It happens all too many times doesn't it? You set a goal, a target you wish to reach. In order to hit this target, you have to step outside your comfort zone and do something that you've never done. What happens when you go to make the attempt?

Well, nine times out of ten it never gets done. As soon as you convince yourself to try, resistance shows up in the form of fear, which leads to doubt and in turn leads to giving up or never attempting to reach your goal.

If that's your story, don't be upset. The statistics are true. Only 10 percent of the population keeps on keeping on. Only 10 percent fight the fear and reach their destination. The good news is if you're not in the 10-percent club, you can get there. You can crush fear, resistance and march on to a successful life.

How? By realizing once and for all that fear is learned. It's a product of the mind and whatever is held in mind can be reprogrammed and changed. We are born with only one fear at child birth - loud noises. Any other fears we've picked up have been developed by a lack of understanding, our self-talk and what others have said to us that we've incorporated into our minds as truth.

FEAR is an acronym for 'False Evidence Appearing Real.' It doesn't exist accept in our own minds. And since we have control of only one thing in life - our thoughts. Fear can be wiped out by changing our thoughts.

The most successful people, no matter what their calling, had fears to overcome. All of us have fears and doubts. But it doesn't have to be that way. Human beings are giants who choose to live like amoebas. The successful, influential and history-making individuals are the ones who crushed their fears and jumped out on the path to attainment.

How to Crush Fear

Success leaves clues. And the way to banish fear is the way all achievers have done. By facing the fear and moving forward anyway. Emerson once said, "do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain." Truer words were never spoken.

Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain. Face it, stare it down and it will shrink like a coward. Truthfully speaking, fears may never leave us but we can overcome them and in doing that - we diminish their hold and power over us.

Two keys to help in this battle are visualization and affirmation. Both principles are very effective in fighting fear and his twin brother, doubt.

If there is a goal you want to reach or a phobia (fear of snakes, heights, etc.) that needs to be banished - visualize the end result. See yourself overcoming the fear (phobia) and reaching the goal. If you do this enough and on a regular basis - results will show up in your life.

My personal favorite is affirmation. And the best is a simple three-word phrase that I've used every time I suffer fear and doubt going after my goals. That simple phrase is: Do It Now!

Trust me on this. I read 'Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude,' by W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill many, many years ago and that's where I learned the do it now technique. It works 100 percent of the time - if you try it.

Write the words in big block letters on an index card and keep them with you always. When you're going for your goals and fear and doubt show up, say over and over and over: Do it Now! Do It Now! You'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish. I guarantee it.

Fear is a learned response. Don't let it keep you from achieving your dreams. Use visualization and affirmations to change your belief system and crush fear forever. Demand the impossible, dream your destiny and go after your goals with a fearless heart.

DO IT NOW!