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How to Fight Your Fear and Start Your Dream Business

Find out how to conquer your fears and start the business of your dreams with these simple tricks.

By Lynda ArbonPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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Do you know what the biggest pitfall is for new entrepreneurs? It's not bad ideas or a lack of money or connections. It's fear. That little worm in your head that sows doubt in times of uncertainty. We all fall prey to fear at one time or another, that's completely unavoidable. The important thing is not to let that fear stand in your way. Up to 30% of business owners in the US expressed fear of failure strong enough to derail their plans for entrepreneurial success. Luckily, there are some tips we can use to keep that anxiety in line. Here are a few simple ideas to help you control your fear and let yourself become the successful and wealthy business owner you know you're meant to be.

Visualize Your Goals

It might sound like some cheesy, hippy-dippy nonsense, but visualization techniques have been used by a lot of people to help them overcome fear and other obstacles on their paths to success. These can range from small things like writing down your goals and plans to bigger exercises like visiting businesses that you'd like to model your own on. Visualization and putting positive energy out into the world may not do much in terms of concrete results, but it can work wonders on your own morale and mental well-being, which should never be underestimated as a factor in business success. The more you visualize what your business is going to be, how it's going to change the world and improve your life, the more you'll realize how important it is to you. You need to make sure you're holding onto that spark inside yourself that keeps you going, and help it grow into a raging fire. After that, your fears and anxieties will feel like nothing in comparison. Next time you find yourself getting trapped in fear or self-doubt, try visualizing the future you want for yourself. It can also help in more practical ways - try using visualization exercises to help you plan your next steps or put together your business plan.

Keep Yourself Educated

One great thing to keep in mind as you're starting your business is the wealth of information out there specifically intended for people like you. You may be striking out on your own path, but that doesn't mean you have nothing to learn from the entrepreneurs who came before you. Knowledge is power, and one of the best ways to fight your fears is to educate yourself on them. Find articles just like this one, or checklists of commonly overlooked business pitfalls. One particularly great resource is the things that successful people say they wish they knew before they got started with their own business. This helps you avoid the traps that you fear might derail your plans before they even come up. There are also a ton of resources out there you can look through, like the US Small Business Association, which offers classes, tips, and counseling for small business owners, as well as loans. You can also look for instructional videos or tutorials on LinkedIn or the TED Talks website.

Network, Network, Network

You probably already have an idea of how important networking is for all stages of starting a business. Making connections with other people in your industry as well as in your local community is an integral part of any entrepreneurial venture, starting from day one. However, you should also consider networking as one of the best ways to fight your fears when you're starting your business. Joining a networking group - or even starting your own - can connect you with other people who have gone through the exact same thing you have, and know how to get past the fears and challenges that are troubling you. They're also great sounding boards for any ideas you might have. Remember, just because you're competing in the marketplace with some of these people doesn't mean that you can't help each other out now and again! After all, these are your peers, and they understand what you're going through more than anyone else would. Try getting in touch with your Chamber of Commerce to help you find other business owners in your area, or looking for networking groups on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Turn Your Fear Into Fuel

Once you're able to get your fear under control, then comes the best part - using it. If you're controlling your anxieties instead of letting them control you, then you can actually use them as a secret weapon moving forward. In sports, coaches will often collect certain quotes and negative articles about their team and use them as bulletin board material to inspire their players to prove everyone else wrong. You can do the exact same thing with your own fears. Let them inspire you, but that chip on your shoulder, and prove your anxieties wrong. If you're having trouble figuring out how, then try bringing in motivational or conference speakers to help. Just like a coach, the best conference speakers know exactly the best way to turn those fears into fuel for you to inspire yourself and reach greater heights. Master your fear and make it work for you, and you'll find that a lot of other things will just fall into place.

Find a Mentor

Getting advice from your peers is always a great idea, but finding a coach or mentor can often be an even better way to get the help you need fighting your fears. Try contacting the most successful business owners in your area or industry, and see if they're interested in passing along some of the knowledge they've collected in their years of running the show. Offer to buy them dinner, and come prepared with specific questions you might have. It can be easy to feel isolated when you're running a business, so reaching out is always a good idea. Successful people are often more than happy to impart some wisdom to young up-and-comers like yourself, so don't be afraid to take the leap and ask for help. Even if you're not able to get much useful information early on, it's never a bad thing to form relationships with the heavy hitters in your area.

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About the Creator

Lynda Arbon

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