Most writers spend hours brainstorming their characters and plots. They write pages of words, even though they will never use them all. They do this because they know that ideas need time to develop.

As a life coach, I always explain to my clients: it’s not about being sure you will 100% be successful when you embark on a project, It is more about how you navigate and pilot your ideas whilst in the thick of things. Coaching gives me an opportunity to work closely with clients, and to give them tools to remove their own limitations, which will allow their success to evolve from there.

Author Jodi Picoult summarised the importance of avoiding perfectionism wonderfully: “You can edit a bad page, but you can’t edit a blank page.”

Here are three tips on how you can achieve success without fear:

  1. Enjoy the journey:
    Stop focusing on what could happen if you failed. Rather focus on the present. To me failure isn’t about starting something and not getting it right – at least you tried. Failure is when you don’t even try in the first place. Don’t live hovering in the middle of perfection and failure, because you will forever remain there.
  2. Turn your fear into success:
    You may believe that only people with skills can be successful but this is a belief that can prevent you from getting a head start, as you may feel you do not have deserving skills to succeed. This is not true. Remove negative thoughts. If you focus on self-doubt and fears, you will attract negativity. Limiting beliefs (also know as disempowering beliefs) can play a big role in your own journey to success. Coaching can help you strip down those beliefs that are blocking you from reaching your full potential, freeing you to achieve your goals.
  3. Use a professional coach to guide you:
    Many people don’t even realise that they can achieve great things. They don’t know that they can be as good (if not better) than anyone else. They believe they don’t have enough skills or knowledge to be great achievers.  They may have the tools and have read self-help books but cannot get started only because they don’t realise just how much they are capable of. This is when using a life coach is invaluable. Just make sure that you choose a certified life coach that knows his stuff.

When an opportunity presents itself, stop worrying about the outcome. Allow ideas to flow.  You can ALWAYS edit the pages of your own book. You never know how great your success could be if you could just let go to find out.