Fear of failing, fear of success, fear of rejection, fear of ruffling feathers, fear of looking foolish, or fear that we will be exposed for not being as smart as people think we are.

FORBES: Procrastination, At What Price?

Many bosses, workers and politicians in the rich world fear that the success of these newcomers will be at their own expense.

ECONOMIST: The rich nations no longer dominate global production

It is rich countries' fear of emerging economies' success, not that success itself, that is the real danger to the world economy.

ECONOMIST: Playing leapfrog

They recognize their stake in the coalition's success, even though a thick residue of fear inhibits many from contributing to that success.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations

Although Teledesic says it is still confident of success, others fear that the improvement of rival technologies, such as broadband wireless and fibre optics, will leave Teledesic with little but niche markets.

ECONOMIST: Prince Alwaleed

Gary Wendt, CEO of GE Capital during its heyday, once said to me that the secret of his success was the fear that his business could fall off a cliff at any moment.

FORBES: Get Ready to Fall Off the Cliff

And unless America can make a success out of Iraq, investors fear that it will lack the credibility to press for ambitious change elsewhere.

ECONOMIST: Reconstructing the Middle East

So much of success is mental, i.e. recognizing your fear and moving forward anyway.

FORBES: Erin Burnett Steps "Out Front"

Even success, it seems, cannot escape the year of fear.

CNN: Newsmakers 1995

"My fear is that we had genuinely identified a group of players in 1998 and 2000 that could go on and achieve success in 2006 by reaching the semi-finals and be serious final contenders in 2010, " he stated.

BBC: World Cup 2010: England talent worries me - Wilkinson