Don't Look Down! Do This Instead.

Imagine you’re walking a high wire, stretched thin across two buildings. Below, the drop is dizzying. There’s no safety net, no harness. The wind howls, threatening to pull you off balance. Every instinct screams at you to stop, to look down, to retreat.

But here’s the paradox: the moment you look down, you lose balance. The only way across is to keep your eyes locked on the destination, move forward, and keep your balance.

This is entrepreneurship.

Most say the key to entrepreneurial success is relentless focus on the goal, while others argue that it’s about managing risks. The truth? It’s both. While your vision must guide you, ignoring the risks below doesn’t make them disappear. Success comes from understanding the risks, acting to mitigate them, and moving forward anyway.

Most successful startups have had several close encounters with death throughout their lifecycle. You may be running out of cash, encountering a global supply chain crisis, living through a pandemic, losing a key team member, facing a formidable new competitor, and a myriad of other issues. And if you are lucky, they don't all happen on the same day.

If you focus too closely on the problems, you will be consumed by them.

Entrepreneurs who succeed on the wire understand that success isn’t about perfection. It’s about mastering recovery.

What Should You Do Instead of Looking Down?

1. Focus on the Far Side

Your destination is your North Star. When the wobble feels overwhelming, reconnect with your vision. Ask yourself: What am I building, and why does it matter? But don’t stop there—break it into actionable steps. As I emphasize in Exit Path, having a clear, compelling goal isn’t enough. You need to align every action with improving your odds of reaching it.

2. Assess the Wobble

Don’t ignore the wobble; understand it. High-wire walkers don’t pretend the wind isn’t there—they account for it. In entrepreneurship, this means being honest about your risks. Is it a market shift, team instability, or funding uncertainty? Awareness is your ally. The goal isn’t to fear the wobble but to adapt to it.

3. Tilt the Odds in Your Favor

Every step you take should improve your chances of success. I call this “smart risk mitigation." From strategic hiring to securing partnerships and building optionality into your plans, small, deliberate actions compound over time. Success isn’t just about bold leaps—it’s about tilting the wire ever so slightly in your favor.

4. Keep Moving Forward

On the wire, stillness is stagnation, and stagnation is dangerous. The only way forward is to keep stepping. This is why obsession with problems—team conflicts, market shifts, funding crunches—can be lethal. Overanalyzing risks can lead to paralysis. Standing still is often more dangerous than moving. In entrepreneurship, taking imperfect action is better than waiting for certainty. Adopt an experimental mindset. The next step might not be perfect, but it will bring you closer to the other side.

5. Lean on Your Support System

Even the most daring high-wire walkers don’t act alone. They have a team securing the line, ensuring stability, and cheering them on. As an entrepreneur, you need your own network of advisors, mentors, and peers who can offer perspective and help mitigate risks you might not see.

Entrepreneurship is a constant balancing act between vision and vigilance. It’s not about eliminating fear or risks—it’s about knowing how to navigate them. The wire is thin, the stakes are high, but the rewards of reaching the other side are extraordinary.

You don’t need to eliminate fear. You need to learn to move forward despite it.

So, the next time you feel the wobble, don’t let fear paralyze you. Do this instead: focus on your vision, assess the risks, take deliberate action to improve your odds, and keep moving forward.