The Path to Success: How to Embrace Risks and Not Fear Failures by Igor Fishelev
When it comes to business, there isn’t a single recipe that yields the wanted success. Each and every entrepreneur has to climb the ladder in his or her own way with unexpected turns at every corner. It is important to evaluate opportunities but learning how to handle risks and accepting failure is equally important. Mistakes end up being the most important life lessons and provide the greatest value, after all.
Igor Fishelev has learned throughout his long career as an entrepreneur that risks taken with the right attitude have the power to grant you great success. Often, decisions that were perceived to be correct were taken without considering their impact, but it was these challenges that allowed me to grow the most. In his case, these changes were critical in both his professional and personal life.
Making Decisions in Times of Uncertainty
Like everything else, starting the business venture is the most difficult. I, too, had a difficult time with my decision making due to all the uncertainty the business world presented. I remember the constant feeling of panic and absence of any game plan. As a result, my partners and I often found ourselves having to make important decisions with minimal information. I have learned how to tackle difficult situations and not feel helpless with the lack of get out options.
Understanding that risks aren’t inevitable failures, but rather opportunities for growth, became a turning point in my career. In business, it’s important not to miss a chance, even if the path you’re stepping on isn’t paved and hides many obstacles. Making a decision and moving forward despite fear is the first step toward success.
Mistakes as Stepping Stones to the Top
Every wrong decision or misstep I encountered ultimately became a valuable lesson. Of course, there are moments when you fail so badly that you lose resources or time. But I always viewed those moments not as defeats, but as an opportunity to learn and move on.
For instance, in the early ’90s when I started importing Turkish sweets, the first shipment of products didn’t meet my expectations: some of the chocolate melted, and others didn’t pass sanitary control. It was a disappointment that could have ended the whole business idea. But instead of giving up, I analyzed the mistakes and realized that this was a chance to learn how to manage logistics, product quality, and adapt to the market conditions. This experience became the foundation for the further growth and stabilization of my business.
How to Stop Fearing Mistakes
The biggest fear of any entrepreneur is the fear of losing everything they’ve worked for. It’s natural. But I came to the realization that you can only lose what you’re afraid of losing. It’s important to develop the ability not to cling to specific outcomes but to focus on the process, on the journey. Even when things don’t go according to plan, it’s essential to understand that it’s not the end — just a temporary pause on the way to your goal.
To overcome the fear of failure, it’s important to remember that successful entrepreneurs don’t avoid mistakes; they teach themselves to be flexible in their perception of them. Every failure provides new knowledge and opportunities for improvement. You need to be able to perceive failures properly, analyze them, and extract lessons from them, rather than viewing them as fatal errors.
Risks as a Driving Force
Another important realization I’ve gained over the years is that risks can become not only a source of fear but also a source of strength. In business, there are often moments when you’re forced to make tough decisions that can either lead to success or become a failure. However, risk itself is not something to fear. It’s a tool to achieve a goal.
When I made decisions that could have affected the entire company, such as launching new projects or introducing innovative technologies, I always understood that it was a risk. But it was embracing this risk, not avoiding it, that allowed me to move forward. Fear of failure only keeps a person from making choices, thus leaving them stagnant. Risk, on the other hand, pushes you to act and change the situation.
The Path to Success
The pursuit of success is impossible without the understanding that mistakes are inevitable. The more mistakes you make, the more experience you gain, which ultimately leads to new heights. The fear of failure, if not overcome, becomes a serious obstacle to success. But if you learn to see it as a temporary and unavoidable stage that will lead to greater understanding and growth, you can reach new levels.
I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot, facing failures and risks. I’ve learned not to fear falling, but to view it as part of the journey. It’s important not to stay in place, not to complain about circumstances, but to find solutions and keep moving forward. Success comes to those who are willing to take risks and learn from their mistakes, rather than being afraid of them.
