Would you like to start your own business, but….? I have met so many people who have said that they’d like to start a business, to be their own boss, to live life unbound, but:
- the time is not right
- they don’t have the money
- they are not good at selling
- they don’t think enough people will be interested
and a multitude of other reasons. But it really boils down to FEAR.
Fear is good, if it saves you from physical danger. However, if fear prevents you from taking actions that will propel you forward, help you expand and enrich your experience, it’s not good for you.
Is fear of failure preventing you from starting your own business?
Are you going to let that fear define your life, or are you going to forge ahead and begin living life unbound?
Don’t allow fear to overwhelm you?
Getting Past Fear to Start Your Own Business
When you get past the fear and start living your life unbound, you will look back on today, on these fears and laugh about it. Ask yourself:
1. Why do I fear failure?
Why don’t you want to start your own business? Most people fear starting their own businesses because they are afraid of:
- losing all their money or possessions
- failure will make people see them as losers
Failure does not define you, and if people define you by failure, that is their loss, not yours. The only thing you will lose, is the delusion that they were necessary for your life experience.
In terms of financial loss, you might start small and reinvest the profits to slowly build your business. If the business does need a larger financial outlay, you may consider a different structure, such as forming a partnership.
2. What’s the worst that can happen if I fail?
Of course, nobody likes to fail. It’s unpleasant and uncomfortable. However, failure is hardly ever life-threatening. It is simply an opportunity this allows us to stretch our character and to learn valuable lessons about our values.
That is the very essence of starting your own business: It is one of the most life-enriching experiences you will ever enjoy. Fear of failure can cause you to miss out on this once-in-a lifetime experience.
Change your attitude towards fear and you will see your excuses crumble away.
3. What’s bigger, my fear, or my desire for freedom?
Fear can parallel you into not taking action, and causing you to get stuck. When you’re unable to move ahead with your goals because fear is stopping you from taking changes and grabbing opportunities, you can’t achieve your goals.
There’s the popular tale of the old Cherokee who spoke of the battle of two wolves:
He told his grandson that inside of each one of us, there is a battle raging, like that between two wolves.
The one wolf is Evil, and filled with ego, false pride, sorrow, resentment, envy, and fear.
The other wolf is Good and filled with love, serenity, kindness, truth, faith, joy and bravery.
The Cherokee’s grandson asked “Which wolf wins?” to which the Cherokee replied, “The one you feed.”
Which wolf will you feed? Fear or freedom?
I’d love to hear your take on the topic of fear about starting your own business. Please leave your comments below, and let’s discuss.