Fear of success makes you sabotage the goals you want most. Here's a 5-step action plan to challenge the fear, build momentum, and get out of your own way.

You finally hit the goal. The promotion, the client list, the target you chased for months. And then, quietly, you start sliding back. It feels like you got comfortable. Look closer and it is often something else entirely: fear of success. Everyone knows fear of failure. It has 347 million Google results and thousands of books. Fear of success is its quieter twin, and after 30 years of hiring, promoting, and coaching professionals, I can tell you it does at least as much damage. It just does...

You can spot the strengths in everyone around you. Your team. Your partner. The person two desks over. So why does that generosity vanish the second you turn it on yourself? If you can see greatness in others but go silent on your own, you are doing what most high performers do. You are being your own worst critic. And it is not a harmless personality quirk. It shows up in how you negotiate, how you lead, and whether you put your hand up for the next opportunity. After 30 years of hiring,...