--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I define anxiety as experiencing failure…" description: "\"“I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance…and if you have anxiety about initiating a project, then of course you will associate risk with fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png" --- # I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance…and if… ![“I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance…and if you have anxiety about initiating a project, then of course you will associate risk with failure.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png) > ““I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance…and if you have anxiety about initiating a project, then of course you will associate risk with failure.”” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety is the anticipation of failure, causing risk to be seen as inevitable loss. **In simple terms:** Anxiety makes you expect failure before starting. Key Takeaway Recognize and reframe fear before acting. Themes anxiety risk anticipation Mood nervous reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - starting a new project - public speaking - investment decisions Key Concepts psychology self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How does fearing failure change your choices? - What evidence disproves your worst‑case scenario? A Different Perspective Anxiety can be self‑fulfilling if not addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ## Related quotes > [I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure-in-advance/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Anxiety is practising failure in advance. Anxiety is needless and imaginary. It's fear about fear, fear that means nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/anxiety-is-practising-failure-in-advance-anxiety-is-needless-and/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Anxiety is experiencing failure in advance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/anxiety-is-experiencing-failure-in-advance/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“In my opinion, anyone who says they have no anxiety at all over experiencing their own physical death is not in touch with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/in-my-opinion-anyone-who-says-they-have-no-anxiety-at-all-over/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“You are not stress...you are experiencing stress. You are not anxiety...you are experiencing anxiety. You are not fear...you are experiencing fear. You can recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-basevic/you-are-not-stress-you-are-experiencing-stress-you-are-not-anxiety/) [Mike Basevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-basevic/) > [“Education isn't a problem until it serves as a buffer rom the world and a refuge from the risk of failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/education-isn-t-a-problem-until-it-serves-as-a-buffer-rom-the-world/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“One thing that most comic artists avoid is showing decisions. They show action, sure, and they show results, but they don’t show (because it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-thing-that-most-comic-artists-avoid-is-showing-decisions-they/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“This is an addictive pastime. You take no real risk, touch the world, and it responds. Repeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/this-is-an-addictive-pastime-you-take-no-real-risk-touch-the-world/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Initiative and starting are about neither of these. They are about “let’s see” and “try.” If there’s no clear right answer, perhaps the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/initiative-and-starting-are-about-neither-of-these-they-are-about-let/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth.   Not going all the way, and not starting.”   Siddhrtha Gautama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/there-are-two-mistakes-one-can-make-along-the-road-to-truth-not-going/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Starting isn’t like that. Starting something is not an event; it’s a series of events. You decide to walk to Cleveland. So you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/starting-isn-t-like-that-starting-something-is-not-an-event-it-s-a/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“People have come to the erroneous conclusion that if they’re not willing to start something separate, world-changing, and risky, they have no business starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/people-have-come-to-the-erroneous-conclusion-that-if-they-re-not/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“The challenge, it turns out, isn’t in perfecting your ability to know when to start and when to stand by. The challenge is getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-challenge-it-turns-out-isn-t-in-perfecting-your-ability-to-know/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The risk of failure is part of the fun of what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/the-risk-of-failure-is-part-of-the-fun-of-what-i-do/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [The 'Amazing' can only be created by facing fear, risk and failure during the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brown/the-amazing-can-only-be-created-by-facing-fear-risk-and-failure/) [Joel Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brown/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance…and if you have anxiety about initiating a project, then of course you will associate risk with failure.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seth Godin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure-in-advance-and-if-you-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure-in-advance-and-if-you-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/seth-godin-152_anxiety_i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure_2078399.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance…and if you have anxiety about initiating a project, then…” — Seth Godin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Seth Godin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I define anxiety as experiencing failure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure-in-advance-and-if-you-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-define-anxiety-as-experiencing-failure-in-advance-and-if-you-have/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```