How can you deal with the fear of failure and be successful

There's hardly anyone in this world who chased their dreams and never failed. All those big names that you read about in books and newspapers have had their setbacks in different fields. Steve Jobs, the Founder of Apple, was thrown out of the company he founded by the people he recruited. Jack Ma, the Chairman of Alibaba Group, was rejected by Harvard for 10 times. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players ever to walk the earth, was cut from his high school basketball team by the head coach, who thought he didn't have enough skills. Albert Einstein wasn't able to speak properly until he was four years old. His teachers said he would never amount too much. Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse and winner of 22 Academic Awards, was fired from a newspaper for lacking imagination and having no original ideas. Failure is a part of life.

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Imagine if Steve Jobs, Jack Ma, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, and other greats had given up on their dreams and accepted failure as their ultimate fate. But they didn't, and that's why they could do things that once looked impossible.

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” - Vincent van Gogh, artist

If you also dare to chase your dreams and create a life on your own terms, you're most likely to fail at some point. But that fear of failure should never cross your mind and stop you from pursuing your dreams. Even if it does, here is how you can deal with it and come out as a winner.

Be positive

You can't start working on a business idea with a negative mindset and expect positive outcomes. Believe it or not, positive thinking strengthens your self-confidence and inspires you to walk the extra mile.

Analyse all possible outcomes

It's human nature to fear from the unknown. When people don't know the outcomes, they often panic and stop trying. In order to get rid of your fear of failure, consider all the potential outcomes and plan accordingly.

Break down your goals into targets

A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.” - Bruce Lee, martial artist and actor

It's always wise to break down big goals into small targets and assign them a deadline. Suppose if your goal is to earn Rs 10,00,000 from your business in 2017, break that figure down into quarterly, monthly, and weekly targets to keep abreast with the progress and steer clear from any unwanted tension at the end of the next year.

Prepare for the worst

"Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes." - Zig Ziglar, author, salesman, and motivational speaker

Ask yourself, what's the worst thing that will happen if your idea flops? Whatever the answer is, just be prepared to face it. There's nothing that can scare you when you expect the best and prepare for the worst.

Have a Plan B ready

“In general, things either work out or they don’t, and if they don’t, you figure out something else, a plan B. There’s nothing wrong with plan B.” ― Dick Van Dyke, actor

It's one of the better ways to get rid of the fear of failure. By having a contingency plan ready in the case of failure, you can boost your confidence and forge ahead in a hassle-free manner. Many business leaders consider it a 'safe strategy', but as long as it gives you confidence and keeps the fear of failure at bay, you can use it as the last option.

The only place where the fear exists is your head. You can either get scared of it and back out or embrace the fear and chase your dreams to live a life that you always dreamed of. In any case, don't forget – you always have a choice!

As the great author Napoleon Hill once said, “When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.”