Are You Facing Your Fears As An Entrepreneur?
Everyone I have ever talked to that is an entrepreneur has had to come face to face with their fears. I have had to as well. I want to share with you some of the techniques that I have used to face them. The first step is not to be in denial. You have fears even if you are not ready to acknowledge them. Fears sometimes take the form of that chatter in the back of your head that says you can’t do it or the hesitation you feel before you make an important phone call.
Fear is such a huge issue preventing people from becoming entrepreneurs. I have heard from the CEO of a real-estate based network marketing company that even though he has people packing out company seminars, that maybe 2-5% of people will actually go out and apply the knowledge by putting offers on real estate. He is convinced that the rest are paralyzed by fear.
Here are Some of the Techniques for Facing Your Fears As An Entrepreneur
1. Focus on what you really want not the particular task is frightening you. When you find yourself spinning the wheels in your mind over and again about your worst case scenario, turn it around and focus on what you DO want. Visualize yourself getting what you do want. See the new house. See yourself talking to the interested person as they become a part of your business. You get what you focus on.
2. Change the voice. When you hear yourself telling you that you’re not good enough – you’re going to fail. Just change the voice from yours to that of Mickey Mouse or Jim Carey or something that would hold little weight with you anyway! Who cares if Mickey Mouse thinks you’re not good enough? Remember Walt Disney was the entrepreneur who started small with a little mouse.
3. Voice them to a trusted friend or associate. Hopefully, you have been able to find some level of support from at least one other entrepreneur. Ideally, you have a significant other that supports you. Some people may tell you that it is silly you could even believe that you’re not good enough. However, don’t go looking for support to all those people who doubted you and told you it was crazy to go out on your own. They will never understand you, the entrepreneur. I have found networking meetings with fellow entrepreneurs to be a great resource for me to bounce ideas and fears around.
4. Have a personal development library. I draw tremendous support from my library. I keep most of my books on my kindle so that I can access them at any time. It is not just filled with how-to resources, but also stories of others who conquered their fears. I couldn’t begin to list the many sources I have, but if you email me I can recommend something based on your own description of your business.
5. Go ahead and just do it. Sometimes just making the smallest step will help get you going enough that the fear of not doing something can go away. An example would be neglecting to write an article such as this one out of fear of failure. Just starting it can create enough momentum to see it through.
6. Visualize the result, but make the action the goal. There is a subtle difference here for the entrepreneur. Of course, you want the result, but maybe that’s not in your direct control. Visualize the result in your mind, but make your goal the consistent and persistent action of the entrepreneur. The action will eventually produce the result and you can certainly achieve that goal.
7. Ask yourself Powerful Questions such as “What’s the Most Important Thing That I Need To Do For My Business Today?” or “Who Do I Need To Connect With Today For The Best Results?”
Never, ever quit. I hate to even use that q word. If you do quit, you cease to be an entrepreneur – otherwise, you’re not beaten, you keep moving forward!
Kimberly “Design” Love is a lifestyle designer and author. After a successful career in interior design and architecture, she redesigned her own life, moved to paradise, and turned her strengths and talents toward helping people design a lifestyle they love. Her latest book, Design Your Life & Business shares her strategy for designing a lifestyle you love.
