Does the Idea of Starting Your Own Business Scare the Pants Off You?
Many people dream of running their own business. It represents freedom and the opportunity to do something they are passionate about.
Many people will only ever dream of running their own business because the fear of failing is too strong. Fear paralyses them and they never take action.
Have you dreamt of running your own business? Is fear getting in the way of your success?
Most of us are terrified of failing! We’ve been taught since birth that winning is good, and failing is bad. Well, what makes this true? Consider that the only true failure is not playing the game. By not playing, you continually avoid failure, but you neither lose nor win.
Fear is normal. Fear is a sign that you are growing and developing. Developing as a person involves getting outside your comfort zone. Getting outside your comfort zone usually creates some sense of fear. Fear is not the problem …the problem is how we respond to our fear.
Fear feeds on the unknown. If starting your own business creates fear for you start doing your homework. The more you know the less there is to fear!
Start learning about how to run a business: take a course, read some business books, talk to other successful business owners.
Do your market research – you might have a great idea but have you researched its viability?
Develop a business and marketing plan. Get help with this if you are not confident in creating them.
What are the things you are worried about? What strategies can you create to prevent these outcomes?
All business carries a level of risk. Get real about the risks your business idea has and start making plans to minimize them.
Learn as much as you can to ensure your business idea has the ability to succeed.
It doesn’t matter how much you know or how much you learn – if you are not “doing” it won’t make any difference at all. So if you do all your research and the business idea still looks good it is time to take some action.
Action is the single thing that will bring about results in your life. You can have a great idea, but ideas without action are worthless. You can have the best and most well thought-out plan in the world, but if you do not take action, the plan is not worth the paper it is written on. Taking action is the only thing that will get you closer to your goals. By taking action, you create the momentum that is necessary to make things happen.
What about the fear that strikes after you start the business? You take the leap and suddenly you find yourself with all sorts of new fears:
What if nobody buys my product?
What if I call a prospect and they think I’m not good enough … after all I am brand new in business!
What if I don’t know what I’m doing?
The list, in fact, is endless …
Most new business owners experience this sudden sense of panic. I know I did! Again it is only a problem if you allow it to stop you moving forward. If the fear prevents you picking up the phone to call a prospect then it is getting in your way of succeeding.
Here are 5 strategies to help you get through this stage of fear:
Strategy 1 - Share - fears always minimize when you share them. Everyone has fears so there is no need to feel you are the only one.
Strategy 2 – Ask yourself … what if you did the thing that is causing you fear - what is the worst thing that could happen? If that result actually eventuated what would you do about it? Would there be a solution? Probably … so is it really worth spending time and energy worry about it?
Strategy 3 - Reframe your fear – this involves coming up with an alternative logical or objective viewpoint. For example – if you have a fear of failure you might reframe this to say “It is better to have a go and fail that not try at all”
Strategy 4 - Create a positive and empowering message – Instead of focusing on your fear of failure you might say to yourself “I am successful simply because I took action”
Strategy 5 -Choose to take an action – How many times have you been afraid to do something, and when you FINALLY summon up the courage to do it you immediately think to yourself “That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”.
Fears diminish rapidly as soon as you begin to take action.
“Courage is not the absence of fear. It is doing what it takes despite your fear” Author unknown
Linda Anderson is a Certified Professional Coach working with Small Business Owners and Professionals in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Linda helps her clients lead bold and successful lives. In 2002 Linda and her partner sold all their belongings, hit “pause” on their respective careers, and spent 365 days traveling the world. Linda brings this passion for challenge, new experiences and adventure to her coaching. Visit Linda at: όacoaching.com όacoaching.com