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We are a non-profit state federation. Our membership includes women and men of every age, race, religion, political party and socio-economic background. We are a leading advocate on work-life balance and workplace equity issues.

In this section, you will read recent news releases and advocacy concerns as well as view our opinion editorials and letters to the editor. Members of the press who are writing about issues of concern to working women are encouraged to contact our Communications Committee at [email protected].

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Are You Walking the Edge? Afraid of Failing?

Author: Claire Knowles/Saturday, January 31, 2015/Categories: General

Have you ever been so terrified of failing that you decided not to even try? Or have you subconsciously sabotaged your career because you are afraid of failing? Many times we resist moving forward - procrastination is a first clue - we're just not quite ready; we stall.  But when we allow fear to stop our forward progress in life, we're likely to miss some great opportunities along the way.

Fear of failing?

All of us, at one time or another, probably have been afraid of failing.  The fear of failure (atychiphobia) is real when we allow that fear to prevent us from doing the things that, ultimately , can help us achieve our goals.  What do we fear failure?  We think that filing can be equated to "not being good enough" or we could be criticized, called out, humiliated, rejected.  Perhaps there is something in our childhood where we learned it was better not to take risks - then we wouldn't fail - and our security would be more firm.  The lessons of course, are that life, our chosen careers, and our day-to-day goals are part of a continuum.  Sometimes we take tow steps forward and one step backward.  And the is okay.  It is okay to fail - provided we learn something from it.


Moving forward
As NYS Women, Inc. members, we are moving and shaking.  Moving forward.  So of course, the symptoms of the fear of failure may seem foreign to us; but then again, we learn most from knowing the edges we are walking (risk) and meeting our potential failures head on:

  • Are any of you perfectionists - willing to try only those things that you know you'll complete in over-the-top, and I'll do it my way?
  • Are any of you procrastinators, with excessive anxiety or real difficulty following through and executing your targets and goals?
  • Are there any self-saboteurs among us? Ensuring that edge-waling is not allowed in your vocabulary?
  • How about self-confidence?  Have you been telling yourself, "I can't do what is necessary." Or "I'll not get that promotion because............" Or, "There's no use even trying."
  • How about being stuck in your rightness? - "my way or the highway" - when failure is not an option, because you can't admit making mistakes?  Thus, learning is hugely hampered.

The power of success.
The Power of Failure can transform into the Power of Success if we are open to that.  While it is almost impossible to go through life unscathed by failure, those that do are likely living a very sheltered, over cautious life.  No risk, no gain! Yet the tremendous news about the fear of failure is that it is entirely up to us how we perceive it.  We choose how we will see it.  Each of us chooses how confidently we walk the edge.

We can see it in the pessimistic view: that failure can be so terrible, like the end of the world and proof in the pudding that we're inadequate, incapable, and thus, diminished.  Or we can look at failure, as the women in the Makers' Fail Fast messaging do - optimistically as in incredible learning experience.  Failures stop us only if we let them.

The successful women featured in the Makers' slideshow are of course, calling to you, just like the poet Christopher Logue.  They're saying, "Come to the edge...........Take the risk".  We need more successful women in business leadership, more successful women entrepreneurs, and more successful women professionals.  Come to the edge where overcoming the fear of failure is essential and on-purpose: and yes.....you will, of coursed fly!

Check out Makers: The largest video collection of women's stories online at:  http://www.makers.com/blog/fail-fast-7-femail-entrepreneurs-mistakes-moved-them-forward

Clair Knowles, a member of the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of NYS Women, Inc., is a tow-time Amazon best-selling author, speaker, and business leadership consultant, helping leaders (especially women leaders) and their teams become the most effective they can be at accomplishing their goals (together).  www.ClairEKnowles.com






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