We all have fears. In fact, as entrepreneurs we are often all too familiar with fear:
- What makes me think my idea will work? (Fear of failure)
- What if I build it and they don’t come? (Fear of rejection)
- What if my idea creates more work than I can manage? (Fear of success)
Like most things in life, fear has two sides: an upside and a downside. That is, fear can be beneficial and it can be detrimental. It’s what we do with our experience of fear that determines how it affects our decisions in both our business lives and our personal lives.
If fear of the new logo design not being quite right prompts a detailed review of and/or small change to the logo before launch, creating that “Ah ha!” moment, then fear has served as a beneficial motivator. But if fear causes us to question and doubt ourselves to the point of stagnation, then fear has become our enemy.
Chances are overcoming our fears will be crucial to our success. So how can we stay on the upside of fear?
- Begin by talking with someone who has experienced similar fears. Talk with someone you trust, a mentor in your field or an inner critic coach.
Sharing your fears with someone who can relate to what you are experiencing can help you distinguish between worry and intuition: what is your gut saying versus what the anxious thoughts in your mind are saying.
- Do you have key players in place?
- Are you growing at an appropriate pace?
- Is your story out there (for instance, via a branding video)?
If your answer to these and other essential branding questions is yes, then remember to trust your instinct and move forward.
If your answer to these types of questions is no, then take the time to revisit them in detail, discovering the source of concern. If your gut has told you something’s amiss, listen to it; and then, remember to listen just as closely when your guts tells you it’s time to move forward.
If you’re not sure about your answer, consider another conversation or two with your mentor, exploring these questions together. In these conversations, be sure to delve deeper into your story. Often times, our story is precisely where we find the answers to our most pressing questions.
- Ask yourself this age-old question: If I knew I could handle whatever comes, what would I do that I’m not doing now? This is a key question if fear of failure is bogging you down.
- Ask yourself what actions you would be taking and what conversations you would be having if you knew you were positioned to handle the result(s).
- Get on top of important issues in a timely manner. Addressing concerns as they arise allows you to remain proactive in your approach to problem solving. Be willing to abandon what doesn’t work and to replace old strategies with new ones.
If fear of making the right or wrong decision finds you in the trap of paralysis by analysis, revisit the suggestions above.
Remember, fear has two sides and, as entrepreneurs, we are undoubtedly going to experience both of them. By taking steps to stay on the upside of fear, whether the fear of failure or the fear of rejection, we move one step closer to realizing our goals.
Knowing and accepting that fear is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey frees us to accept, address, and then move past our fears. Now get going!
To read more about what holds us back on our business journeys, read my previous entry about this topic here. Or read about my spiritual approach for mastering entrepreneurial challenges here.
You will also find ideas related to this topic in my most recent entries Success as the Ultimate Failure, and What Comes Next and Your Brand Is Your Story.
Do you have tips for overcoming your fears? Please share below.
Want to know more about naming your business, branding your business, re-branding your business, branding a startup, creating a tagline, creating a manifesto, creating a vision statement, creating a logo, or anything else about getting your company where you want it to be? Please contact us today!