The Fear of Becoming "BIG"

Success should feel good. Growth should feel exciting. But sometimes, it doesn’t. Sometimes, success feels heavy. Like a weight pressing down. Like a rope pulling you forward when you’re not sure you’re ready.

Why does this happen?

Because the fear of becoming big is real. It has names. The Upper Limit Problem, where we sabotage ourselves when life gets too good. The Curse of Visibility, where standing out makes us feel like a target. The Fear of Scaling, where growth feels like losing control. The Icarus Paradox, where rising too fast can lead to a hard fall.

And the worst part? You might not even realize it’s happening.

Maya Angelou wrote over 30 bestselling books. Won awards. Inspired generations. And still, she said, "I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out." That’s Imposter Syndrome, and it doesn’t care if you’re a poet, an athlete, or a CEO—it whispers, You don’t deserve this.

Serena Williams dominated tennis. But success came with scrutiny. Every win, criticized. Every move, dissected. That’s Tall Poppy Syndrome—when standing out makes people want to cut you down.

And what about you?

Have you ever hesitated before taking the next step? Stalled a big project and talked yourself out of a promotion? You’re not alone. A 2023 study found that 60% of small business owners fear scaling. They worry about burnout. About failure and losing control.

And yet, 10,000 businesses launch every day. 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs felt unqualified when they started. Fear is real, but growth happens anyway.

So what now?

Call it out. Is it Perfection Paralysis—waiting for something to be flawless before you start? or is it the Success Trap—reaching one level and fearing the next? Or maybe it’s the famous Crab Mentality, where people—sometimes even yourself—pull you back down.

Then, you push through. Because the world doesn’t need you to shrink. It needs you to rise. Maya Angelou did. Serena Williams did. Every game-changer, innovator, and leader did. And you can too.

The question is are you ready?