Fear of Success = Fear of Change

Nearly everyone wants to be successful in his orFear of change, having the attention now on you.
her life, I say nearly everyone because you can4. Higher Standards. When you are a success or
find people who actually have no desires toclimbing that ladder of success more will be
succeed in anything other than to just make itdemanded of you and you are going to be
day to day. Sad really.expected to perform at a higher level. And you
So if this is the case, if people truly desireshould. You are going to have to go that extra
success and everything that comes with it suchmile. Just getting by, doing just enough and not
as: financial freedom, time freedom, house andmeeting demands will not work. You will be
car of their dreams, exotic vacations around theexpected to perform well and come through,
world, stay at the finest hotels, etc, why domeeting deadlines and being on time and do this
people have a fear of success?on a regular basis. So again it is change we are
For each person there will be a different reasontalking about. Let’s face it, if you were
or reasons, you can not lump everyone into onealready doing these things chances are you would
category and say this is why people fear success,already be a success at whatever you wish to
or can you?do.
I have read many articles on this subject andFear of change, having to raise your standards
they are usually dealing with one aspect of whyand what is expected of you.
people fear success or many different reasons5. Friends / Enemies. This will happen. Get ready.
why people have the fear of success.When you become successful people start
However there is one common denominator toviewing you differently. They may gain respect or
each of the reasons given and that it all boilshave more respect for you because of what you
down to one thing: Fear of Change.have accomplished or they will become envious of
It doesn’t matter what reason that is givenyour newfound success and no longer wish to
for having this fear of success cause the thingsspeak to you or just talk behind your back.
that are necessary for you to be successful arePeople who you thought were your friends or not
going to be different from what you have beenreally true friends and co-workers whom you
doing in the past.may not even had any sort of previous contact
Let’s look at some of the reasons I havewith just despise you just because of your
seen or read about for people having the fear ofsuccess.
success."Few men have the natural strength to honour a
1. Comfort Zone. There is a reason why it’sfriend's success without envy." Aeschylus
called the comfort zone. People are comfortableMany people’s fear of success stem from
being there. Everything is familiar to them there,this one reason, they do not wish to take a
there is nothing that is hardly unknown and whenchance in losing friends or co-workers. These
there is familiarity there is nothing scary to havepeople are in their comfort zone. The thought of
to deal with. Nothing to be on edge or excitedmaking new friends is just too much.
about.This was one of my past fears. However what I
Well in order to become successful you are goingfound out once I was able to get through this
to have to change. You are going to have toblock was that making new friends with like
leave your comfort zone and do it on a repeatedminded individuals was much more rewarding. I
basis. That is the only way you can grow andwould rather have friends that celebrate me than
learn as a person and your business. Having to dotolerate me.
this just once for a lot of people is scary enoughFear of change, may have to make new friends,
but the very thought of having to keep on doingbe talked about by envious co-workers, accepting
it on a regular basis is just too much to handle forthe idea that people who you thought they were
many people.are not who they really are.
Fear of change - having to leave your comfort6. Self Image. To me this is one of the major
zone.setbacks for the fear of success with people.
2. Responsibility. You have to be responsible forThey can not see themselves as being successful.
yourself and the decisions you make along theThey don’t feel they are worthy of any
way in growing your business. You are in charge,success that comes their way. Here again people
in the lead, and it’s up to you. Again there isdo not wish to leave that comfort zone they
change here. If you were already a leader byhave built around themselves. Before any success
nature chances are you do not have a fear ofwill come your way the very first thing that must
success other wise you would not be a naturalchange is you. You must change how you think,
leader. So change must take place. You must dosee and feel about yourself.
things that do not come naturally to you. You areYou must think positive and believe you are a
leaving that comfort zone again. You mustwinner. You must visualize yourself as successful.
become a leader even if it’s just you whoYou have got to see yourself being a success
you are leading. No one else is going to makebefore you can become a success. Also you
decisions for you.must feel it within and know it to be true.
Fear of change, having to take responsibility.Fear of change, having to accept the idea you are
3. Attention factor. Are you a private person?worthy of success.
Again change is going to have to take place. Now“Success will not lower its standard to us. We
I am not saying you are going to lose all yourmust raise our standard to success.” Rev.
rights to privacy just because you wish to haveRandall R. McBride, Jr.
success. What I am saying is that you can noNo matter what category you fall under as your
longer just blend into the crowd and not bereason or reasons for your fear of success it all
noticed. If you wish success you are going tocomes down to change. You must change in
have to stand out, get noticed and you will. Withorder to see change in your life. Nothing changes
success comes attention, no matter what fielduntil you do.
you are in, more people will know who you are.