Entrepreneurs and High Achievers DON'T Avoid This

The One Choice You'll Wish You Made Sooner

As an Impact Advisor for the International Impact Book Awards, I’ve been making countless phone calls, talking to authors, visionaries, and leaders about taking their work to the next level. I remember one particular conversation that stuck with me—a woman who had already written her book, had received an award for it, and yet was terrified of taking the next step.

She told me she wanted her book to be more successful, to reach more people, to make an impact. But when we started talking about promotion—building a team, putting herself out there in videos, engaging with media—her energy shifted. "I don't know if I’m ready for all that," she admitted. "I don’t know if I can do it. That’s not really for me."

Here was someone who had already proven their capability, yet fear was keeping her small. There was a clear cognitive dissonance: she wanted success but was unwilling to take the necessary steps to claim it. And she wasn’t alone. I’ve heard this fear echoed in different ways from so many people who are on the verge of greatness but paralyzed by uncertainty.

And you know what I’ve realized? It’s not logistics, finances, or external circumstances that stop most people. It’s their unwillingness to make mistakes.

The Fear of Failure Is Holding You Back

Most people are so afraid of failure that they never even start. They hesitate, waiting for the perfect moment, thinking that successful people have it all figured out from the start. But that’s not true. The difference between those who make it and those who don’t isn’t talent—it’s the willingness to take risks, fail, and use failure as feedback.

Great entrepreneurs and high achievers don’t avoid failure; they embrace it. Every mistake is a lesson, every setback is an adjustment, and every rejection is a redirection toward something better. The people who succeed are the ones who reiterate, refine, and get back out there stronger than before.

If you’re not willing to make mistakes—big ones, even—you’ll never break through to the next level. Growth isn’t about avoiding failure; it’s about learning how to fail forward.

The Silent Killer of Dreams: Hesitation

I hear these doubts all the time:

“I want to write my book, but what if no one reads it?”

“I want to go all-in on my dream, but what if I fail?”

“I’d love to do this, but… maybe later.”

What’s really happening? People don’t believe in themselves enough to take action without a major life event forcing them to move. Someone dies, they go through a divorce, they hit rock bottom with debt—and suddenly, they realize life is too short to keep playing small.

But why wait for a tragedy to wake up? Why not tap into that urgency NOW? Think about the times in your life when you've felt the fire to take action—was it because you were inspired, or because you were forced to? Too often, we only move when we’re left with no other choice. But what if you could harness that urgency without having to lose something first?

I’ve seen it happen too many times—people wait until they lose someone, go through a crisis, or hit rock bottom before they finally decide to chase their dreams. They say, “I’ll do this in honor of my late father/mother/brother/spouse.” But what if they could have seen you do it? What if they could have witnessed your transformation, your courage, your growth?

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take action today. Stop putting off your dreams, stop waiting for the perfect moment—because the perfect moment is now. Step into your power, commit fully, and show up for your life in a way that your future self will thank you for. Let your loved ones see you step into your power, take bold action, and commit fully to the life you deserve. If they’re not here anymore, do it as if they were cheering you on. Because they would be.

Meet Your 80-Year-Old Self

Think about where you are right now. The doubts, the hesitations, the fears that keep you stuck. Now fast forward to the end of your life—looking back, will those fears still seem as big? Or will you wish you had pushed through them?

This idea is explored powerfully in The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware. After working with people at the end of their lives, Ware found that the most common regret was, 'I wish I had lived a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.'

Would they look back with pride knowing they gave it their all, or would they wish they had taken the leap instead of playing it safe? I guarantee they wouldn’t be haunted by the money they lost or the mistakes they made. They’d regret the moments they let fear stop them from becoming who they were meant to be.

In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield talks about resistance—the invisible force that stops us from doing the things we know we need to do. It disguises itself as fear, procrastination, and self-doubt. The only way to beat resistance is to act.

So let’s break this pattern. Let’s shift your state of mind. Here’s how:

Would they regret not trying? Would they wish they had bet on themselves sooner? I guarantee they wouldn’t be haunted by the money they lost or the mistakes they made. They’d regret the moments they let fear stop them from becoming who they were meant to be.

So, let’s break this pattern. Let’s shift your state of mind. Here’s how:

3 Ways to Beat Fear and Take Action Today

If you’re feeling stuck, it’s not because you lack potential—it’s because fear is holding you back. But fear isn’t a stop sign; it’s a signal that you’re stepping into something bigger. The most successful people aren’t fearless; they just refuse to let fear dictate their choices.

Here’s how you can push through and start moving forward today:

Now, it’s time to do something about it. The people who succeed aren’t the ones who never feel afraid—they’re the ones who move forward despite their fear. Here’s how to shift your mindset and take action today:

1. Create a “No More Waiting” Moment

   • Stop waiting for something big to push you forward. Instead, make a decision right now that this is the moment you commit to your dream. Write it down. Say it out loud. Do something physical to mark this decision (a workout, a cold plunge, whatever gets you in motion).

2. Surround Yourself with People Who Are Doing It

   • Fear thrives in isolation. But when you surround yourself with people who believe, who act, who move boldly, your excuses evaporate. Find a mastermind, a coach, a community that won’t let you settle.

3. Make Fear Work FOR You

   • Instead of fearing failure, fear regret. Every time doubt creeps in, picture that 80-year-old version of yourself shaking their head, saying, “You could have done it. Why didn’t you?” Let that fuel you.

Final Reminder: The Time Is Now

If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or doubting yourself, remember—resistance only shows up when you’re about to do something great.

Your future self, your loved ones, and the people who will be inspired by your courage are all waiting for you to step forward.

Don’t let fear become your story. Don’t wait until a tragedy shakes you awake. Take the leap now, before life forces you to. The number one regret of the dying is, 'I wish I had lived a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.' You have a choice today to rewrite that narrative. Be bold. Take action. Make your future self proud.

You have everything it takes. Now, move.

Todd Smith