Personal Narrative: Fear Of Failure

The fear of failure is not a universally positive motivator. In some cases it is neither positive nor a motivator. Failure may be described as the eventual and inevitable by-product of the expenditure of efforts to achieve success. A fear of failure has never been anything but an abstract to me, because I do not embrace failure as an acceptable outcome.
Success may be attained by researching methods to achieve an action or by avoiding problems through observing failures of other people. In the study of machine tool technology, observance of others failures has benefited me when performing machining operations. Despite careful preparation, failures may still occur through no fault of the machinist. Even a master machinist may kill parts …show more content…
In elementary school I discovered fear of failure required another element. In the third grade I realized regardless how quickly I grasped a subject I would be forced to do repetitive exercises until the majority of the class understood. It seemed a logical conclusion that I could opt out of those exercises. Though I would experience failing grades, I didn’t fear them as I believed I would avoid an experience significantly more unpleasant to me. That wasn’t how it played out. Instead the teachers believed I had a learning disability. My IQ was tested and the staff was convinced the test was flawed or my score was a fluke. I was tested at least four more times. Each IQ test ranked slightly better results than its predecessor. Without an inquiry as to my preference, I was immediately placed in the Gifted program. There were facets of the program I liked and others I did not. Thus, it is important to note that I was promoted as a direct result of my failure rather than the fear of it. Often the perceived outcome of actions varies from the actual …show more content…
Once I entered the workforce I became a salesman. Anyone fearing failure should never become a salesman. Each day is filled with failure. Sales metrics cover sales per hour, but they can’t cover how many sales were not closed.
For over twelve years I sold countless thousands of dollars of merchandise. Usually my sales totaled more than anyone else in my location and in some cases more than most of the salesmen combined. The number that is not quantifiable is the number of customers that walked away or intended to buy when they walked in. The latter category is a matter of being the first to reach the customer. Fear of failure in sales is a soul crushing realization that the success rate will be eclipsed by the failure