As an ambitious entrepreneur, you're hustling hard to turn your vision into reality.
But just as you're on the cusp of a breakthrough, you start to feel uneasy, almost like you're subconsciously pumping the brakes on your success.
This is the fear of success, a hidden problem that holds entrepreneurs back from achieving their most important goals. To understand this phenomenon, we need to look at the conflict between the conscious and unconscious mind.
Our conscious mind is logical and sets ambitious goals. Our unconscious mind, which evolved from the mammalian and lizard brains as per paleo psychology, is designed to avoid pain and seek pleasure.
The conflict arises when our conscious mind aims at big objectives that our unconscious mind perceives as potentially painful.
Entrepreneurs aim higher than just meeting basic needs; the bigger the goals, the more discomfort the unconscious mind perceives.
Successful people like Elon Musk achieve incredible things, but their lives may not always be comfortable from an emotional standpoint.
The crux of the fear of success is that many people want to produce outstanding results, but few are willing to do the uncomfortable things necessary to achieve them. That's where the unconscious mind starts to resist.
To overcome the fear of success, entrepreneurs must identify what their unconscious mind perceives as painful about achieving big goals. Once they identify those fears, they can address them head-on and align their conscious and unconscious mind to work together toward their vision.
In this article, we'll explore the psychological reasons behind the fear of success, the warning signs to watch out for, and the strategies to overcome this fear and reach your full potential.
Psychological Reasons Underlying Fear of Success
To overcome the fear of success, you first need to understand its roots. Here are some of the most common psychological factors that fuel this fear:
1. Imposter Syndrome
That nagging voice in your head that whispers, "You're not good enough. You just got lucky."
Sound familiar?
When you're in the grip of imposter syndrome, it's hard to internalize your achievements. You might discount your expertise, attributing your successes to external factors rather than your skills and dedication.
And when growth opportunities arise - a promotion, a speaking gig, a chance to take on more responsibility - you might hesitate. Because deep down, you're worried that this will be the moment everyone realizes you've been "faking it" all along.
2. Control Loss
As entrepreneurs, you’re used to being the captain of your ship. You've built your businesses from the ground up, wearing every hat and making every decision.
But as your business grows, trying to maintain that level of control is a recipe for burnout (and insanity).
Scaling successfully means learning to delegate, to trust in systems and processes, to empower a team to help carry the load. But for many entrepreneurs, the thought of relinquishing control is terrifying.
What if they drop the ball? What if they don't do it "right"?
3. Spotlight Stress
You know that old saying, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown"?
Well, heavy is also the head that's constantly in the spotlight.
As your business becomes more successful, you'll likely find yourself becoming more visible. Maybe you're asked to speak at industry events, or your company gets featured in the press, or your social media following explodes.
And while part of you might relish the recognition, another part might want to run and hide. Because with visibility comes vulnerability. Suddenly, you're open to judgment, criticism, and heightened expectations.
For entrepreneurs who cherish their privacy or struggle with social anxiety, this increased exposure can be downright panic-inducing.
4. Rejection Sensitivity
The more successful you become, the more feedback you'll likely receive. And not all of it will be glowing praise.
For some entrepreneurs, even constructive criticism can feel like a personal attack. You might find yourself becoming defensive, blaming others, or avoiding situations where your work will be evaluated altogether.
Because let's face it, putting your heart and soul into your business and then having someone point out areas for improvement? That can sting.
5. Mood Swings Around Growth
Entrepreneurship is an emotional rollercoaster.
One day you're on top of the world, excited about all the possibilities for growth. The next, you're in despair, convinced you'll never be able to handle the challenges ahead.
This is especially common when you're on the brink of a major growth phase. The highs are high, but the lows are oh-so low.
And this emotional whiplash? It can be exhausting.
It's hard to maintain a clear vision and steady momentum when your mood and motivation are constantly in flux.
6. More Money, More Problems
It's the ultimate entrepreneurial dream: financial success. But what they don't tell you is that more money often means more problems.
When your business is small, you can often get by with scrappy solutions and a DIY attitude.
But as you scale? Suddenly you're dealing with complex cash flow management, team dynamics, legal considerations, and a host of other issues that you may feel unprepared for.
And this is where the fear can kick in.
What if you make a costly mistake? What if you fail to live up to the new expectations that come with your success?
Your unconscious mind knows that bigger success means bigger risks and responsibilities. And that little voice of self-doubt can start to get real loud, real fast.
Early Symptoms of Fear of Success
Alright, let's talk about the sneaky ways fear of success can manifest in your entrepreneurial journey. Often, we're not even aware that we're sabotaging our progress. It's happening in our subconscious, driving behaviors that keep us stuck.
So how do you know if fear of success is pulling the strings behind the scenes? Here are some signs to watch out for:
1. Building an Egoic Identity Narrative
One of the biggest warning signs of fear of success is when you start building your entire identity around the process of what you're doing, rather than the outcomes.
It's like the aspiring entrepreneur who loves the idea of being a founder, but never actually launches their product or is forever stuck in the research phase.
When your identity is wrapped up in the potential of what you might achieve, rather than the reality of what you're achieving, it's a red flag.
You're sabotaging yourself by staying perpetually in the "planning" stage, never actually testing your potential.
2. Self-Sabotage Before Finish Lines
This is a classic manifestation of fear of success.
You're making great progress, nearing a major milestone, when suddenly you start to lose steam. Procrastination kicks in, distractions abound, and self-doubt rears its ugly head.
It's like your subconscious is hitting the brakes, trying to prevent you from reaching the goal line.
Because with that achievement comes new responsibilities, new expectations, and new potential for failure.
And that can feel scary as hell.
Read also: Are hidden pitfalls derailing your marketing efforts? Discover strategies to identify and overcome marketing sabotage.
3. Minimizing Positive Events
You just landed a major client or hit a big revenue goal. Cue the champagne and confetti, right? Not so fast.
If you have a fear of success, you might find yourself downplaying your achievements. You divert compliments, point out all the things that could have gone better, or attribute your success to luck rather than your hard work.
This is a way of protecting yourself from the discomfort of truly owning your accomplishments.
Because if you don't fully claim your successes, you don't have to deal with the pressure of maintaining or exceeding them.
4. Low-Metric Goals
On the flip side of perfectionism, fear of success can also manifest as setting the bar too low.
Setting goals well below your potential constantly might be your subconscious way of dodging the heat that comes with playing in the big leagues.
By keeping your goals modest and easily achievable, you stay in your comfort zone. You avoid the discomfort of stretching yourself and risking failure. But you also limit your growth and impact.
5. Celebrating Too Much
Finally, fear of success can show up as an over-the-top celebration when you do experience a win.
It's great to acknowledge and savor your accomplishments, but if you find yourself going overboard - think excessive partying or splurging - it could be a subconscious way of sabotaging your future success.
By going off the rails in the aftermath of an achievement, you create chaos and instability. You knock yourself back down a peg, so you don't have to deal with the pressure of sustaining or building on that success.
How to Overcome Fear of Success?
Here are proven strategies you can start implementing today to remove that fear of success and step into the success you deserve:
1. Set Identity-Based Goals
Forget about those boring, surface-level goals like hitting a certain revenue target or gaining X number of followers. If you want to overcome the fear of success, dig deeper.
Set goals around who you want to become.
Ask yourself, "What kind of leader do I want to be? What qualities do I want to embody? What skills do I need to develop to achieve my vision?" Then, reverse engineer your identity shift.
When you focus on becoming the person you need to be to achieve your goals, the goals themselves become inevitable.
2. Intentional Practice
Setting identity-based goals is just the first step. To embody these new qualities and skills, you need to practice. And not just any old practice – intentional, deliberate practice.
Look for opportunities to flex your new identity muscles, even in small ways.
If you want to become a more confident public speaker, start by speaking up more in meetings.
If you want to become a more decisive leader, practice making quick decisions in low-stakes situations.
And if you need someone to help you stay accountable to your goals, consider signing up with Commit Action.
The key is to push yourself out of your comfort zone consistently. Train your brain to associate discomfort with growth and progress, rather than with threat.
3. Reality Check for Fears
"You're not ready for this level of success,"
"If you put yourself out there, you'll just embarrass yourself."
These fears? They're liars.
They're not based on reality but on worst-case-scenario thinking and anxious assumptions. So when those fears crop up, it's time for a reality check.
Ask yourself, "Is this fear based on facts or my insecurities? What evidence do I have that contradicts this fear? When have I handled challenges or changes successfully in the past?"
By shining the light of objective reasoning on your fears, you start to strip away their power. You begin to see that the rewards of success far outweigh the risks.
4. Anchor Fears to Vision
Sometimes, even the most logical arguments aren't enough to quiet the fear. That's when it's time to bring out the big guns: your vision.
Reconnect with your bigger why daily.
Why did you start your business in the first place? What impact do you want to make in the world? What legacy do you want to leave?
When fear starts to creep in, anchor yourself to that vision.
Remind yourself of your backstory, your progress, and your milestones. Let your vision be bigger and brighter than your fears.
5. Rewrite Limiting Narratives
Narrative rewriting is another powerful tool in your fear-busting arsenal.
We all have stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we're capable of. But often, those stories are based on limiting beliefs and past experiences, not on our true potential.
Start noticing the narratives you're telling yourself about your ability to handle success. Are they empowering you or holding you back?
Then, craft new, empowering narratives to replace the limiting ones.
These can be narratives like, "I am capable of rising to meet new challenges," or "My success allows me to make an even greater impact."
The more you repeat and embody these new narratives, the more they'll start to feel true.
You'll begin to see yourself in a new light – not as someone who's reached their limit, but as someone with infinite growth potential.
6. Growth Mindset Anchoring
If you want to overcome the fear of success, you need to cultivate a growth mindset.
That means embracing the idea that your abilities aren't fixed, but can be developed over time through effort and learning. It means releasing the pressure to have everything figured out or be perfect right away.
Instead, adopt a learner's mindset. View challenges and mistakes as opportunities for growth, not as threats to your ego. Celebrate your progress, not just your outcomes.
When you anchor yourself in a growth mindset, you permit yourself to be a work in progress. And that takes the pressure off success needing to look a certain way.
7. Shared Community
Trying to overcome the fear of success solo is a recipe for getting stuck.
That's why one of the most important things you can do is surround yourself with a supportive, growth-oriented community.
Join a mastermind group, find a mentor, or hire a coach like Commit Action. Engage with people who have been where you are and have pushed through to the other side.
When fear starts to get loud, lean on your community. Let them remind you of your potential, your progress, and your power.
8. Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness can be a game-changer for your professional growth.
Incorporating practices like journaling, meditation, or breathwork into your daily routine can help you build resilience, manage stress, and stay grounded in the present moment.
When fear and anxiety start to take over, these practices give you a way to come back to the center.
They help you find that place of inner calm and clarity, even amidst the chaos of entrepreneurship.
9. Self-accountability
At the end of the day, overcoming the fear of success comes down to one thing: personal responsibility.
You are the only one who can do the work of rewiring your mindset and taking bold action. You are the only one who can hold yourself accountable to your vision and your commitments.
So take ownership of your journey. Set regular check-ins with yourself to review your progress, celebrate your wins, and course-correct as needed.
Remember, your success is your responsibility. Embrace it.
And if you need an extra layer of accountability, consider working with Commit Action. They'll help you stay on track with your goals and push through resistance when fear tries to hold you back.
10. Taking criticism as feedback
Criticism is not a reflection of your worth as a person. It's an opportunity for growth and improvement.
So when criticism comes your way, reframe it as feedback. Separate your emotions from the message and look for the learning opportunity.
Ask yourself, "What can I take away from this? How can I use this feedback to become better at what I do?"
When you view criticism as a gift, you rob it of its power to derail you. You transform it from a threat into a tool for growth.
And that is how you become unstoppable.
Realize Your Potential: The Path Forward
Fear of success is a form of self-sabotage that keeps us stuck in our comfort zones, unwilling to face the discomfort of growth.
But as we've seen, staying in your comfort zone is a surefire recipe for stagnation. If you want to achieve your big, audacious goals, you've got to be willing to expand your comfort zone.
But knowledge is power only if you act on it. So here's your challenge: commit to consistent application. Commit to showing up for yourself, even when it's uncomfortable.
And if you need a little extra support along the way, Commit Action can help.
We help entrepreneurs like you break through your barriers and turn your big, scary goals into reality. Through our science-backed accountability coaching, we'll help you stay focused, motivated, and on track - even when fear is telling you to play small.
Our coaches work to help you plan your goals every week and hold you accountable for achieving them. You’ll also get regular support and check-ins via text and email regularly.
So don't let fear of success hold you back any longer. Take that first step and book a free strategy call with us today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the trauma of success?
The trauma of success refers to the psychological distress some individuals experience after achieving a significant goal or reaching a high level of success. This can manifest as feelings of anxiety, guilt, or a sense of not deserving the success.
2. Why am I afraid to try my best?
Fear of trying your best often stems from a fear of failure or a fear of success. You might worry that if you give it your all and still fail, it will be a bigger disappointment. Alternatively, you may fear the increased responsibilities and expectations that come with success.
3. Why can't I stop worrying about the future?
Excessive worrying about the future is often rooted in anxiety and a desire for control. Uncertainty about what lies ahead can be scary, but constantly dwelling on potential worst-case scenarios is unproductive. Practicing mindfulness and focusing on what you can control in the present can help alleviate future-oriented anxiety.
4. What is the root cause of fear of success?
Fear of success often stems from deep-seated insecurities and limiting beliefs. These may include fears of increased responsibility, visibility, or judgment from others. Past experiences of success leading to negative outcomes can also contribute to this fear.
5. Do high achievers have anxiety?
Yes, high achievers can experience anxiety. The pressure to maintain high standards and continually exceed expectations can be a significant source of stress and anxiety for many high-performing individuals. The key is learning to manage this anxiety in healthy ways and not let it hold you back from pursuing your goals.