As professional businesswomen, we sometimes have to prove ourselves and our ability to do the job just as well, if not better, than a man. I’m not a man beater, however, the road to success for us can be long, with many bumps to slow the process of our professional progression. There is one very important thing that can slow, or even completely stop, our journey to success. Fear! Our own fears can either make, or break the future of our own success. As women, we naturally overanalyze most of the important decisions that we make in our lives. Especially, when it comes to important business decisions.

Being a successful businesswoman takes a lot of hard work and determination.

Fear of failure and rejection is probably one of the biggest things that can keep us from succeeding. As women, we put our all into everything we do, so it can be very discouraging when we have a setback. The fear of failing or having a setback can cause us to be somewhat passive. For example, instead of going for that big promotion, we might limit ourselves to where we are already comfortable. This can cause professional women to be stuck in the same professional slump for a very long time. Letting go of that fear can play an extremely important role in continuing your success. Fear can also cause us to make excuses for the fact that we have not taken our business, or career to the next level. You may start to convince yourself that you just don’t have the time to take on a bigger role at work. Fear can bring a storm of worrisome questions through your head that will hinder your success. Some women may have a fear of being ridiculed for their efforts. Straying from the daily routine that you are comfortable with can also cause enough fear to stop you from succeeding.

It is important for us to overcome these fears when we are trying to grow professionally. Try to think about how rewarding it will be when you put yourself out there, and succeed. Remember that everyone encounters hiccups when establishing themselves professionally. Learn from the bumps in the road, don’t let them keep you from where you are going. Think about the worst thing that can happen if you fail, then compare that to what you could miss out on if don’t try to succeed at all. Don’t ever let fear stop you from putting yourself out there and succeeding. Once you let go of that fear, the possibilities for success are endless.