I conducted a survey over social media last year and collected responses from women on what they struggle with the most when it comes to business. Several patterns emerged but one very clear winner came out on top. The most common answers included having enough capital and having the knowledge needed to build a biz, but the number one struggle for women entrepreneurs was fear. This did not shock me as we women tend to live in it, but it did cause me to look deeper at the reasons why women in particular struggle so much with fear and how they can move past it. If fear lingers over your shoulder like a vulture waiting for you to die, read the following points to help diminish your fear, and realize just how courageous you really are.
1. You ARE Courageous
There is confidence in security. Most Americans believe that it is safer to stay with what you know than to move forward into something you don’t. You’ve probably heard the saying, “the devil you know vs. the devil you don’t.” With this thought in mind, most people would prefer the comfort and consistency of a known paycheck and a “secure” job, even one they hate, versus taking a risk and leaving to start their own business. In fact, it is such a tremendous concern that the overwhelming majority of the U.S. workforce, both men and women, will never become their own boss. So if you have started the journey into entrepreneurship and are working to build a business, congratulations! You already have more courage than the majority of your fellow Americans!
2. Security Is a Matter of Perspective
Any of us who worked during the tremendous economic downturn of 2008, and the years that followed, know that job security is somewhat of a myth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 8.8 million Americans lost their so-called “secure” jobs during that time, myself included, primarily from large corporations that a few years earlier no one would have ever expected to close their doors. Given this reality, I would encourage you to develop a mental shift in your perspective. Yes, starting a business is scary but in a way you are diversifying your risk among multiple clients rather than relying on one major client (your employer) to keep food on your table. In many ways, you are more secure as a business owner than a traditional 9-5 employee because you have control over your business and where you want to take it.
3. You Are in Control
People often forget that they have the power to make choices, to own them, and to take action. The average person makes up to 35,000 choices per day! While making decisions is not always easy, especially when you are afraid you might make the wrong one, there is also power in it. You don’t have to ride along as the captain points the ship toward an approaching iceberg, you have the power to change direction and instead steer toward the Caribbean. Making decisions becomes empowering, and much easier, when you are clear on where you are going and why. The question to ask yourself before making a difficult decision is, “does it fall in line with my planned accomplishments?” If you don’t have any planned accomplishments, consider joining me for The Results Map Experience where you will not only map out what you want to accomplish, but also build a strategy and a plan for how to get there. When you know where you are going and why, making decisions suddenly goes from terrifying to invigorating.
The truth is, life is uncertain. Whether the employee or the employer you take on a certain level of risk. Yes, your business could fail, but this is true of every company, no matter what the size, and you ultimately have a greater chance of making something succeed when you are the one making the decisions. So stop letting fear hold you back. Go all in and don’t spend your time questioning your decisions. Yes, you will make some bad decisions along the way, but don’t marinate in them. Make your decisions, live with them, own them, and then move on. Do you want to know the true secret to finding courage? It’s understanding that you will make mistakes and moving ahead anyway.
For help moving past your fears, developing a plan and a strategy to achieve your goals, and growing bigger than you ever imagined, join me November 3-4, 2016 for The Grow Grid Intensive.
The Grow Grid Intensive would not be possible without my amazing Premier Partners.
