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Have You Ever Felt This Way?

by cyberdenizen
16 replies
I'm ashamed to admit it, but I spent most of my time today watching YouTube videos. I'd rather do something else than put my plans into action. Somehow, the morbid fear of failure has paralyzed me. I have this nagging feeling that things are bound to go wrong. Have you ever been through this experience? If so, were you able to overcome it? How?
#felt
  • Profile picture of the author Lauryn
    Sometimes, the best thing to do, is remind yourself of the alternative.

    King Shiloh posted the other day, that the alternative to hard work is a hard life.

    Would you rather work hard and reap the benefits, or soss around and live a hard knock life?

    (At the same times, sometimes we need a moment)
    Signature

    I Go Hard = "Slanguage" for putting forth a lot of effort.

    Don't be an arse and try to flip something you clearly have no knowledge of against me.

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    • Profile picture of the author cyberdenizen
      Originally Posted by Lauryn View Post

      The alternative to hard work is a hard life.
      I printed that quote and taped it on my desk. Thank you!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
    Banned
    Hi Cyberdenizen.

    Nothing to be ashamed of: Most of us have been there. :-) Here's a couple of tips for you:

    I.
    I know it seems really simple (and it is) but something the helped me tremendously was to write out everything I was afraid of. As I learned from Bob Parsons (CEO of GoDaddy.com) "Make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of 'undefined consequences.'

    II.
    There's no such thing as "failure." It's something you can learn from and can propel you forward. Maxwell Maltz (Psycho-Cybernetics) explains it as "failure" being "feedback." He likens the process of succeeding to a torpedo reaching its target by using "feedback" to correct course.

    So there’s a couple of things that may be helpful, Cyberdenzien. Just let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with.
    Signature
    "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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    • Profile picture of the author cyberdenizen
      Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post

      Hi Cyberdenizen.

      Nothing to be ashamed of: Most of us have been there. :-) Here's a couple of tips for you:

      I.
      I know it seems really simple (and it is) but something the helped me tremendously was to write out everything I was afraid of. As I learned from Bob Parsons (CEO of GoDaddy.com) "Make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of 'undefined consequences.'
      Gosh, maybe I have exaggerated the worst-case scenarios in my mind. Writing down the things that I am afraid of seems to be a good idea.

      Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post

      II.
      There's no such thing as "failure." It's something you can learn from and can propel you forward. Maxwell Maltz (Psycho-Cybernetics) explains it as "failure" being "feedback." He likens the process of succeeding to a torpedo reaching its target by using "feedback" to correct course.
      Good point. Failures can be learning opportunities.

      Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post


      So there's a couple of things that may be helpful, Cyberdenzien. Just let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.
      Thank you for offering your help. That's very kind of you. All the best!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
    Banned
    Something else you can do is decide what you want then break everything down into weekly or daily (or whatever) goals. Small actions taken over time = success.

    Good luck. :-)
    Signature
    "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    Originally Posted by cyberdenizen View Post

    I'm ashamed to admit it, but I spent most of my time today watching YouTube videos. I'd rather do something else than put my plans into action. Somehow, the morbid fear of failure has paralyzed me. I have this nagging feeling that things are bound to go wrong. Have you ever been through this experience? If so, were you able to overcome it? How?
    I had the same feelings with my film-making goals. I had all of the tools at my disposal but I would constantly find excuses or reasons to not do something. It was frustrating really. I couldn't even finish writing a film script. I would start and then drift off into never-ever-land and never come back.

    I don't know if I was afraid of failure or was just being lazy. I just recently sold my camera because it just sat there and was a constant reminder. Thankfully I have not had these same feelings with my internet marketing projects.

    Not to say that you aren't cut out for IM, but maybe you should look at other avenues to accomplish what you want in life.
    Signature
    You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
      Banned
      Originally Posted by BloggingPro View Post

      Not to say that you aren't cut out for IM, but maybe you should look at other avenues to accomplish what you want in life.
      Looking for other avenues to succeed in Internet Marketing, absolutely. Looking to do something else entirely, definitely not.

      Everyone deserves to be financially free. Compared to many things “IM” is quite easy.
      Signature
      "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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    • Profile picture of the author cyberdenizen
      Originally Posted by BloggingPro View Post

      I had the same feelings with my film-making goals. I had all of the tools at my disposal but I would constantly find excuses or reasons to not do something. It was frustrating really. I couldn't even finish writing a film script. I would start and then drift off into never-ever-land and never come back.

      I don't know if I was afraid of failure or was just being lazy. I just recently sold my camera because it just sat there and was a constant reminder. Thankfully I have not had these same feelings with my internet marketing projects.

      Not to say that you aren't cut out for IM, but maybe you should look at other avenues to accomplish what you want in life.

      Thanks for sharing your experience. However, I love what I do and I think I'm pretty good at it. But for some reason, I just have this fear. I think I just have to know where it's coming from.
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      • Profile picture of the author alcymart
        Originally Posted by cyberdenizen View Post

        Thanks for sharing your experience. However, I love what I do and I think I'm pretty good at it. But for some reason, I just have this fear. I think I just have to know where it's coming from.
        Fear of succeeding perhaps?
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        • Profile picture of the author cyberdenizen
          Originally Posted by alcymart View Post

          Fear of succeeding perhaps?
          Perhaps. Have you ever been afraid of success?
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  • Profile picture of the author PaulMark
    Hi C,

    Lauryn is right we've all been there. I've always tried to take at least a small step, so I know I made some movement.

    And if things have been really stressed there's nothing wrong with taking time off to relax without feeling guilty.

    Peace,
    Paul
    Signature
    Just PM questions : Paul answers questions about rapid product creation, recurring revenue and creating online training programs. Mark answers questions about SEO, organic traffic, & local business marketing.

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  • Profile picture of the author PLR Basket
    Yes, I know exactly what you're talking about...

    I think it's that good old "too good to be true" programming kicking in...
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  • Profile picture of the author rbates
    I am sure that you have hit a "Trigger" for the majority of people.
    First, the internet is really an easy place to get lost in. There is so
    much "Stuff" that it is super easy to get distracted.

    If you find yourself musing in the same spots over and over, then make it a point to NOT go there, or give yourself a time limit. If you set some goals, and stick to them, it is easier. Write down what you want to do.

    Let's say you want to write some copy. You can reward yourself for finishing the copy by spending 15 minutes on You Tube. Work, and reward.
    Remember, the work always must come first.

    Just a couple of ideas. Hope they help.
    Signature
    >>> Perform and stay focused! - Make cents with your business. <<<
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Jenkins
      Banned
      I used to be a youtube junkie. Those darn related video just keep pulling your in! One more turns into ten more turns into an all day youtube fest.

      Then there's forums and googling around for interesting stuff.

      From experience it doesn't get easier to click off the site and get to work. You know what you do? You just go up to the upper right hand corner and click the X button and close the screen. It's painful for sure but it works. Just close the site.

      A better way is to get at least an hour of work done first before ever visiting youtube or other sites. It gets easier and easier over time. As an added benefit you actually feel good watching youtube after you've gotten stuff done.

      Bill
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      • Profile picture of the author cyberdenizen
        Originally Posted by Bill Jenkins View Post


        You just go up to the upper right hand corner and click the X button and close the screen. It's painful for sure but it works. Just close the site.
        Right! It's simple, but not easy. Still, it is what I ought to do (click the X button, that is) every time I catch myself watching YouTube videos when I should be working.

        Originally Posted by Bill Jenkins View Post


        A better way is to get at least an hour of work done first before ever visiting youtube or other sites. It gets easier and easier over time. As an added benefit you actually feel good watching youtube after you've gotten stuff done.

        Thanks for the suggestion.
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  • Profile picture of the author alcymart
    I only watch Youtube videos almost every time as my reward for hard work. You're just doing things the other way around. Ashamed? Of course not.

    There are times I like to watch videos or simply go outdoors and let the work rest for a bit, but I always come back to it, I don't run away from it, and certainly not ashamed of doing something else than to work.

    Take care,

    Bernard St-Pierre
    Marketing Consultant
    Copywriter/Teacher
    Signature
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