Hello, and happy Friday! We’ve made it to the end of another week, friends! As we reflect on the week, take a moment to be grateful for the good! Let’s get on with that juicy personal growth!
Welcome to Odyssey! Each week, we’ll dive into ten of the biggest obstacles we face on our journey of personal growth:
- Fear of Failure
- Comfort Zone
- Lack of Self-Confidence
- Negative Self-Talk
- Procrastination
- Lack of Direction
- Resistance to Change
- External Expectations
- Poor Time Management
- Unhealthy Relationships
This week, we will be better by addressing our fear of failure.
Any new venture (not just self-improvement) often comes with one thought that could derail the whole thing; “What if I fail?”
Sit down and grab a coffee because what I’m about to share with you is a game-changer. Imagine how far you’ll go when fear isn’t holding you back!
Let’s start crushing that fear by:
- Reframing Failure
- Setting Realistic Goals
- Focusing on Effort – Not Just Outcome
- Learning from Your Mistakes and,
- Celebrating Progress
Forgive me if I make it sound easy. It isn’t. I’ve struggled – and sometimes still struggle – with this fear of failure for decades.
Do you want to destroy the fear of failure?
I always talk about Rihanna and her tattoo on her collarbone that says, “Never a failure, always a lesson.” She also has it tattooed backward, so it’s right-reading in the mirror.
I’m not suggesting getting a tattoo (unless you want one, then go for it), but it’s a quote worth remembering. And repeating. Often. And ask yourself:
- What did I learn from this?
- How will what I learned help me in the future?
- How can I set myself up for success next time?
Learning from failure is one sure-fire way to set yourself up for success. So is setting realistic goals! Before I started Odyssey, I had more failed projects and newsletters than I’m comfortable admitting. A shitload is a gross understatement.
I’d set goals like “This week, I’m going to write 20,000 words” or “I’m going to publish every day.”
At the time (and even now, sometimes), those goals were way too lofty for someone who works 45 hours weekly and takes care of an aging relative full-time.
Of course, I couldn’t meet those goals, and that failure stung.
I learned that I couldn’t keep up with my commitments and what was essentially a hobby at that level. I had to tone it down. I had to be realistic.
Once I set realistic goals, I could focus on the efforts and (dramatic pause) the small wins.
This week, I wanted to crush 5000 words and publish on five out of seven days.
I barely wrote 5000 words this week. About 600 of them were this very newsletter. I published three articles and barely worked my required hours.
But I did write. I did publish. I earned a paycheck. My granny is alive, fed, and seems pretty happy.
All of that is a win. All of that is progress, and that, friend, is what matters.
This week, I challenge you to set one goal you know you’ll crush.
And one that you’ll have to push a little to meet. Then, head over to Odyssey’s Substack (for free!) to talk about it with us. Get some encouragement, and share your frustrations and successes. We’re in this together! LFG!
Next week, we’ll discuss comfort zones and why they’re awful for growth – but sometimes, it’s okay to hang out there. Briefly.
Thanks for reading! Personal growth isn’t easy!
Tal