From ambition to action: Overcoming the fear of failure

We have learned not to dare, to fear failure, and to wait for perfection. It's time to ask, "Why not me?" — and to start today. Written by Theodore N. Krintas.

Have you heard phrases such as: "This isn't for you," "Don't get your hopes up...," "Get real, what are you thinking?," "Only those born rich have money," and others like these?

You're right, yes, we've all had a dose of this kind. Maybe more than one. Such phrases, then, and the corresponding behaviors create biases that keep us stuck forever.

At the root of these phrases lies a mindset that limits imagination, innovation, and boldness. An internalized voice that turns "why not?" into "don't you dare."

A typical example is the fallacy known as "sunk cost." That is, in our effort to achieve something that (?) should not belong to us, we incur expenses and costs that we will never recover.

And we insist on continuing, simply because we have already invested in it. But is there some invisible force that determines what should belong to us and what should not? If we follow the "beaten path," are there no costs? The worst part? This trap is disguised as a "rational decision," as "responsibility." And it keeps us captive to failed choices and missed opportunities.

Another example concerns constant planning and re-planning with the aim of coming up with a better action plan. There is just one small problem: the action never happens. We become prisoners of perfectionism, insecurity, or even fear. We feel that the plan is not good enough, that we need more data, more preparation. And so, we never get started. Time passes, plans gather dust, and our vision fades.

Big thoughts and big ideas are essential ingredients for success. Let's be clear, however, that big thoughts must be accompanied by many small steps toward achieving the goal.

The determination to start, even with imperfections, is more valuable than waiting for the perfect moment that may never come. Success is not a leap, but a series of steady, successive steps. And even if we don't achieve 100% of our goal, the journey is a huge reward and certainly the best way to reinvent ourselves.

We know from our involvement in primary education that it takes years of structured and sustained effort to achieve the impressive transformation of a child into a mature teenager. The same applies to any personal or professional goal. Development is neither instantaneous nor linear. It is full of cycles, setbacks, doubts, and sudden flashes of insight. But it is only through this continuous process that one can truly move forward.

After all, short-term and easy goals are merely a precursor to long-term failure. They are traps of satisfaction, promising immediate benefits without depth. And when those benefits evaporate, stagnation remains. The worst thing is that such attitudes are socially rewarded: the "rational," the "prudent," the "down-to-earth." But how much progress has been made by people who simply followed the "safe" path?

In our lives, we usually ignore evidence that contradicts us and prefer an established mindset over a modern and developmental one.

This is the confirmation bias: we constantly seek evidence that reinforces what we already believe and reject anything that disagrees with our current worldview. So, while reality changes, we remain static. And we miss the opportunity to change with it.

Another insidious mechanism is internalized failure. We have grown up in societies where failure is equated with shame, when in fact it is the most natural and valuable way to learn. Instead of embracing it as part of the process, we fear it, avoid it, and ultimately don't dare to try. The result is silence, inaction, and the gradual erosion of our dreams.

Overcoming these stereotypes requires courage. Courage to accept that the opinions of others do not determine our worth. Courage to fail, to expose ourselves, to try again. Courage to think big, to break out of our comfort zone, to set goals that are out of the ordinary.

We need a change of perspective. We need to see ambition not as arrogance but as an expression of dynamism. Failure not as a stigma but as a step forward. Creativity not as a luxury but as a necessity. Change not as a threat but as an opportunity.

Because those who put obstacles in the way of their progress, who have a "don't dare" mentality, who constantly procrastinate, who rush and focus on "possible failure," are simply afraid of success. Let's start today with the thought: "Why not me?".