Last Updated: Aug 7, 2024

I want you to make as many mistakes as quickly as you can. It’s okay if you’re terrified inside reading what I just said. It’s normal, but truthfully, it isn’t normal. You might accept it as normal only because you don’t know or haven’t been shown anything different.

In this leadership letter, I want to show you something different. I want to show you:

“Winners see risk as opportunity…and do not fear the penalties of failure.”

You’ll either see what life presents you as challenges or opportunities. You’ll be given a daily choice of how you respond to what is happening in your life at any moment. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances or situations are. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, or live on the right side or the wrong side of the tracks. The choice you make is yours to decide for yourself.

Winners don’t see situations, circumstances, mistakes, failures, setbacks, challenges, or any other event other than an opportunity. It is an opportunity for you to gain something from, learn something, or grow positively. Winners set out to experience all this and more. They don’t fear what failure will bring. They embrace what they will gain from the experience, win or lose.

It is easy to give up. It is hard to move forward when you risk making a mistake, challenging to keep going when you have failed, and uncomfortable when you think everyone will reject you if you put everything into something that doesn’t work.

Nothing worth having was ever meant to be easy. It was meant to be a struggle. It was meant to be risky. You were meant to fail once or twice or nine times. It was meant to be uncomfortable, and it was meant to push you outside the limits of what you think is possible. You were meant to push yourself, dream big, and create greatness. But you must defeat the monster inside that tries to keep your greatness for itself.

I had never run a 50-kilometer race. Heck, I had never even attempted a marathon or a half-marathon. The furthest I had ever run was about ten miles. So, when I overheard a group discussing their training for a 50-kilometer race, something inside me sparked. Without much thought, I declared I wanted to join them.

They turned to me, eyebrows raised, and asked about my running experience. When I mentioned my maximum distance was ten miles, they chuckled. "You should try a half-marathon first," one of them suggested. "This is a trail race, and it’s tough." But I loved trail running—it was the only way I enjoyed covering long distances. Despite their advice to reconsider, I stood my ground. The challenge was accepted.

Training for a 50K race was grueling. Each week, I increased my mileage, pushing closer to that elusive twenty-four-mile mark. My hips ached, my knees throbbed, and my IT band on my right leg sent sharp pains through my knee after fourteen miles. Each time it flared up, I had to stop, stretch, and push through. The pain never truly subsided, but my determination remained unshaken.

Then came my second long run—eighteen miles. The pain intensified, and soon, I was walking more than running. I sought help from a specialist who diagnosed my issues almost immediately. After a single session, he assured me I was good to go. Skeptical, I returned a few more times, but his confidence eventually sank in. I needed to fix my mindset, pay attention to my form, and reteach my body.

On my first twenty-four-mile training day, a friend dropped me off twenty-four miles away from my car. It was a perfect morning—cool air and ideal weather. I felt great until mile fifteen when the familiar pain returned with a vengeance. I could barely walk, let alone run. But I was stranded, so I limped thirteen miles back to my car.

With six weeks left until the race, I was in agony. It took half an hour to relax my knee enough to drive home. An ice bath later, I pondered everyone's advice: "You should just start with a half-marathon." My body screamed in agreement, but my spirit refused to yield. I took six weeks off running, letting my body heal. On race day, I decided I would try, no matter what.

During training, I nailed my nutrition plan. I knew exactly what to eat and avoid to keep from feeling nauseous. On race day, I packed my essentials and headed to the starting line. My only goal was to finish within the cutoff times.

The first checkpoint at mile ten arrived smoothly. But around mile eleven, my stomach rebelled, and I felt like vomiting. For seven miles, I battled nausea until I found relief in a small glass of ginger ale. It was a game-changer, and I pressed on.

By mile fifteen, dehydration hit hard. I hadn’t drunk enough, and my legs felt like jelly. But I pushed through, driven by sheer willpower. Between miles sixteen and twenty-four, I kept my head down, following the feet in front of me. Many runners passed me, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to finish.

At mile twenty-five, the final checkpoint, I considered stopping. I had already surpassed a half-marathon and almost completed a marathon. But something inside urged me to continue. With every step, I willed myself forward.

With just a quarter mile to go, a colossal cramp seized my right hamstring and traveled down my leg. I could see the finish line and hear the cheering, but I was stuck, barely able to move. I walked off the cramp as best as possible, and finally, I managed to run the last stretch.

Crossing that finish line wasn’t the fastest or the most graceful, but it was mine. Six weeks earlier, I had doubted whether I could race at all. But I did it. I conquered my fear of failure and transformed it into personal success.

The first step is the hardest to take but to crush your fears, you have to be ready to start taking action. Here is my simple yet very effective way to start turning your fear of failure into the personal success that you’ll have for the rest of your life:

The fear of failure doesn’t magically disappear. It takes time and deliberate effort. One of the most effective ways to reduce this fear is by taking small, manageable steps. Rather than leaping into the unknown, start with what feels achievable. This approach builds confidence incrementally and makes the overall goal less intimidating.

When I decided to run a 50-kilometer race, the idea was daunting. But instead of focusing on the entire distance, I broke my training into smaller milestones. Initially, I aimed to run just a bit more than my usual ten miles. Gradually, I increased my distance, each time pushing the boundary a little further. This method not only made the process less overwhelming but also gave me a series of small victories to celebrate along the way.

Starting with small steps means setting realistic, short-term goals leading to your ultimate objective. This means setting small goals daily. You want to keep the distance between getting from point A to point B short, then repeat that step for point C until you get all the way to point Z. The shorter it is, the more manageable and achievable. Each small step you take provides valuable experience and feedback that you learn from. For example, if you want to improve your public speaking skills, begin by speaking in front of a mirror or to a small group of friends. Once you’re comfortable with that, progress to larger audiences. This gradual exposure helps you gain confidence and reduce anxiety over time.

Additionally, small steps allow for adjustments and learning without the pressure of immediate perfection. If a particular approach isn’t working, you can easily tweak your strategy without feeling like you’ve failed. This adaptability is crucial for long-term success. If you make a mistake, it isn’t a huge failure; the small mistake is easily fixable without damaging your self-image.

Remember, the path to overcoming fear and achieving success is a marathon, not a sprint. Embrace the process, celebrate your progress, and keep taking those small steps forward.

Understanding and mastering the fundamentals is crucial in any endeavor. These basics form the foundation upon which all advanced skills and strategies are built. In fact, the fundamentals often comprise the critical twenty percent that drives eighty percent of your success. By focusing on these core principles, you ensure a solid base that supports future growth and achievement.

Consider learning to play a musical instrument. Before performing complex pieces, you must understand the basics—such as reading sheet music, proper hand positioning, and basic scales. Mastering these foundational elements is essential before moving on to more advanced techniques. Without a firm grasp of these basics, it’s challenging to progress and perform at a higher level.

The same applies to any goal you’re pursuing. Start by identifying the fundamental skills and knowledge required for success. If you’re aiming to excel in sales, for example, focus on understanding your product, mastering effective communication techniques, and building strong relationships with clients. These core skills will provide a robust foundation upon which you can build more advanced sales strategies.

To put this into action, take the time to study and practice the basics regularly. Break down your goal into its essential components and dedicate time to mastering each one. Seek out resources, whether it’s books, courses, or mentors, that can help you deepen your understanding of these fundamental areas. Practice consistently, and revisit the basics daily to reinforce your skills.

Additionally, track your progress and reflect on how well you’re applying these fundamentals. Are there areas where you can improve? Are you skipping over any basics in favor of more complex techniques? By regularly evaluating your foundation, you can make necessary adjustments and ensure you’re on the right path.

Even the most successful individuals continually refine their mastery of the basics. By prioritizing the fundamentals first, you create a stable platform for achieving greater heights in any field.

No one is perfect, and mistakes are an inevitable part of taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone. However, it’s how you handle these mistakes that can transform your fear of failure into personal success. Instead of letting the penalties of failure stop you, use them as opportunities to learn, adjust, and move forward with greater resilience and insight.

When you make a mistake, the first step is to evaluate what happened objectively. Reflect on the situation and identify what went wrong. Was it a lack of preparation? Did you overlook a crucial detail? What process did you use to achieve the outcome you got, and what changes can you make to that process to achieve a different outcome in the future?

For example, imagine you’re giving a presentation that doesn’t go as planned. Maybe you fumbled with your notes or lost your train of thought. Instead of dwelling on the embarrassment, take a step back and analyze the factors that contributed to the outcome you got. Perhaps you needed more rehearsal time or better organization of your materials or the process you took wasn’t quite right. By pinpointing the issues, you can develop a plan to address them in future presentations.

Once you’ve identified the areas for improvement, it’s time to course correct. This means making specific, actionable changes to your approach. If your mistake was due to poor time management, create a more structured schedule for your tasks. If you struggled with a particular skill, seek additional training or practice to strengthen that area.

Course correction also involves being open to feedback. Don’t hesitate to seek advice from others who might have faced similar challenges. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives and help you avoid common pitfalls. Additionally, consider keeping a journal of your experiences, noting your successes and setbacks. This practice allows you to track your progress and recognize patterns that need adjustment.

Remember, the goal of course correction is not just to fix what went wrong, but to continually improve and evolve. Each mistake is a stepping stone on your path to success. By embracing this mindset, you turn failures into valuable learning experiences and reduce the fear of making future mistakes.

Ultimately, it’s the willingness to learn and adapt that propels you forward. Keep evaluating, adjusting, and improving. By consistently course correcting, you transform setbacks into setups for success, turning what once seemed like losses into significant wins.

Staying focused on the process is crucial for achieving success. Many people become so fixated on the desired outcome that they overlook the importance of the steps needed to get there. This can lead to mistakes and, ultimately, an undesired result. By concentrating on the process and avoiding distractions, you ensure that each step is executed properly, leading to a successful outcome.

The process is your roadmap to success. It includes the fundamentals you’ve mastered, the small steps you’ve taken, and the course corrections you’ve made. When you prioritize the process, you stay grounded in the actions you can control rather than being overwhelmed by the end goal. This focus helps you maintain consistency and build momentum.

Consider an athlete training for a major competition. If they only think about winning the gold medal, they might neglect crucial training sessions, proper nutrition, and recovery. However, by focusing on their daily routines, training regimens, and incremental improvements, they increase their chances of achieving their goal. The same principle applies to any endeavor. The outcome is a byproduct of a well-executed process.

To stay process-focused, create a clear plan outlining each step necessary to reach your goal. Break down your larger objectives into smaller, manageable tasks. Track your progress and make adjustments as needed. Celebrate small victories to stay motivated and maintain momentum.

Avoiding distractions is equally important. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get sidetracked by external factors or lose sight of your plan. Identify potential distractions and develop strategies to mitigate them. This might involve setting specific times for focused work, limiting time on social media, or creating a dedicated workspace free from interruptions.

If your mind starts worrying about the outcome, use self-talk and redirect your focus to the task at hand. Remember, the only thing you have complete control over is your effort and adherence to the process.

Lastly, trust in the process. Have confidence and patience that the outcome will take care of itself by consistently following your plan and making small adjustments along the way.

To turn all of what I said in this post into action and turn everything you do into a winning situation, there is one trait winners (in all fields of life) seem to have and I’m going to share that with you in my next post: “The Secret Trait Public Speakers Use To Win Over Their Audience.”

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