Overcoming Fear of Failure: The Ultimate Mindset Shift to Thrive and Succeed in the Tech Industry

?? Overcoming the Fear of Failure: My Journey from Doubt to Success

I used to be terrified of failing. I’d get stuck, worried about what others would think if things didn’t work out:

“You don’t know what you’re doing.” “You don’t belong here.” “That was a stupid move.”

I’ve heard it all before—those whispers of doubt, both from myself and from people on the sidelines. And because of that, I hesitated for way too long.

I’d think, “What if I try and fall flat on my face?” I let those thoughts hold me back more times than I can count.

But you know what? I realized that failing while putting in the effort beats stalling in fear every single time.

There came a point when I decided to go all in, take risks, and embrace every stumble along the way. Why? Because I knew that I’d learn more by doing and failing than by sitting on the sidelines, thinking and stalling.

The turning point came when I got my first check for all the work I had put in.

I’m not gonna lie, it was a moment of pure validation. ???? All those hours, all that grind, and when it finally paid off, I realized I could care LESS about what a hater had to say! ??????

Some of y’all need to adopt that same mindset right now! ????????????

Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and just DO. Even if you stumble, even if you fall, it’s part of the process.

?? Why People Don’t Take Action

You see, most people never take action because they fear what failure says about them. They’re worried people will say, “I told you so” or “You’re not cut out for this.” But those voices only have power if you let them.

The people throwing shade are usually the ones who’ve never had the courage to step outside their comfort zone. They’re projecting their own fears onto you.

But here’s the truth: You will fail at some point. We all do. But every failure is a lesson, a stepping stone that guides you toward success. When I first started in tech, I felt like an outsider. Imposter syndrome was real.

But I had to remind myself that I’m not defined by those temporary setbacks or other people’s opinions.

When I finally embraced the idea of failing forward, everything changed. My perspective shifted from “What if I fail?” to “What will I learn if I try?”

I made a conscious decision to stop seeking validation from others and started trusting my own journey. And that’s when the real growth happened.

???? How I Overcame the Fear of Failure

When things don’t go as planned, it’s easy to think you’ve lost.

But that’s not the case. Failure is just feedback.

It’s data telling you what didn’t work and where you need to adjust. I stopped seeing setbacks as dead-ends and started seeing them as signposts directing me to the next path I should take.

? Focus on What You’re Gaining, Not What You’re Losing:

Sure, there’s always a risk of losing money, time, or effort.

But what if you’re wrong about the waste and instead you build the skills, knowledge, and resilience to help you reach that goal? Once you shift your focus to what you’re gaining, the fear of loss becomes a lot smaller.

? Embrace the Opinions That Matter… Yours:

You’re always going to have people doubting you or even outright saying you can’t do it.

But their opinions don’t pay your bills, do they?

?? Only YOU know the full extent of your potential.

Only YOU know the dreams you’re chasing.

So, ask yourself: Why are you letting someone else’s perspective hold you back from what you’re capable of achieving?

? Set Your Own Standards for Success:

When I first started, I was constantly measuring my success against others in the industry.

But that’s a trap.

The only person you should be comparing yourself to is who you were yesterday.

Set your own goals and define what success looks like for you. It might not be the same as someone else’s, and that’s okay.

?? Here are My Final Thoughts

Stop waiting. Stop letting fear paralyze you. There will never be a perfect time to take that leap. Just start. And when you do, embrace the journey, failures and all.

Because let me tell you this: When I look back now, I’m thankful for every failure, every misstep, and every so-called “stupid move” I made.

Why?

Because they led me here. They made me stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

I want you to have that same feeling one day.

Matter of fact, here is access to our new Fail Forward Action Plan Decision Tree for Cloud Engineers ???

That satisfaction of knowing you didn’t let fear win. That you didn’t let the haters and doubters keep you from chasing what’s yours.

So, whatever it is you’re holding back on, launching a business, changing careers, pursuing a passion—just go for it.

You might fail a few times. But in the end, that “failure” is what will lead you to success.

The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll realize how little other people’s opinions really matter.

Do it for you, because your journey deserves to be written by your actions, not by the fears and judgments of others.

And who knows, that first “check”, whether it’s monetary, a breakthrough moment, or achieving that goal you set... might just make you say, “I couldn’t care less about what anyone else thinks!”

Let’s go get it! ????