Home
>
Success
>
Do You Fear Your Own Success?

Do You Fear Your Own Success?

Noted author and self-worth teacher Eric Butterworth* says, "Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things." When you couple his philosophy with the Eastern mysticism of "what you believe will become your reality" it becomes clear that obstacles to financial and personal success are largely self-created.

We once knew a man who, though hugely successful in business, and hugely contented on a personal level, claimed to be blessed with ignorance. He was ignorant of what he could not accomplish -therefore he accomplished much during his lifetime. This man's potential was not stifled by the abbreviated and misfigured word "can't." It simply did not figure into his thinking.

That's not to say this man did not experience failure. He had no magical Midas touch - his personal life, while appearing to be immensely satisfying for him, included the same trials and tragedies experienced by any other human being. Yet he seemed to regard failure as an educational asset, and adversity as an opportunity for progress.

While this man did not fear failure, he ultimately did not fear success.

To succeed means to be a winner - to be at or at least near the top of the heap. But along with winning comes a profound responsibility. A football team that takes the championship is suddenly saddled with a near crushing responsibility to carry on that level of play. A person who is successful in business is expected to continue being successful. Success carries with it an inherent burden.

Do you fear the burden of success?

Success is only achieved through progress, and progress is only achieved through risk. A mushroom never takes a risk. It hides underground until conditions are perfect, and then emerges for only a short while. It never transmutes - never changing - remaining forever a mushroom.

Humans fear risk because it involves dealing with unknown concepts and quantities. We're not sure what will happen if we take action, and that is a frightening concept in and of itself.

Unfortunately, when we fear the risk of taking action, we relegate ourselves to remaining underground with the mushrooms - to be waiting forever for perfect conditions. We never change. We never progress. We never become anything other than what we already are. We procastinate, and attempt to content ourselves with a "someday I will" philosophy of living.

Do you fear the risk of success?

Now modern psychology, for all its inherent flaws, tells us that most humans suffer to some degree from low self-esteem. Perhaps we're not sure of ourselves, or however subconsciously, do not believe we are worthy of success. We seem to regard other people as better, more deserving, or as having a magical key to a successful life neatly tucked into a secret pocket.

Perhaps we fear to associate in those circles of seemingly successful people - to be seen in the unworthy light that we have falsely cast upon ourselves - a light that no one but us can see.

Do you fear the circles of success?

Success can be measured in a multitude of ways - a successful marriage, a successful career, a successful social life, a successful vegetable garden. Success does not always relate to riches and fame, or the accumulation of material wealth. But you will find that any brand of success you seek will develop only from an attitude of personal courage.

And it has been said that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to take action in spite of fear. Nothing, absolutely nothing in life is a sure bet, except that a mushroom will always remain a mushroom.

* http://www.ericbutterworth.com

Dan B. Cauthron has been involved in direct marketing more than 30 years. He offers FREE No Nonsense Marketing Advice and Tested Tools and Resources at: http://www.ericbutterworth.com __________________________________________________

tidy up service Northbrook ..

In The News:

Mac malware campaign uses fake AI chat results to deliver AMOS through terminal commands, security researchers report. Attackers exploit trust in AI-generated cleanup guides.

States require AI disclosure in healthcare as California, Colorado and Utah implement laws mandating transparency when artificial intelligence influences patient care decisions.

ETA sharing on Apple Maps and Google Maps keeps contacts updated automatically while you drive safely. Learn step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android.

Data removal from brokers protects against AI-powered scams and deepfake threats in 2026. Learn how data brokers sell your personal information to scammers.

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.

Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country

Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.

Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.

OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.