Fear is a stealthy killer of vitality, happiness, and potential. Fear is also a master of disguises that hides in faux logic, excuses, and socially acceptable rationalizations. Each of us has a unique set of fears that are triggered by certain situations and/or types of people. Understanding your triggers will help you avoid missing opportunities, take better action, and in general, move forward in work and life without repeating unforced errors. It has been said that until you grow past your fears, you will repeat the same mistakes over and over.
I have worked with some of the most accomplished business executives over the past 21 years, and no one is immune to rationalizing their fears, committing unforced errors, and holding themselves and their businesses back. One of the best ways to understand how your fears hold you back is to uncover and understand your mistake patterns over a long period of time. People tend to repeat similar mistakes in the areas of:
Developing a clear professional or business direction
Relationship issues
Decisiveness and decision making
Money, investments and M&A mistakes
Conflict avoidance
Accountability and owning receiving feedback
Trust issues caused by duplicitous behavior
Look at your patterns, get feedback, and understand how to grow past the mental models and behavior patterns have repeatedly held you back from being happier and more successful. Outside problems are not your biggest threat, how you think about and respond to outside problems is your biggest threat or opportunity!
