What do you do if you're an entrepreneur afraid of failure?

Hard not to start with the cliche... that's a cliche for a reason ;) 'Are you failing or... learning?" Also, WHO are you failing? You might feel you have a winning value prop but what if you have failed 1 or more key stakeholders (in their eyes)? Psychologically, fear of failure is common but let me suggest 2 possible angles: 1) what about the fear of missing a great opportunity? Entrepreneurs can fear 'missing the boat' as much or more as 'missing the boat' (@Joe Giglierano & @Peter Dickson); 2) why you failed matters - if I'm a social entrep trying to reduce hunger & I fail because someone does it better/faster/cheaper, I might be very disappointed but that's hardly a failure, yes? (2 good scholars on this: Isabell Welpe, Dean Shepherd)

Embracing failure as an integral part of the journey towards success, I approach fear with a strategy: I redefine failure as a vital learning experience, establish SMART goals, prioritize taking action, visualize achieving success, seek wisdom from others, and maintain openness to new insights

Fear is a natural response to taking a risk. It's ok to be afraid, however, it is not ok to let fear keep you stuck from moving forward. You will never get THERE if you just sit there. Failure is fertilizer for growth. You need the intel that comes with failure. Be afraid, but keep it moving because everyone will meet failure on the journey to success.

Its not the actual failure but the FEAR of failure that is crippling. While it's normal and at times a bit healthy to have little bit of fear so that you don't become complacent, one must recognise that fear is an imagined scenario. I too have faced the same in the past and the best advice that has helped my plough on despite fear is something that one of my coach told me. When I shared with him that I'm hesitant to take some action due to fear of failure , he looked into my eyes and said "There's only one way to find out, isn't it". And that was an aha and liberating moment for me. So if as an entrepreneur you are afraid to fail , rather than getting into analysis paralysis, follow the Nike slogan - Just do it !!!

Be proactive, map up a risk management plan including the possible remedial solution if it happens. Work out if the risk is high, medium or low based on research and/or industry trends forecasting studies. Estimate a cost to each. Certainly, an entrepreneur has to be prepared for adversity, complexity and unforeseen circumstances just like any business. However, being afraid is the norm but taking proactive action is the way ahead.

Learn from your failures and strive to do better next time. Always try again and again. Many successful people have failed several times but they kept on trying until they got it right.

La formación debe ser continua. Además de contratar, si es necesario, a un mentor que nos guíe en nuestros transito o camino.

It is natural to feel afraid when moving away from the comfort zone. Yet, as an entrepreneur there must be a new mindset because new things have to be done even if there’s some fear. Otherwise, it could be too stressful and the journey has to be enjoyed.

Learn from your mistakes and continue to build . What we don't learn the first time comes back and haunts in the future. We should make it a goal to learn one new thing every day and we can keep growing.

Learning is the key to all locks. Learn from the ample resources available in the form of online courses, webinars, conferences, and business talks. The beauty of this digital era is that everything is in reach with a small effort. The knowledge not only makes you aware of the current happening but prepares you as well to calculate the risk.

Instead of focusing on networking, build a support system. Surround yourself with supportive friends, family members, mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs who can offer encouragement, advice, and perspective during challenging times. Join e-learning communities where you can support and others can support you as well. It is a two-way street. Instead of merely networking for yourself.

Moving from fear to fearlessness: This movement is an inward journey. The source of fear (whether or not you are an entrepreneur) is always within you. To find this source, traveling from self-reflection to self-analysis while using meditation as the mode is the best way to deal with fear. Finally, journaling helps to filter and streamline the self analysed thoughts and find solutions to eradicate the fear.

Failure is big part of the entrepreneur journey & required to develop character and build integrity & resilience. You can't be successful in business unless you master the concepts of self-control & discipline.

Network Support “No one is an island”. is a slogan that I use. Human beings necessarily depend on one another, as in You can't manage this all by yourself; no man is an island . This expression is a quotation from John Donne's Devotions (1624): “No man is an Island, entire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.”

For entrepreneurs, it's crucial to build a strong support system. This involves connecting with peers, mentors, and professionals who can share their experiences with failure and offer guidance. Networking within the e-learning community provides fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to help navigate difficult times. Having a support network also provides encouragement and motivation during moments of fear or doubt about entrepreneurial endeavors.

Failure is required. Trying to be an entrepreneur without failing is like trying to be a MMA fighter without getting punched in the face.

There is no such thing as success without failure. It is a very important part of the entire process. We have to challenge ourselves to look at failure differently. Distilled down to its simplest form, failure is data gathering. The more data you can gather, synthesize and implement in your next steps will determine the rate at which you can grow. It’s necessary and it’s valuable. Embrace it!

Fear of failure is natural. As long as this fear doesn't hinder our personal / professional growth and happiness, it's fine. However, one should identify and assess the causes that lead to this feeling. Then, develop strategies to address these causes or consult experts if needed. This process would not only eliminate the fear of failure in entrepreneurs but also foster confidence. Entrepreneurs would be ready to confront their fears by implementing solutions.

Failure is often regarded as the stepping stone to success, a truth we must acknowledge. It provides invaluable lessons, enabling us to identify areas where we can strive for that extra effort required for success. Embracing failure with a positive outlook fosters continuous learning and personal growth, making it crucial to reframe our perspective on it in order to alleviate the fear associated with it.

Unless you are the ultimate unicorn entrepreneur then failure is going to part of your daily life. Failure is good, failure is essential but most importantly failure is never the end simply the beginning of a different path provided you learn from it.

Set Realistic Goals In your action plan, you must have realistic goals. They are the pillars that holds you up when the storms come. The word realistic is important. These goals have to be centered around things that you know you can do. There are no pie in the sky. You may have to tweet them, you will know that they can be down in a certain timeline.

Creat SMART goals and find quick milestones that you can celebrate along the way. If there is something early you can celebrate, it can build your confidence and motivation.

Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks that are achievable and realistic. Setting realistic goals can help reduce feelings of overwhelm and increase your confidence in your ability to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Self-care is always a difficiult one. When you're an entrepreneur it's easy for work to become your life...with no time out. Make the most of the freedom you have...if you're a planner...schedule regular time to do the things that you enjoy, that relax you. If you're impulsive...drop everything when you get the chance and go and climb a hill, if that's your thing. The point is...you need to look after yourself. You won;t do anyone a favour if you;re broken. You're an entrepreneur. With that comes responsibilities, but also freedom. Embrace the freedom. Be kind to yourself...and by extension those you work with. Try it. You won;t regret it.

It’s easy to cut out the fun things that give you life. Practice gratitude and carve out time for one small thing you can do each day that feeds you. It could a run, a coffee with a friend, or 5 minutes sitting outside enjoying the sun. If you burn out, it’s not good for you or what you’re building!

Self-Care Priority Self-Care must become a priority in any career. I’ve had many jobs in my educational career. As a founder and Curriculum Director of a charter school, I spent many hours beyond my “get off work” time. Many times, I was walking in my house just to shower and change clothes. I thought that meant dedication. In reality, I was killing myself. My blood pressure was rising, and my weight was out of control. At that moment, I realized that I wasn’t helping myself because I was tired. I changed my schedule. I started going home at the right time. I exercised. I went in a diet. I even went to the movies and a Broadway Play. I changed my life.

Life gives us daily reasons to be afraid. Entrepreneurial missions are one example. But I’m much more afraid of not doing the things I’m called to do, and wondering what impact I could have had, than overcoming the many dragons along the way.

The best way to overcome any challenge or the fear of failure is to build your own self confidence, your self esteem and faith in yourself. This is because the biggest fear is the fear of failure that psychologically affects anyone and the repurcation's of this is clearly visible on your actions. To avoid this feeling of fear learn from such threats to your Psychological Crisis. Be optimistic in life!

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Give yourself a timeframe such a 6 months, a year, or whatever you think is reasonable. Then give your all during that time. There is nothing wrong with learning from your experiences and then using that to take a job to help an existing company if you feel it’s not for you.

It is completely normal to feel afraid of failure as an entrepreneur, but it is important not to let that fear hold you back. Instead of seeing failure as a negative outcome, try to view it as a learning experience. Failure can provide valuable lessons that can help you grow and improve in the future. Embrace the challenges, learn from your mistakes, and keep pushing forward.

Intra-personal skills play an important role in success or failure of a person. Our self-talk contributes to the way we work, and how much success we get. With guidance of a good mentor or manifestation coach, one needs to change the ‘language of fear and failure’ into the ‘positive affirmations’ E.g. instead of saying “ What if I fail?” One can say, “ I shall be successful with careful planning, guidance and hardwork”. Language helps us in changing the negative or fearful pattern of our thoughts. So we ought to consciously keep a check on what we speak. The way we speak starts influencing our thoughts, that’s how consistent positive affirmations keep us motivated and we beat the fear of failure.