The Greatest Fear

My greatest fear is my own success.

I used to be so afraid of the changes that success would bring to me and my family that I didn't pursue all of my opportunities in the way that I should have. I saw what happened to celebrities and privileged people around me and I knew that that scrutiny, unhappiness and hate was not something that I wanted to possess. I would have less free time, spending more time doing things I didn't want to do than things I did. I wouldn't see my friends and loved ones as often. I wouldn't be able to simply go to the mall anymore. I wouldn't even be able to shop at Walmart. Now that may seem far-fetched to some, but the success that I envision for myself includes those aspects of life. And I liked the way things were.

But recently, for a brief time, I had to put that aside in order to consider a new idea: Don't consider success giving up the things you have, but gaining the things you don't.

For me, it's time to stop being above average and begin my track to excellence. I never know the influence I have on people, but I understand more now that I'm getting older that I am an example, good or bad, and that's it's up to me to determine which it is.

I'm choosing to be a great example, one that can take people from crawling to walking and from running to flying. I encourage you to do the same. Otherwise, you'll live a life you didn't want to and you'll have no one to blame but yourself.