For the past few days I've enjoyed a conversation with many of you about what holds us back from starting our own businesses. I shared how fear held me back and many of you responded that you faced a similar fear. Since there's so much interest in this topic, I thought that I'd share some tips on how to overcome fear.
I wish that I could share a magic formula for overcoming my fear of starting a business. For me, however, I mentally examined the worst thing that could happen if I left the security of my corporate job and compared that to my need to spend more time with my kids. My need to be with my kids won out over my fear of losing a safe and secure traditional job.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally against ALL fear. Some fear is good. Fear can be our warning system that something is about to go wrong. For example, if you're swimming in the ocean and you see a shark's fin coming rapidly towards you, then you'd better be afraid. Fear in that situation is your warning to get out of the water. That's good fear, and that's not the type of fear that I'm posting about today. 
- At the Positivity Blog, I found 5 life-changing keys for overcoming your fear. I've long been an advocate of taking baby steps, which is one of the keys that this blogger identifies.
Example: a baby step for starting a business might be accepting a few projects and working on them in the evening. Once you are solidly receiving work on a part-time basis, the next baby step could be to take your business full-time.
- At PickTheBrain, I found 7 ways to overcome the fear of failure. I especially like this blogger's suggestion about putting the worst-case scenario in perspective.
Example: what's the worst-case scenario for a failed business? It could possibly be something like this: you'll have spent your savings and you'll have to go back to a corporate job. On the other hand, if you never try, then you'll never know.
- At Internet Business Coaching by Terry Dean, I found a helpful post on overcoming fear. If you are allowing fear to stop you from doing what you want to do, then fear is in control and not you.
Example: Are you managing the direction of your career, or is your fear managing it? If fear is the main reason that you're doing the job that you have, then fear may be in charge of your career.What about you? What are your tips for overcoming fear? Why not share them?
Leave a comment and let us know.
I believe some of that fear can go away by educating yourself about not only your business but also how a business works. Invest in a few good books, take classes is needed. Many states offer free classes for new business owners. You might also be able to be paired with a business owner. Good mentors are great. They can give excellent tips because they've been there.
If a person is afraid to make the leap into a full-time position they should start on a part-time basis that's what I did. I wanted to make sure I was capable of doing it on a part-time basis before I committed to a full-time business.
Also, I didn't want to touch my savings or investments. Find a mentor who has been in business a while. They can give a lot of helpful advice and constructive criticism. This can help your business become better. At times, people get too sensitive about constructive criticism and take it personally. They shouldn't view it that way.
One of the reasons new business owners fails is they didn't make good plans. I wrote my business plan before I created my business, and I had a mentor check it out. Over the years it has changed slightly, but the main principles are still there.
I wouldn't recommend anyone starting a business without a well thought out plan. Can it be done, sure but I believe the person can possibly face additional problems that could have been avoided if they thought more before making that move.
Posted by: Opal Tribble - Addicted To Writing | January 14, 2008 8:53 PM | Permalink to Comment