What happens to us when we're approaching the fulfillment of agoal? Many of us experience a letdown, panic, depression, or even outright fear that we're on the wrong course. No matter how certain we were earlier that our goal was a good one and the right decision, we often suddenly experience a dark period just before reaching a goal that we've worked hard for.

Sherry Lowry, Master Certified Coach and co-author of Discover Your Best Self Through the Art of Coaching explains:

''Almost all failure or loss of opportunity occurs in the last 5 percent.

• Losses occur in the last 5 percent of the distance in any kind of competition or in
• The last 5 percent of the clock-time if it's a timing deadline (Olympics, project deadline)
• Most sales are lost in the last 5 percent of the contact follow-up needed to close the sale or solidify the agreement.
• A 5 percent loss of confidence can capsize 95 percent of the good gained if it's at the crucial wrong time.
• 95 percent of advantage and application of savvy can be undone by 5 percent poor judgement.

The reverse is true - almost all success actually occurs during the last 5 percent of the endeavor. The difficulty is that usually only 5 percent of those endeavoring persevere to this point to still be in the realm of possibility. There is good reason it's said over and over that only 5 percent of all small businesses will still be operational and profitable at the end of their 5th year...while possibly 20 percent will still be operational at that point (doors open still) but they are more in 'hobby' or breaking-even mode. The other 80 percent never get the chance as they've phased out well before the last 5 percent of their race to success.

In short, most people do ALL the right things to succeed...they just may tend to stop 5 percent short of doing them frequently enough, in depth enough, or with enough confidence, and cash flow.''

To illustrate this phenomenon, I talked with some of the best and brightest minds on the Internet.

Heather Martin, new media content strategist, copywriter, explains, ''Before reaching any large goal, I go into somewhat of a depression. My husband calls it my necessary ''freak out'' time, and he's right..... I don't know how or why, but during that time, I tend to question every move I make. Did I do it right? Am I on the right track? And, the ever famous, 'Sure, *I* think I'm talented, but what if other people don't?' Writing or planning that's normally simple is really, really hard when I'm feeling down and all I really want to do is stay in bed and hibernate.'' A webmaster of a high traffic Web site explained, ''As I get closer to finishing a project or a major step in a project, I tend to either slow down at the very end, or finish it, and hold it without releasing it for awhile. I haven't decided if this is due to a fear of success or a fear of failure. Or, maybe a fear of competition, or even a fear of making a wrong decision.''

Jenny Wanderscheid of www.childfun.com explains, ''When my site starting getting bigger, there were days that I thought, 'this can't be happening.' Then I felt trapped for awhile. People were always writing, asking for help, advice, etc. I was terrified. In a way, I felt like my personal life was no longer mine. People I had never heard of were writing from all over the world. I was scared of letting them down. Then I realized that it was just a part of success and that all I could do was give it my all and do the best I could and enjoy it.''

Not only does this happen in business, but it also occurs when we're striving for personal goals. Mia Cronan of www.mainstreetmom.com explains, ''Back when I was about 2 quarters away from graduating from college, I came across a job opportunity that would have required that I quit school right then. It was really tempting, but my Dad pushed me and pushed me to finish school when all I wanted to do was get out (I was sick of school). I turned down the job and graduated. Looking back on that time in my life, as I have quite often, I can say that I never saw the value of the goal until it was behind me. On my journey there it seemed nebulous and pointless. Now I can see that the fruits of my labor have indeed paid off, and, though the gratification came much later, it was worth not knowing what would come of it.''

Brenda Hyde of www.seedsofknowledge.com explains, ''In my personal life I have seen this to be so true. I was at wit's end after a bad relationship, working at a job that was exhausting me and I couldn't focus on my goals. Just when I was at my lowest I met my husband at work, of all places. It seemed to me that God saw ''the big picture'' of my life but all I could see were the day to day struggles. I have experienced this many times since, and each time when I am about to give up on my goal, things turn around.''

What can we do about it?

Realize that this is normal and talk about it. Don't let it throw you. Don't let that momentary panic let you doubt your resolve or your ability to achieve your goals. Cheryl Demas of www.wahm.com explained, ''At our house, we call it the Greg and Jenny syndrome, named after the happy All My Children couple of the 80's. Just as everything looked like it was going to work out perfectly for them (they'd overcome every imaginable obstacle, and it looked as though they would live happily ever after), Jenny was blown up on a jet ski! It always happens in soap operas, the writers make everything rosy for a character just before they drop the ''safe'' on their head. In our family, we deal with this by recognizing when we're getting that feeling and talking about it. I tell my husband when I'm feeling like ''Greg and Jenny'' and we discuss what's happening to make me feel that way. Recognizing the fear that comes with success and talking through it always helps me. I think the fear that comes when I'm close to a goal is because I realize how much I have to lose. Getting close to success also makes me realize how much I really want to reach that goal ... missing it when it is so close is all the more hard to take. Talking with my husband always makes me feel better, and he always ends our conversation with a warning to stay away from jet skis.''

Learn to appreciate it Heather Martin of SuccessWorks explains, ''Luckily, those freak out times only last a day or so. It's like my brain is clearing out of all my anxieties, fears and other assorted ick and making way for a new way of thinking. In fact, now I welcome my depressed times. I don't enjoy the process, but the end result is fantastic.''

Realize that the level of panic is proportional to the importance of the goal. The harder we've worked and the more we want a goal, it seems the worse the panic, the fear and the depression. I'm not exactly sure why this is, but it does seem to be a reality for many people.

So the next time you feel scared or even panicky when your goal is within reach, don't let it get you too upset. Realize this is perfectly normal. Hang in there. Don't give up, stay determined and the fears will subside and you'll soon reap the rewards of the achievement of your goal.

Marnie Pehrson, a mother of 6, has been highlighting truth and talent for 15 years. Whether it's writing a novel that spotlights individuals who've made a difference in the world or helping a talented entrepreneur create a platform for his life's work, Marnie underscores truth and talent in innovative and compelling ways. She is the creator of www.IdeaMarketers.com and helps experts promote their products and services online. For more information on her various projects and books, visit http://www.pwgroup.com. Contact the author, Marnie Pehrson , at marnie@pwgroup.com
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