Fear of Failure - Lessons from a Book Launch
On February 14th, 2011, I launched my ebook, "47 HEARTS - How to Live Your Dreams, With Passion, Purpose & Persistence" to best-seller status on Amazon.com - with a peak rank of #5 in 'Motivational' and #8 in 'Personal Development' categories.
As I watched the promotional efforts of the previous week kick in, and dozens of supporters, friends and early reviewers build buzz for the book launch, I realized something profound and deep.
What was happening 'outside' was a reflection of a far bigger "Inner Game" - one that had been played and won already in the run-up to the big day.
Two years back, I released my first print book, "Think, Write & Retire - How To Turn Words Into Massive Wealth". Knowing nothing about self-publishing or running a best-seller promotion, I willingly tried many things, studied experts and "just did it".
On launch day, my book rocketed to #83 in the brutally competitive "Business and Investing" category on Amazon.com
It was a thrilling and educational experience, and whet my apetite for more success with print books. Wwith what I knew from my first launch, I should have been able to do much better the next time.
Amazon.com's Kindle eBook store had opened doors to international publishers - and suddenly it was possible to release "47 HEARTS" as an ebook for the Kindle.
But, I hesitated.
eBooks were HOT. The Kindle was selling worldwide in large numbers. And with a free Kindle app, the ebook could be read on other devices - computers, mobile phones, and iPads. It was a VAST market out there, to be reached, claimed, won over.
Still, I hesitated.
Because I was comparing this time with the earlier one - and trying to judge if it would be better than before. The bar had been set. Going higher seemed more important than just trying!
Or rather, FAILING to go higher seemed more important to avoid!
Questions arose in my mind. Disturbing ones.
* Was the first time just a fluke?
* Did I really know enough to do a book launch?
* What if this one bombs?
* Is the book itself really good enough?
* Will people help promote it if I ask?
Doubts. And more doubts.
They held me back.
I was having what Zig Ziglar calls "stinkin' thinking".
It took some time to recognize this, that I was simply making excuses. Once I did, I recalled what what Sir Richard Branson says, and said to myself: "Screw It! Let's Do It"
So for a week, I swung into frenzied action. Worked like a man on fire. Compressed 3 weeks worth of activity into 7 short days.
And accomplished quite a lot.
Except, looking back, I realize now that, sub-consciously, I was giving myself a "loser's limp"!
How?
By not letting myself have adequate time to prepare a good launch, contacting enough people about promoting, and giving them enough lead time to fit it into their over-crowded schedules, what I was really doing was giving myself an "out".
If things don't work out the way I hoped, then I could always tell myself that I didn't try hard enough!
The "fear of failure" wasn't gone. It had only morphed from one form to another.
Looking back, I think of this analogy - of a child growing up.
Imagine a little baby, just learning to walk. She stumbles, falls, gets back up, keeps trying - until, a few days, or weeks, or even months later, she can keep her balance and stay up for long enough to move from one place to another.
The baby has learned to walk.
Fast forward a few years, and the same young lady is facing a challenge at work or in college - and balks at trying and failing.
She has "grown up"... and learned to fear failure.
The 'young lady' is you - and me.
As we grow older, we forget our childish enthusiasm to learn and experiment, try and fail, keep trying and succeed.
We grow secure in our limited "successes" - and grow wary of risking higher, mightier, bigger things... because we may fail at them.
We have let the "fear of failure" hold us back!
Remember these powerful words Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and superstar CEO, said to an audience of Stanford graduates a few years ago:
Sometimes, limited success can be a grindstone around our necks, instead of a stepping stone to greater accomplishment.
It takes some soul-searching, insight and self-analysis to see what's really holding you back - and then deciding to dare to make a change.
This is the biggest, most powerful lesson I've learned from a "successful" book launch.
And sharing this post with you is actually a selfish act - because it forces me to face my deepest fears of failure... and beat them back, to try my hand at bigger things!
You?
All success
Dr.Mani
As I watched the promotional efforts of the previous week kick in, and dozens of supporters, friends and early reviewers build buzz for the book launch, I realized something profound and deep.
What was happening 'outside' was a reflection of a far bigger "Inner Game" - one that had been played and won already in the run-up to the big day.
Two years back, I released my first print book, "Think, Write & Retire - How To Turn Words Into Massive Wealth". Knowing nothing about self-publishing or running a best-seller promotion, I willingly tried many things, studied experts and "just did it".
On launch day, my book rocketed to #83 in the brutally competitive "Business and Investing" category on Amazon.com
It was a thrilling and educational experience, and whet my apetite for more success with print books. Wwith what I knew from my first launch, I should have been able to do much better the next time.
Amazon.com's Kindle eBook store had opened doors to international publishers - and suddenly it was possible to release "47 HEARTS" as an ebook for the Kindle.
But, I hesitated.
eBooks were HOT. The Kindle was selling worldwide in large numbers. And with a free Kindle app, the ebook could be read on other devices - computers, mobile phones, and iPads. It was a VAST market out there, to be reached, claimed, won over.
Still, I hesitated.
Because I was comparing this time with the earlier one - and trying to judge if it would be better than before. The bar had been set. Going higher seemed more important than just trying!
Or rather, FAILING to go higher seemed more important to avoid!
Questions arose in my mind. Disturbing ones.
* Was the first time just a fluke?
* Did I really know enough to do a book launch?
* What if this one bombs?
* Is the book itself really good enough?
* Will people help promote it if I ask?
Doubts. And more doubts.
They held me back.
I was having what Zig Ziglar calls "stinkin' thinking".
It took some time to recognize this, that I was simply making excuses. Once I did, I recalled what what Sir Richard Branson says, and said to myself: "Screw It! Let's Do It"
So for a week, I swung into frenzied action. Worked like a man on fire. Compressed 3 weeks worth of activity into 7 short days.
And accomplished quite a lot.
Except, looking back, I realize now that, sub-consciously, I was giving myself a "loser's limp"!
How?
By not letting myself have adequate time to prepare a good launch, contacting enough people about promoting, and giving them enough lead time to fit it into their over-crowded schedules, what I was really doing was giving myself an "out".
If things don't work out the way I hoped, then I could always tell myself that I didn't try hard enough!
The "fear of failure" wasn't gone. It had only morphed from one form to another.
Looking back, I think of this analogy - of a child growing up.
Imagine a little baby, just learning to walk. She stumbles, falls, gets back up, keeps trying - until, a few days, or weeks, or even months later, she can keep her balance and stay up for long enough to move from one place to another.
The baby has learned to walk.
Fast forward a few years, and the same young lady is facing a challenge at work or in college - and balks at trying and failing.
She has "grown up"... and learned to fear failure.
The 'young lady' is you - and me.
As we grow older, we forget our childish enthusiasm to learn and experiment, try and fail, keep trying and succeed.
We grow secure in our limited "successes" - and grow wary of risking higher, mightier, bigger things... because we may fail at them.
We have let the "fear of failure" hold us back!
Remember these powerful words Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and superstar CEO, said to an audience of Stanford graduates a few years ago:
| "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." |
It takes some soul-searching, insight and self-analysis to see what's really holding you back - and then deciding to dare to make a change.
This is the biggest, most powerful lesson I've learned from a "successful" book launch.
And sharing this post with you is actually a selfish act - because it forces me to face my deepest fears of failure... and beat them back, to try my hand at bigger things!
You?
All success
Dr.Mani
Scientific Dream Interpretation – A Solution to All Problems
How to Be Extremely Successful in Life
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