Too scared? Just jump right in!

From Lolly Daskal's 13 Personality Traits that can keep you from success, "The frightened lacks the courage to jump in, to feel the fear and do it anyway. Fear of doing is another way of fearing success."

There are many things in life that will keep you from your own success.  One thing that shouldn't is a fear of failure.  As Babe Ruth once said, "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."  At some point, we all fail, however, it is what we do after we fail that makes all the difference in the world.

In education, either as teachers or as administrators, we are constantly asked to make decisions.  A fear of failure is an easy way out of making difficult decisions.  Many even are seen as thoughtful, pensive, cerebral, and deliberate, while in fact they are scared to make a final decision.  I know decision making is difficult and needs thought and time, but it can also be a way to enable the fear of failure. 

Education is a tough business that is constantly changing.  We must work each and every day to adjust based on the needs of students that are in front of us.  If we continue to teach them the way we learned, we will be making a huge mistake.  Change is frightening, but change is inevitable.

The best way to overcome your fear is having a purpose and mission.  If you identify the reason you need to do something, you are more likely to overcome any fear or anxiety and accomplish that goal.  My professional purpose is to insure that all students have the best education possible.  This mission will help me overcome any of my fears including the fear of failing and the fear of change.

Good luck overcoming your fears...don't be a scaredy cat.

My post connects nicely to Pernille Ripp's Post:  Be careful but don’t be so careful that you do not change.  That is my wish for 2015.



Resources:

Turn into the Storm via @Leadershipfreak
Be Careful via @pernilleripp


Follow me @brian_seligman