Everyone talks about fear of failure. I really do not think that is what it is. It is really fear of success. I am convinced that coaches and athletes fear success more than they fear failure. With success comes pressure, the more success the more you are expected to succeed and the more pressure. Successful people do not fear failure, they use to learn, and it is a growth opportunity. They internalize it and use it to improve. Unsuccessful people avoid succeeding like the plague, they know that by succeeding expectations for success will rise. They are comfortable being mediocre and find ways to stay mediocre. If you listen to their self talk and chatter you will hear it. They usually have every excuse in the book why they can’t be better. They also can tell you a million reasons why others who are succeeding are doing things they can’t or won’t do. These are the people that Dweck has identified as those with a fixed mindset. Successful people have a growth mindset. They embrace challenges, look on failure as a growth opportunity. They understand there will be missteps, but each of those is a learning opportunity, embrace the pursuit of excellence, don’t be afraid of it. To be the best is not comfortable, everyday you have to go where few others dare to venture.
