, for some making a list works. They need a visual in order for the brain to process. Others, keep a running tally of things mentally. It really comes down as to what works while reducing any procrastination. Sounds like you’re a great goal setter and have a step systems that works. Getting those goals achieved is what’s important.
Love no 2 Make a list of all your procrastination actions as well as the other 2- great steps on the path to what I can do NOW thanks xx
Good for you Suzie, in recognizing your procrastination actions. I find that once I become aware that I’m starting to procrastinate, I become embarrassed and usually get back on track. Funny how that is working for me.
Step 2 really resonated with me. I have recently heard of a book titled “Eat That Frog” and from what I understand the gist is to eat that frog or do that thing you least want to do first thing. I have the book on hold at my local library and am looking forward to reading it. Procrastination is what usually holds me back and this is a focus of mine this year.
Summer, procrastination seems to be a big issue for most of us. But, once we get past it, things seem to move more quickly. I can honestly say that I avoided learning and doing a number of things. But once I thought of it in terms of mastering a new skill things got a lot easier.
These are excellent steps to keep in mind if you are indeed struggling with your success! For me I am working through step 1 for the week ahead…..Thanks Joyce for sharing these awesome steps to stop fear of success in your business 🙂
Really love this blogging community. We get to share and support each other on our road to success in steps. So, Step 1 it is!
Procrastination is my demon. When I am worried about the what if, that is when I find a million other things to do. So good to face that head on and acknowlege it.
I procrastinate much less since taking this approach. However, there is some value when I procrastinate by cleaning the house or vice versa working on my projects so I can avoid cleaning the house.LOL
This information is so great! When I teach manifesting I ask my clients to write out their doubts after they get clear on what they want. The way you explained this is so helpful. Once we look at the fear, it no longer controls us!
Smart move, Candess. It’s easier to face a doubt or fear when it’s specifically written down rather than just talking about it. This way they have to give more thought as to what an underlying doubt or fear may be. I bet your clients really do well by making progress this way.
Oh yes, and I do the hard t hings first and envision my success daily…oh yes, I am on it! 🙂
Congratulations! No fear of success lurking in your neighborhood.
Wow, this article was written for me! Fear of success and fear in general are struggles. Changing my mindset and reframing work well, and you’ve provided some other good tips here. I’ve become more cognizant of my procrastination tactics but still have improvements to make. I’m a work in progress! 🙂
Great! You’re a work in progress. That’s the best kind of work to be involved in.
I think that Step 3, “Reframe Your Success Identity” is simply brilliant! Thanks, Joyce.
So happy you resonate with reframing your success identify. We’re going to help create some really successful people this year.
I definitely love the part about Reframing my success identity. Some might say “more money” or things off the bat, but when you sit back and think about it, is that all? Even if you are not generating the income you want right away, being successful can lie with the intangibles….helping someone even if they can’t pay you, etc. You learn from all of these things and that’s what makes it a success. Thank you for the article!
Absolutely right Anne, There’s always a large component of intangibles that make up success. When you focus only on the tangibles, you miss many of the things that add meaning to your life. Here’s to a very successful 2017 for you.
Wonderful advice in this post, Joyce. Changing your thinking from “What if” to “What can I do” makes so much sense. I love the idea of reframing your success identity and giving more head space to your skills and abilities than to your fears and insecurities.
Have to say George was an inspiration in the background. He is always reframing his success identity.
Ohhh, Joyce–making a list of those procrastination actions would sure be enlightening! I felt myself busted just thinking about that. But what a great tool–as are all of these!
I admit it. Procrastination gets the better of me when the brain won’t kick into gear until I feed it some chocolate. Productivity has been known to come to a halt until I can restock the supply. I guess that’s as good an excuse as any.
YAY! I planned out tons of goals/resolutions.. things I wanted to do for 2017.. and it isn’t just something to do today and every day.. but monthly plans, giving me that extra time to get it done. Because I know me, I know if I get overwhelmed, it won’t get done and then all resolutions are out the window because I am ALL or nothing. So these are super tips to help us stay on task.
That’s the secret of most great businesses. They plan for the long term and methodically move towards their goals. Just keep plugging away!
This week I am practicing a “what if” strategy. What if I find success? What if this works? What if I succeed?
That’s a great way to turn a negative around, Renee. It can be a good motivator as you move through your goals. Looks like 2017 is going to be a great year for all us bloggers.