When you read the words “fear of failure”, what do you begin to think about? What images come to mind? What exactly do we fear when we have a fear of failure?

For me, fear of failure was always one big... blob. A weighty, nebulous, obscure, murky, clump of fear.

I never knew what lay beneath it. Despite having my own business and operating as an independent contractor/consultant for almost 10 years, I could never shake it. It would haunt me when I a contract ended unexpectedly or when it took me longer than I thought it would to get a new gig. I never had to battle it for too long though as I’d built up a solid reputation in my field so new work was never too far afield.

If you asked me then, I would’ve said I was lucky to not have to face that fear for too long. Now, I’m not so sure.

My digital diet definitely had its challenging moments, particularly in the beginning. That exasperating and unsettling enemy for so many of us – not knowing – was front of mind those first few days as I wondered about whether my posts had resonated with anyone or, for that matter, if anyone had even read the posts.

But it led to a very pertinent and provocative question…

Does it matter?