Common Sense Ideas for Becoming the Career Star You Are Meant to Be

Today is Monday, so this post is on Self Confidence.

As I’ve said before, fear is the biggest enemy of self confidence.  Today, I came across an interesting post on Dr. Ellen Weber’s Brain Based Business blog about fear.   In the post, Dr. Weber lists 10 ways in which fear can hurt your career success.

Read on to learn more about fear and success…

Ten Ways Fear Can Undermine Your Career Success

According to Dr. Weber, fear:

1. Reduces your capabilities to think clearly.
2. Prevents you from moving forward in a deal.
3. Causes you to avoid certain people.
4. Creates a tone that others run from.
5. Robs you of sleep.
6. Leads you to eat too much or too little.
7. Adds stress to your life.
8. Often leads to poor judgment.
9. Steals your self-confidence.
10. Works against your motivation to succeed.

I agree with Dr. Weber.  Fear can be very debilitating.  However, it doesn’t have to be.  I have this quotation framed and hanging in my office – just inside the door so I look at it every time I enter and leave.

• “Whatever you can vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act on, must inevitably come to pass!"

Paul Meyer, founder of Success Motivation International (SMI) is the author.  He wrote those words in 1973.  They are as right on today as they were when Mr. Myer wrote them over 30 years ago.

I like the language – “vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, enthusiastically act on” – the adverbs (the words ending in “ly”) are the strength of the statement. 

Let’s focus on “enthusiastically act on” – the most important one of the bunch in my opinion.  If fear paralyzes you into inaction, you won’t be able to enthusiastically act on your life and career goals.  You won’t be able to become the star you are meant to be. 

I’ve been working in the organizational effectiveness field since 1973.  Since 1988, I’ve been running a one person consulting, coaching and speaking business.  I’m 56 years old.  Travel in general, and post 9/11 travel in specific, is starting to get to me.  So, I’m launching a new venture.  I am in the process of taking all that I’ve done and learned in those 33 years and turn that knowledge into information products. 

I’m working with a mentor, Tom Antion, to help me make this idea a reality.  I have found that there is one main advantage of working with Tom on this.  Tom has given me a long list of things to do.  I’m working through them one at a time.  To use Paul Myer’s words, I am enthusiastically acting on making this a reality.

I have been thinking about this (creating and selling information products) for a few years now.  Until recently, I haven’t taken any real, focused action.  Working with Tom as a mentor is helping me to enthusiastically act on what I want to achieve.  This action has increased my confidence in my ability to build an information products business.  I wasn’t exactly afraid of trying, but I was somewhat paralyzed into inaction because the task seemed very complex.  Tom has broken down everything down into bite sized chunks that are helping me take small steps forward – each one improves my confidence in my ability to build a new business.

The common sense point of this post comes down to two simple words: do something!  Just as fear is the enemy of self confidence, action is the enemy of fear.  You can build your self confidence by taking steps – no matter how small – in the direction of your dreams.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my other blogs: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a business, and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action; and my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.