DISQUS

Joseph T. Dager · 1 year ago

One of the most difficult things for me to do is write on a consistent basis. I have always been a "doer" not a writer.

My goal for 2009 is to complete my first book! That is a stretch but by the end of December I am going to have an outline and a mindmap drawn of the entire book. I know it will change as I dig deeper but most plans do, don't they!

I was thinking about this looking at the snow outside and got your tweet, how appropriate. Thanks!

John Jantsch · 1 year ago

@Joe - okay then, I'll hold you to it - I'll hang on to this post as the comments come in and do a follow-up one year from today!

Drew Schiller · 1 year ago

Great post, John. When I get anxious, I try to separate myself from the anxiety and analyze where it is coming from. It usually signifies that I'm on the right track and something great is about to happen! My business coach has helped me tremendously in the past month to work through these issues.

Matt Thomas · 1 year ago

I will create the Ulitimate Dogfighter flight simulator competition.

Susan Weinschenk · 1 year ago

The research on commitment shows clearly that if you write down what you are committing to and share it publicly it changes your behavior, so this is great idea to have people write in on these commitments. I just finished writing a book (follow up on person above who said that was what the were committing to) -- Neuro Web Design: What makes them click (www.neurowebbook.com) and it started when I woke up one day last April and said, "I'm going to write a book on principles of persuasion applied to web design", and then I sent several emails to friends saying I was going to (public commitment). That was 2008's commitment I guess. To respond then John to your call for public statements, I'll say that in 2009 I am going to learn how to effectively use online networking, blogging, viral marketing etc. I need to master the medium! Thanks for your post.

Dennis · 1 year ago

I will embrace the podcast. I will deliver engaging, relevant, informative and fun podcasts for my fishing blog.

Dragos Roua · 1 year ago

i've had the best financial year ever in 2008. I sold my online business profitably, and that was a 10 years old business I've built. I just want to go over this in 2009. I want to make my blog my next business. Already made a scaffold for this: why I should write about, how often and in what style. I just need the metrics...

So:

1. I will go over 10k feed subscribers in 2009 (now 200).
2. I will go over 50k monthly visitors in 2009 (now 4.5k).

On the other hand, I just outlined my own definition about being successful.

Thanks for a great post!

steve · 1 year ago

Great post John

Small businesses are in a much better position than they realise. There is usually a much short path between the "thinkers" and the "doers" - if fact they are often the same person.

I've spent time inside and outside the corporate world. Small business should realise that being able to have an idea one day and being able to implement it the next is an extremely powerful advantage.

Todd Schnick · 1 year ago

Great post John. I named my company Intrepid for this very reason, I want my clients to be bold, not full of fear.

And I love the take of the "fear of success." It is very real phenomenon...

http://intrepid-llc.com/2008/11/23/quote-of-the...

Kris Bovay · 1 year ago

Okay, this is pretty powerful article. I'm not sure that I'm at the fear of success stage personally (yet) which probably means I don't have enough at risk in my life. My business and marketing services business has been operating for 7 years; this year I started my website. I am not a technical wiz, but I am a fast learner. My commitment is to write and publish a book within the next 8 months; and to sell it to 2% of my online and offline markets. Phew.

SEO Software · 1 year ago

Great post. Sometimes I feel like I'm using to much of a shotgun approach. My goal is to hone a marketing and distribution plan that will add at least 10,000 users to in 2009.

SEO Tips South Africa · 1 year ago

Very good post. Fear of success is indeed a crippling affliction that we all have to battle at the best of times. Having primarily been self-employed over the past fourteen years, I can share many stories, but the gist remains the same.

Bill in Detroit · 1 year ago

John, what you described are the characteristics of ADHD, an enigmatic, organic, disorder. Contrary to popular thought, it does not simply fade with age.

(read between the lines)

So, yeah, fear is a possibility. But it's not the only one.

As H. L. Mencken stated:
"There is always an easy solution to every human problem--neat, plausible, and wrong."

Melissa · 1 year ago

John, nicely said. Maybe some of us business owners just MIGHT make the change for the better.

http://grabbinggreen.com

Linda Smith · 1 year ago

Definitely "exploring new technologies" has been my stumbling block and it is one that I'm determined to squeeze the fear out of. In fact, I embraced something new just today: Odiogo - a technology that allows people to subscribe to my blog feed and listen to the posts...it is so cool! It's still a bit robotic sounding but the benefits of being able to offer a way for people to listen to a blog post when they might not have time or ability to read it is awesome. Kind of turns every blog post into a podcast.

Jared O'Toole · 1 year ago

Many people give up before their idea reaches its 1st potential. It's tough to keep on going. Even right now I see myself not being as satisfied because of the amount of people who view my blog. 6months ago I would be thrilled with how many new people are seeing it.

Everything is about consistency and time. I know I'll make it someday and if I think about I know I'm on the right path. So why the hell am I complaining!

Ron Towns · 1 year ago

I agree with the statement that entrepreneurs often suffer from a fear of SUCCESS rather than a fear of failure. I have experienced this in my own business development. I think most people are afraid that if their business grows, they may not be able to keep up! I've been using John Assaraf's kit Having It All to firm up my goals, and successfully achieve them. Here's the website: www.johnassaraf.com/hia. Let me know what you think!

Jared Young · 1 year ago

John, I think a lot of people (many of my clients included) are afraid of criticism. They don't want to upset someone by writing a controversial blog post, sending out edgy marketing, or simply deviating from the status quo. To be truly successful, you have to stop standing in the shadows and start creating your own shadow.

James · 1 year ago

I do 2-3 of them. I don't consider them as fear of success. I think they are my laziness, inertia, personal weakness, etc. Whatever the reason, I need to get off my butt and change that:-)

Allan · 1 year ago

Yes there is an underlying fear of losing control. I ve had that happen with a offline business when I doubled my customer base overnight. Life became hell. With an online business, however, its much easier to put the tools in place first and go out sourcing as soon as the business takes off. So don't be afraid of succeeding big time.

Bryan Bergmann · 1 year ago

I will dedicate myself to cycle of planning and executing. And my big goal for 2009 is to turn my love of procrastinating into a passion for being early.