How much risk you are willing to take depends upon how you view failure. When failure looms it’s natural to react by withdrawing or limiting your efforts. It’s normal also to interpret the lack of encouragement from friends and family to mean that you don’t have what it takes to succeed. But, this may not be true.

Try to remember that by wanting to succeed – change who you are – you may be upsetting the status quo and going against an established norm. Put simply, a lot of folks are content with where they are and what they have and want you to feel that way too.

When you find yourself in a setting where overcoming obstacles is not the norm, don’t expect much support in your search for excellence. And, don’t be surprised if few people notice or acknowledge your achievements.

Your circle of friends may not share your view of the future, so you may have to “picture it” for them. Begin by making it clear that your current status is unacceptable and that you plan to change it. Help them to understand why, and get them to accept that things will not be the same as before. Finally, state your purpose and tell them what they can expect from you when the goals are achieved.

As you work with and around others who don’t seem as eager to succeed as you are, use the following principles to guide you:

• Think of risk as a means of measuring the value of your commitment. You risk failure whenever you commit yourself to a dream or vision. You risk losing support from others when you act on your own set of goals.
• Look on failure as part of the learning process. You will fail many times. Examine the cause and try to avoid similar mistakes in the future. Adopt a no big deal philosophy. When one thing doesn’t work, don’t give up—try something else.
• Have a strong belief in your worth and value. You may have faults, which others will quickly point out, but as a whole person no one is better than you.
• Associate with others who have done well. You will feel good about yourself when surrounded by people who hold you in high esteem. Do what you believe in and others will believe in you.