Kate Zhang of Kate Backdrop On Becoming Free From The Fear Of Failure

An Interview With Savio P. Clemente

Embrace your mistakes and learn from them — Everyone makes mistakes; it’s part of being human. What matters is how you learn from them and grow as a result. Embracing your mistakes will help you become more confident and resilient, two critical qualities for anyone striving to succeed.

The Fear of Failure is one of the most common restraints that holds people back from pursuing great ideas. Imagine if we could become totally free from the fear of failure. Imagine what we could then manifest and create. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who can share stories and insights from their experience about “Becoming Free From the Fear of Failure.” As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Kate Zhang.

Kate Zhang is the founder of Kate Backdrop. She started the company to provide other photographers and event planners with the perfect backdrop solution. Kate is passionate about backdrops and ensuring everyone has access to beautiful, high-quality backdrops.

Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?

I love photography and design and used to be a professional photographer. I got into backdrops because I was always looking for the perfect backdrop for my photos, but I could never find anything that fit my style. So, I decided to make my own!

I started Kate Backdrop to provide other photographers and event planners with the perfect backdrop solution. We offer a wide range of backdrops in different styles, so there’s something for everyone.

Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘take aways’ you learned from that?

The most interesting story from my career is probably when I almost went bankrupt.

I was making six figures at the height of my business, and things were going great. But then the recession hit, and my business took a huge hit. I was barely scraping by, and I was terrified that I would have to close my business.

But I didn’t give up. I made some changes to my business model and started focusing on marketing. And eventually, my business started to turn around.

I learned from that experience that you can’t give up when things get tough. You have to be willing to make changes and adapt to the market.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Three character traits instrumental to my success are discipline, persistence, and focus.

Discipline is important because it allows you to stay on track even when things are tough. Persistence is important because it allows you to keep going even when you encounter setbacks. And the focus is important because it allows you to stay focused on your goals even when there are distractions.

These three character traits have helped me overcome challenges and succeed in my career.

Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. We would like to explore and flesh out the concept of becoming free from failure. Let’s zoom in a bit. From your experience, why exactly are people so afraid of failure? Why is failure so frightening to us?

People are afraid of failure because they don’t want to experience the negative consequences that come with it. Failure can lead to embarrassment, shame, and self-doubt. It can also lead to financial problems and setbacks in your career.

People also fear failure because they don’t want to disappoint others. We live in a society that values success and achievement, so people often fear what others will think if they fail.

The fear of failure is a natural human emotion that can be paralyzing. But it’s important to remember that failure is a part of life and not the end of the world.

What are the downsides of being afraid of failure? How can it limit people?

The downsides of being afraid of failure are that it can limit people’s potential and prevent them from taking risks. People afraid of failure are often unwilling to try new things because they are afraid of failing. This can prevent them from achieving their goals and reaching their full potential.

Additionally, fear of failure can lead to anxiety and stress, negatively affecting a person’s physical and mental health.

In contrast, can you help articulate a few ways how becoming free from the free of failure can help improve our lives?

One benefit of becoming free from the fear of failure is that it can help us take risks and achieve our goals. It can also help us to focus on our strengths and improve our self-confidence.

Being free from the fear of failure can also help us to learn from our mistakes and improve our skills. It can also allow us to become more resilient and better cope with setbacks.

We would love to hear your story about your experience dealing with failure. Would you be able to share a story about that with us?

I can share a story about my experience dealing with failure. A few years ago, I started my own business. Unfortunately, the business failed within the first year. I was devastated. I felt like a complete failure.

I was tempted to give up and walk away from my business. But I didn’t give up. I made some changes to my business model and started focusing on marketing. And eventually, my business started to turn around.

I learned from this experience that failure is not the end of the world. It’s important to pick yourself up and keep going.

How did you rebound and recover after that? What did you learn from this whole episode? What advice would you give to others based on that story?

How did you rebound and recover after that?

I rebounded and recovered by taking a step back and evaluating what I did wrong. I also looked for solutions and made changes to my business model. I then focused on marketing my business, and eventually, it turned around.

What did you learn from this whole episode?

I learned that failure is not the end of the world. I also learned that it’s essential to take responsibility for your failures and learn from them.

What advice would you give to others based on that story?

My advice would be to not give up after experiencing failure. It’s essential to learn from your mistakes and make changes. Also, focus on your strengths and not be afraid to take risks.

Fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview. In your opinion, what are 5 steps that everyone can take to become free from the fear of failure”? Please share a story or an example for each.

1. Embrace your mistakes and learn from them

Everyone makes mistakes; it’s part of being human. What matters is how you learn from them and grow as a result. Embracing your mistakes will help you become more confident and resilient, two critical qualities for anyone striving to succeed.

2. Focus on your progress, not perfection

It’s important to celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. This will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals. Additionally, striving for perfection can be detrimental, leading to disappointment and frustration — progress, not perfection.

3. Visualize yourself achieving your goals

See yourself in your mind’s eye achieving the success you desire. This will help to increase your confidence and belief in yourself, both of which are essential for reaching your goals.

4. Take small steps towards your goals

Don’t try to achieve everything all at once; taking things one step at a time is essential. This will help you stay focused and not become overwhelmed. Additionally, each small step will get you closer to your ultimate goal.

5. Seek support from others

Surround yourself with positive people who will support and encourage you. This is critical for maintaining your motivation and confidence. Additionally, having a strong support system can make all the difference when faced with challenges and setbacks.

The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “It is possible to fail in many ways…while to succeed is possible only in one way.” Based on your experience, have you found this quote to be true? What do you think Aristotle really meant?

Yes, I believe this quote is true. Failure is often the result of taking too many risks or not being prepared enough. Success, on the other hand, requires careful planning and execution. There is often only one way to achieve success.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I think it’s important to inspire people to be their best selves and to never give up on their dreams. I would encourage people to pursue their passions and never settle for anything less than they deserve. Additionally, I would promote the importance of helping others and giving back to the community.

We are blessed that some very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them :-)

If I could have a private breakfast or lunch with anyone, it would be Oprah Winfrey. She is an incredible woman who has achieved so much in her life. I admire her for her strength, resilience, and compassion. I believe she would have some great advice to share.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Here is our website: https://www.katebackdrop.com/

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.