Posted by Dave Lorenzo - Business Coach

Today’s question, for professionals from a wide array of fields, is:

What holds you back from pursuing what you want?

Usually, fear of change. (Jane, Nurse)

Fear of change—and particularly of the unknown—is a very common fear. Many people worry that if things change, they might get worse, or they might be more than they can handle. The truth is that we never know what the future holds. Even if someone has been with her company for twenty years and feels secure, she could be laid off tomorrow. You may feel that there’s never an ideal time to act upon your ambitions. You’re right. No time is ideal. That’s all the more reason why you have no reason to wait.

My fear of rejection. (Jill, Marketing/PR Creative Director)

Even the most dazzling of superachievers have at one time or another failed miserably. Successful people are not immune to failure and rejection. They simply keep trying, in spite of setbacks. If we want to experience great success, we have to muster the courage to face potential rejection.

I am affected by fear of failure, bankruptcy, and the possibility that change might be worse than the present situation. Also, things like having health insurance or job flexibility are difficult to give up even if I don’t like the job. (Michelle, College English Instructor)

The security of benefits is one of the three lies of career limitation. You can always do better. You have talent, and there is a market for your talent. All you have to do is identify your value and your market.

The fact that I don’t have my bachelor’s degree yet. And self doubt, to some extent. (Tina, Sales Rep)

Many companies will not only allow their employees to attend school while working, they’ll even pay for it! If Tina wants to finish up her degree, she can probably find a company with whom that’s possible. Or if she wants to quit her job entirely and go back to school, she can do that. A college degree is much more in reach for most people these days.

Lack of time. I’m trying to gain more of it by getting more organized and using software applications that allow me to manage my information better. (Will, Web Designer/Database Administrator)

Does anyone feel that he has enough time? Most of us have a mile-long list of things we’d like to accomplish, and all of us have the same 24 hours in every day. How we use them is what differentiates us. I would recommend that Will take a close look at how he spends his time. Is he devoting a large percentage of time to activities that don’t provide much return? Making a very short list of priorities (the shorter, the better) and dividing your time up sensibly between them is a great exercise to do. Give the greatest amount of time to your top priority, allocating smaller blocks of time for goals as they decrease in importance. Also, make sure you spend some time each and every day on your top goals.

I am pursuing the things I want. The fact that I don’t yet have them is merely an issue of time. (Marianne, Forensics Researcher)

Marianne is young, and I believe that she will accomplish what she wants. I like the simplicity and confidence in her answer. She suggests that she will work persistently toward her goals and definitely achieve them in good time.

Think about what holds you back from accomplishing your goals. Putting your finger on your fears and restrictions helps you see that they can be overcome, starts you thinking about steps you can take to move past them, and gets you on the fast track toward a great life full of potential and success.

Filed under: Goals
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