The Fraud Factor: What to do when your track record (or lack of it) has you paralyzed with fear

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Its one of the biggest issues that holds so many of us back from launching the business we dream about. Its so pervasive, it literally strangles us with fear and doubt.

It keeps us locked in the cycle of learning and preparing. Instead of the producing and profiting. And it really centers around one idea:

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Its the terror that has us asking:  Am I really a fraud? Can I really deliver all the results I am passionate about? That I am building my business around?

Its the issue that keeps us mired in what we haven't done. Instead of what we know can can do. Its the mindset that has us greeting a flood of new business by saying, "OMG, can I really deliver?"

It asks the question: "How can I possibly help others when I haven't yet achieved the level of success I want to help them experience?"

The shocking answer is: Not only is it a good thing to get your stuff out there. Its your moral obligation to do it as fast as humanly possible.

And here are four powerful ideas that can help you blast through your own Fraud Factor Fear once and for all:

1.
Waiting to be qualified and successful before you get out there is the surest road to NEVER becoming qualified and successful.

How did all those famous people become so accomplished anyway? They didn't wait to become famous before they accomplished. They became famous by being accomplished. And simply believing they could do stunning things. Even when they hadn't yet.

There are two ways you can do this:

You can wait until your back is against the wall. And utter desperation sets in. When you need the money for the rent. And Plan B (and C and D and E) just went out the window. And the dog peed on your contingency plan.

Or you can dispense with the drama and take the exact same steps now. Before dire circumstances force you to. (I'd advise option two).

2.
The best mentors and leaders are almost always folks who weren't stars doing what they are coaching others to do.

• Phil Jackson, the most successful pro basketball coach of all-time (11 championships) was a mediocre player.
• Lee Strasburg, one of the most famous acting mentors, and considered the father of method acting in America, was an undistinguished, obscure actor himself.
• The late Peter Drucker, business guru to CEOs of mega-billion dollar corporations, never built his own mega-billion dollar corporation.
• Most movie directors, including some of the most successful, never acted a day in their lives (or were very unsuccessful at it). But everyday they show up, telling the best actors in the world what to do.
• Most coaches of Olympic Champions never won a medal in their life.
• The two coaches in this year's NBA pro basketball finals have never won a championship as a coach. One never even played pro basketball. One actually started out as his team's video coordinator. (Honest! You can't make this stuff up!)

Yet no one is accusing any of them of being a fraud. And if someone did, they wouldn't care. Because their passion for showing others how to achieve simply overrode any of their own doubts or fear of criticism.

3.
On the other hand …  some of the BEST performers are the CRAPPIEST coaches.

What's even more revealing is: All fields of endeavor are filled with extremely successful folks who flopped when they tried their hand at helping others match their success.

Magic Johnson, a Hall-of-Famer as a Laker basketball player, lasted less than 3 weeks as a Laker coach. While he was unparalleled at creating his own success, he couldn't stomach what was required to cajole and prod others to do the same.

Michael Jordan, commonly considered the best basketball player ever, has been a disaster as a team owner. In 2012, his team had the worst record in the league. And one of the worst records of any pro basketball team. Ever.

You can find examples in other fields as well. Its a sobering truth: Achieving your own success doesn't necessarily translate into helping others do the same.

4. 
Consider the possibility that you might succeed where Oprah failed

There are a million roads to success. And crazy as it sounds, your unique method may connect with someone. And show them the way. When nothing else has. Regardless of how few clients or customers you have helped in the past.

Look at it this way: If Oprah or Tony Robbins (or other success maven) really had everything your prospects needed to be successful, your prospects would already be successful. But they aren't. 

And that is where you come in. But only when you stop bemoaning the fact you're not famous yet. Or you haven't created any millionaires. Or "Why would anyone want to hire little 'ol me?" And start getting out there working your magic.

Now this doesn't mean its OK to shovel any old thing at your customers. But when you have something that you know works, its your obligation to get it out to as many folks as possible.

Sure, its nice to be able to point to a massive track record of success. But make no mistake, you build that track record by:

1. Having a system that produces results
2. Having faith and confidence your system produces results
3. Getting out there and helping others create those results with your system.

So … what have been your biggest fears about being a fraud? How have they held you back?  What did you do to overcome them? Or what did you just discover that will help you get out there with all you got? Let me know, by leaving your ideas in the comments!