MONDAY BYTES – June 18, 2012
Let’s talk failure. It’s often the elephant in the room when we consider careers. And it’s fear of failure that prevents us from taking on career challenges.
Paradoxically, it’s fear of failure that can motivate us to do our best. It’s a blessing, a curse, and typically the unacknowledged elephant.
Fear of failure is often connected with negative assumptions we have about ourselves, the profession, and the world.
Naming what you’re most afraid of and then challenging yourself to address that fear—taking concrete and positive action in response—that’s at the heart of career coaching.
Check out this inspiring short commencement speech by the surgeon and author Atul Gawande.
Delivered at Williams College a few weeks ago, the short speech addresses the key issue of how we react to failure and setbacks—what we do choose to do in response—it’s all about the crucial “rescue.” Read it here. (Thanks, Michael, for sending this!)
Questions for the week:
1. What are your big fears? Write them down in a short list on the left hand side of a page.
2. Think about it: are all of these fears rational? Are some based on assumptions you can test?
3. To the right of the fears listed, write what you can do to address each one. Be concrete and specific.
As always, I’d love to hear what you come up with!
Curious about working with me? Details are HERE.
Monday Bytes archived posts are HERE.
Dream big, Plan smart, Live well!
