Entrepreneurs can never use the 'Q' word
Farrah Gray/NNPA Columnist
Issue date: 4/12/09 Section: Business
Fear is a primary obstacle that prevents people from becoming entrepreneurs. Many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.
Fear is a disease. It cripples effective decision-making and most of the time accounts for the illogical actions that ensue.
Our country is now deep into a historic financial crisis that has most people in fear of losing their jobs, healthcare, and life savings. Learning to manage your fears can help you weather negative situations during hard times.
Many aspiring entrepreneurs have the dream of finding security by starting their own home-based business but maybe 2-5 percent of these people will actually apply their knowledge and unique talents. Entrepreneurs must learn how to manage and conquer their fears.
Think about what you want. When you doubt yourself by spinning the wheels in your mind on a worst-case scenario, turn it around and focus on what you do want. Visualize yourself building the new business. Create a new truth. Your mind will play powerful tricks if you let it so stop being your own roadblock and get back on track.
See yourself talking to the interested person as they become a part of your business. You get what you focus on.
Change the voice. When you hear yourself saying 'you're not good enough, you're going to fail,' change the voice from yours to that of Mickey Mouse or something silly that would hold little weight with you anyway. Who cares if Mickey Mouse thinks you're not good enough? Is Mickey Mouse an entrepreneur?
State your fears to a trusted friend or associate. Hopefully you have been able to find some level of support from at least one other entrepreneur. Turn to a support network such as your team or community association groups that you can get advice. 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 rarely understand the entrepreneur.
Build a personal development library. I draw tremendous support from mine. It is not just filled with how-to resources, but also stories of others who conquered their fears. You should begin to email your friends that might recommend sources of personal development based on your own description of your circumstances.
Fear is a disease. It cripples effective decision-making and most of the time accounts for the illogical actions that ensue.
Our country is now deep into a historic financial crisis that has most people in fear of losing their jobs, healthcare, and life savings. Learning to manage your fears can help you weather negative situations during hard times.
Many aspiring entrepreneurs have the dream of finding security by starting their own home-based business but maybe 2-5 percent of these people will actually apply their knowledge and unique talents. Entrepreneurs must learn how to manage and conquer their fears.
Think about what you want. When you doubt yourself by spinning the wheels in your mind on a worst-case scenario, turn it around and focus on what you do want. Visualize yourself building the new business. Create a new truth. Your mind will play powerful tricks if you let it so stop being your own roadblock and get back on track.
See yourself talking to the interested person as they become a part of your business. You get what you focus on.
Change the voice. When you hear yourself saying 'you're not good enough, you're going to fail,' change the voice from yours to that of Mickey Mouse or something silly that would hold little weight with you anyway. Who cares if Mickey Mouse thinks you're not good enough? Is Mickey Mouse an entrepreneur?
State your fears to a trusted friend or associate. Hopefully you have been able to find some level of support from at least one other entrepreneur. Turn to a support network such as your team or community association groups that you can get advice. 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 rarely understand the entrepreneur.
Build a personal development library. I draw tremendous support from mine. It is not just filled with how-to resources, but also stories of others who conquered their fears. You should begin to email your friends that might recommend sources of personal development based on your own description of your circumstances.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Euphoria
posted 4/17/09 @ 3:14 AM EST
Fear can be lowered with personal growth methods. It is better to focus on doing things that make you more relaxed. If you have fear, then you can never be happy. (Continued…)
Anthony
posted 4/30/09 @ 12:20 AM EST
"Keep seeking new ways to solve challenges. Listen and learn from others' experiences"
- That's a very important lesson not just in business but in life as well. (Continued…)
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