The 7 A’s of Transformation: Combating the Fear of Success

The 7 A’s of Transformation: Combating the Fear of Success

Most of us would be reluctant to agree that we do NOT want to be successful. Yet on close examination most of us will find that some of our actions are designed to frustrate our drive for success.

These negative actions are more prevalent in some of us than in others. Indeed, some of us are actually being restricted by a fear of success. We proclaim success and even work hard at it but side by side with those thoughts and actions we sabotage our own success.

There are numerous reasons why we sabotage our own success. Much of it has to do with how we perceive ourselves. Some of that is in turn driven by what others have said about us and expect of us that we have taken on board.

When self-doubt abounds in our lives rest assured some part of us is busy sabotaging our efforts at achieving success. We do not associate success with the image that we have of ourselves. Consequently, we push it away and run from success.

But nearly everyone is guilty of thinking thoughts, saying things or taking action that set them back. In our Time Mastery training we encourage persons to log how they use their time 24/7 for 30 days. When you do that you will learn how you really spend your time and from that you can determine whether you are working for success or sabotaging success.

Is there something that is consuming huge chunks of your time that is not adding value?

On the other hand, is there something that truly needs your attention but the log will show gets precious little of it?

When you look at how you spend 168 hours each week, can you honestly say that you are not sabotaging your success? Can you genuinely make a case that you are in fact maximizing the use of your God-given time and talents?

Take a moment to reflect on key areas of your life. Are you secretly guilty of undermining your own progress? At work, at school, in a relationship, with your spouse, with your spiritual development, with your career, building wealth, taking care of your health, enriching your life, experiencing the true joy of living……

Those negative actions might be as a result of a sub-conscious Fear of Success. Whatever the cause, we will make great strides towards achieving success when we combat them.

We want to share a simple 7-step framework for combating the negative actions that undermine your push for success in all facets of your lives. It is called the 7 A’s of Transformation. The key to overcoming actions that frustrate your drive for success is to transform your thinking. You have become a Transformational Thinker….you need to have a renewed mind if you are to embrace success to its fullest.

#1. Access

Open your mind to new information

Ezra 7: 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel

Search diligently for ideas that support transformation

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Put yourself in a position to intercept empowering thoughts and concepts

Eccl 1:12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!

Open dialogue that has the potential to support transformation.

Acts 17: 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

#2. Accept

Seek to fully grasp the concept before rejecting it

Proverbs 15:31: He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.

Acts 17:18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Accept the potential of any incoming information to be of transformational value.

Prov 1: 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-

Jeremiah 7:24: But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Be careful not to let the source of the information detract from its potential for transformation.

James 2: 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Accept that was is – IS! Accept the facts and move on. What is done is done. Now it is time to respond appropriately.


#3. Assess

Conduct gap analyses of yourself
– What works and should be reinforced?
– What is dysfunctional or in need of improvement?

2 Cor 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.

-Keep this process of assessment going
-Be brutally frank with yourself.

#4. Adjust

Identify the modifications that are required from the gap analyses

James 1: 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Prioritize the changes that need to be made.
Do not work on too many areas at the same time.

Use the 5-point Action Plan:
• What is wrong?
• What do I want to replace it with?
• What are the steps to getting that done?
• What mechanisms will I use to support the change?
• Who will provide support and in what way?


#5. Announce

Declare your commitments
– Affirm
– Afform…. Ask empowering questions. Ask the reverse of negative thoughts and let the answer come to you. “I am so clumsy”….”Why am I so agile?” Just ask and wait for the answer. Do not actively seek to answer the questions yourself.

2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

Communicate to others

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Luke 12: 8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

Consistently put yourself in a position where you cannot back down

1 Kings 18: 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God."

Get your support crew excited and ready to support your transformation

Ezra 10: 1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."


#6. Apply

Let the transforming concepts and principles apply to ALL aspects of your life
– Transformation needs to be all pervasive not compartmentalized

Col 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Pursue reinforcing actions

Matt 7: 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Celebrate successes…recognize even small victories.

Focus on the positive
Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

#7. Align

Align yourself with like-minded persons

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Ensure that you put a support group in place - Stay in the middle of the pack.

Build effective networks… proactively develop a network of friends and colleagues who can assist you in achieving your goals.

Avoid naysayers and negative influences

2 Cor 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Learn from experts….people who have been there and mastered the area that you are addressing.

I John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.


Finally, the most important move towards success is to be in Christ. The framework for getting into Christ is:

Hear the Gospel message…Christ died for your sins so that you can be reconciled to God. (Rom 10:17)

Believe…that the Gospel message is in fact true act on it. (Rom 10:10)

Repent…decide to change your ways (Luke 13:3)

Confess….announce your acceptance that Jesus is Lord indeed (Rom 10:10)

Be Baptised… for the washing away of your sins (Acts 2:38)

Walk… in the newness of life (1 John 1: 5 -7)