Most of us had nightmares when we were children.

Your mother probably told you something similar to this: “;It's OK. It's not real. Don't be afraid. It's all in your imagination.”;

If that's true, then what's in your imagination can't hurt you.

So why do so many business owners let their fears keep them from achieving all that they are meant to achieve?

Think of a vision that you have for taking your business to new heights or transforming your lifestyle — something that you haven't been able to bring into reality. What's stopping you from taking action and achieving your goals? If you look at what's really stopping you (and you answer honestly), I can guarantee it's something that's not “;real.”;

You may fear making a mistake, or what people will say, if you make that mistake.

You may fear that your age, your education or your social background is an issue.

But whose issue is it, really? Does the marketplace care, or is it just you?

There are people of all ages and backgrounds who have overcome so-called “;real”; obstacles to achieve their dreams. Old or young, rich or poor, educated or school dropouts, these people have conquered their fears and proven that what may seem like real obstacles to others around them are only illusions.

Bill Gates never finished college, yet he is one of the wealthiest business owners in the world. Martha Stewart overcame humble beginnings to become the wealthiest self-made businesswoman in America (and then fought the stigma of jail to make it back to the top again).

It takes concentrated effort to overcome fears. It takes belief and focus. Our minds were created to work efficiently by focusing only on one belief about any given situation. Your mind can only lock onto one belief at a time, which makes things simple. The catch is that your mind doesn't differentiate between a negative and positive focus. Your subconscious will hone in on whatever focus is strongest, like a laser-guided missile.

If you're a business owner who is allowing fear to keep your focus and determine your reactions, you'll live a life of mediocrity, at best, and get the very thing you are afraid of, at worst. Like a child in a dream running from shadows, your mind will only be focused on the fear of what could happen, instead of focusing on what you need to do to reach your goal.

Everyone has fears. But only the winners in business and life choose to leave those fears in the shadows and believe in themselves and their goal. Put yourself in the winners circle by stacking one belief on top of another on the side of your goal and focus only on what you want and where you want to go.

Surround yourself with people who will support your efforts and help you to keep moving the ball ahead in your business and life. When you do, you'll stop fear dead in its tracks and achieve the success you want.

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John-Paul Micek is a business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. He can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).