Faith Over Fear

So you've talked about starting a business for years. Your family and friends are tired of listening to you go on and on about your dream business and how you are planning to leave your 9 to 5. But something is holding you back. Could it be fear of the unknown? What will really happen when you start this business? Or is it fear of failure? What if you put in all of this work and fail? Lastly, is it about finances...you think you need a lot of money to get started.

Starting a new business does come with risk, and there are no guarantees, but think about this for a second...we take risks everyday that God allows us to wake up. I've been an entrepreneur for 26 years, having owned various businesses and fear of the unknown and fear of failure has always been there, lurking around in the back of my brain. But I always made a conscious decision to walk in my crazy faith instead. Why do I call it crazy, because most never understand my vision, my dreams; to them, it seems crazy, but for me, it makes perfect sense.

"Your faith should be bigger than your fears"

Everything won't go as planned, and that's okay. As an entrepreneur, you have to be flexible and learn how to shift gears. You will fail. Let me say that again...you will fail! Every seed that you plant won't grow. Some of your business ideas will flop, and that's okay. The point of failure is to learn from our mistakes and grow, to take that idea that didn't flourish and analysis it; figure out what happened and then go back and make it perfect.

Now let's tackle this finance excuse. Contrary to popular beliefs, you don't need a lot of money to start a business. Many new entrepreneurs have larger than life ideas that will require a lot of money. You have to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run a marathon. Instead of starting big and being overwhelmed because you are clueless about everything at this point, start small and grow. When you start small, you don't need a lot of money to get started, and in some cases, you have everything that you need.

Let's also dispel the myth of getting funding to START your new business. This rarely happens and in some industries, it never happens. Investors what to see that you have customers, that your business is generating revenue and that you are consistent and not some here today, gone tomorrow business. Investors also want some type of guarantee that they will get a return on their investment. Working with investors takes time, you have to cultivate relationships, and rub a lot of elbows. It's way more involved than most people think.

When starting a business many need guidance from someone who has traveled this road, and who will hold their feet to their fire. Three years ago, I started the Business Boot Camp to assist women just like you, women who are ready to start their own business. The boot camp grew from all of the scenarios and excuses that I just shared. I understand better than most people, that starting a business can be overwhelming, and this feeling alone will make most people quit before they really get started. My goal with the business boot camp is to push you out of your comfort zone and through the excuses, while giving you the tools and resources that you need to be successful.

Don't let fear and the lack of money stop you from starting your dream business! It's time to put your faith over your fears, show your family and friends just how serious you are about becoming your own boss regardless to them believing that you're crazy, but more importantly, it's time that you prove to yourself that you are worthy of making this dream come true.

Dr. Carey Yazeed is a Business Therapist and founder of the brand, Beauty, Brains & Business which consists of a network of likeminded female entrepreneurs and a weekly podcast. To learn more about Dr. Yazeed and the upcoming Business Boot Camp, visit www.thebeautybrainsandbusiness.com