As I typed the title to this post I still think it is crazy. How can I have a fear of success? Shouldn’t I be asking about a fear of failure? I’m a natural entrepreneur, I’m confident in my faith, I’m confident in who God wants me to be and do, I’m adventurous, I’m outgoing, and I’ve spent endless hours creating a business that I love…how can I have a fear of success?
The craziest thing happened last week. I felt the fear of success creeping up on me. Emails were pouring in, new clients contacting me, products being finished, offers being made, and I felt anxious. Oh it was a horrible feeling. I asked several of you to pray and I even took the little ones to Grandma and Grandpas this weekend so that I could recover from this nightmare. There were times throughout the week when I would think “I can either go for it or sit back and ignore it” so “Succeed or Fail”. I wanted so bad to take the back seat, but God said “You have worked for 2 long years, 728 days, building this business and you have asked me to take over, now enjoy my blessings.”
Let me tell you friends, I never thought in my right mind that I would have a problem with God’s blessings, but I’ve experienced it first hand last week. This morning it made me wonder what blessings God has in store for all of you, but you hold back, say no to what He wants you to do, get too busy to even see the blessings of success in your business.
I went to my friend and coach, Sandi Krakowski, last week and asked her “Have you ever had the fear of success?” Now, Sandi is a very, VERY, successful entrepreneur so, I never expected a response, but prayed that she would see it sometime throughout her day. God is good and faithful and Sandi is obedient to Him so with those two combined, I believe He led her to read it and respond. I just needed to know from someone who has started their own business if they had a fear of success. I hear all the time that people are afraid to fail, but what about success.
Anyway, not only did Sandi respond to me, but she took time to write a whole post about it in her newsletter. You can find it here on her Blog.
So an update for today. I’m feeling successful(not prideful), accepting God’s blessings, and staying true to who He has made me to be. I have no idea what God has in store for me, but I’ve decided to take it day by day and hold on for the ride. For you, I pray that you will allow God to shower you with blessings, accept them, and keep moving.
Oh, I SO know what you mean. Sometimes I just don’t feel worthy of so many things going RIGHT. Of course, it isn’t that way all the time, but I’m in a season where the fruit of my labors is being harvested, and it’s GOOD. I wrote a blog post with a title sort of like yours. Mine was “The Benefit of Failure.” If you’d like to read it, it’s at http://jeannekolenda.com
Thanks Jeanne! It just amazes me that we try not to fail, but also their are times we try not to succeed. God is good and faithful and I’m a work in progress.
Been there, done that! I’m like you. It seems CRAZY to fear success but it all boils down to fear of the unknown. You are definitely on the right track. Embrace your greatness!
Thanks Martha! I jumped the hurdle.
I know what you mean. We work so hard to try to be successful how can we be fearful of it. I follow Sandi too and this whole month it seems like she has been addressing this issue. If you come to the Dallas event make sure to look me up. I plan on being there.
Oh Shawn! I would love to meet up with you. I’m still trying to decide, make plans, and pray it doesn’t sell out before I do. I’ll let you know.
Hi Trish,
Oh yes! This is something anyone and everyone has suffered from at one point or another. Having the confidence to allow yourself to be successful is so greatly understated and your post really brings it to light.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks Christine.
I can relate, sometimes we just need to get our of our own way so God can lead us.
Some days I feel like I should just be grateful I have a great full time job and forget the dream of running my own business. But I feel this is a calling and God wants me to move forward in this area. He knows the great work I can do and how I can help others if I just follow his lead. But yes, there are times when I’m more afraid of success than failure. I just try to put it in his hands and relax, but it is easier said than done. Thanks for writing this. It is good to know others are in the same boat.
Many people go through this same thing….see it so often in so many ways, general life, business, sport etc….people are right on the cusp of “having it all” and then pull back…sometimes it’s a good thing sometimes the bullet needs to be bitten and the step needs to be taken into the big unknown
I have been facing the same thing in my business. It’s so hard to let go of that ‘what if’ panicky feeling! My business has made leaps and bounds over the last year and it IS scary but it IS what I have been working for all this time.
This success/fear post has had great timing for me, thank you.
Thanks Melissa. I’m realizing many people experience this, but I didn’t realize it since I’m the first entrepreneur in my family. Thankful for people like Sandi that can mentor me through these steps of emotions.
Great post Trisha! I think what you wrote is very true! We might fear success more than failure. People (ousiders) expect us to fail. They aren’t even trying so they expect those of us who try something new and different to eventually fail and come back to the fold of negativity. But success, now that puts us at a whole new level. That means our life has to change…good or bad, there will be changes. Are we prepared. Can we deal with the changes. Some of those changes may be things we prayed for, but even then, change can be hard. I want to leave my full-time job, but it is so much a part of me, I think leaving it will turn my world upside down. Am I ready to deal with that change? Or am I getting in my own way to slow down success so I don’t have to deal with this big change? Makes you think.