what is it really like to own a business - part 2 when fear of failure sets in?

Today I want to write about the fear of failure and the paralysis that often overcomes people. Surprisingly some actually start the business only to be totally crushed by their fear once they run into some of the detours or bumps in the road that’ll often happen while owning a business.

When I career coach and counsel people, fear is one of the first things I talk about. I can determine a lot about someone on this subject based on how they approach the process of finding a business in the first place. I describe fear in two ways. One is does it keep you up at night? Does it make you sick to your stomach (or actually throwing up!)? Or is it and excited kind of anxiety, somewhat uncertain of the future but very interested in the possibilities? If it is the former, I tell people they should stay employed. If it’s the latter, I share that this is natural and healthy. This is a physical and mental check and balance that can protect us.

So if you’ve started your business already and then find yourself frozen or paralyzed as you are running things, what do you do then? I coach people through it by considering what “F.E.A.R.” really is – false expectations appearing real. Indeed, most things we worry about never happen! So why waste the time? But if you have fallen into that trap, and need some help getting out of it, I suggest action. Take a step, do something that you think might help solve the problem or address the issue. I find that in the long run some of these things didn’t actually help solve the problem or situation. But what they did was move you, get you off of the step you’re frozen at.

Lastly I feel preparation and knowledge are important to never fearing failure. With both you build your confidence. And as you do this over and over again, you’ll come to the place where fear just isn’t an option anymore.

These are good personal disciplines or habits to build. they virtually assure you of never being sunk by worry or fear. Give them a try sometime!