I meet regularly with people who want to start businesses. So, I hear a lot of a new business ideas. Some are great…and some are just okay. But, when I look at who actually launches the business, it’s not always the person with the best idea. It’s the person who actually did something. Who moved beyond thinking about it, and into action.
The one who didn’t get (or stay) stuck. The one who overcame the fear of failure. And sometimes the fear of success. Because they’re just two sides of the same coin. The fear of failure always asks these questions:
- What if I run out of money?
- What if I can’t find any customers?
- What if the customers don’t like my product?
- What if my suppliers raise prices?
The fear of success always asks these questions (or a variation):
- What if I can’t handle the demand?
- What if I outgrow this location?
- What if I get a big order I can’t fill?
- What if I can’t ramp up quickly enough?
I’m not saying that a new entrepreneur shouldn’t contemplate these issues. But I am saying that the new entrepreneur shouldn’t get STUCK there. But that’s what people do. Unfortunately, many folks never move past the point of fear – of failure or success.
So, how do I help clients get un-stuck? What do I say to them? Well, there’s a lot I do to help them get over their fears and get moving. Too much to write here. But, here are three questions I always ask:
1. What exactly are you afraid of?
2. If you were guaranteed to succeed, what would you do next?
3. On a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to launching this business?
Additionally, I make these suggestions for overcoming fear:
- Immerse yourself in an environment of successful people. I don’t mean just hang out with one or two of them. I mean really maximize opportunities to spend time with other successful people. They don’t even have to be doing what you want to do. But it is amazing the energy you can get from just hanging out with other people who are working their “mojo”. It will help you find yours.
- Build a support team. This is a small group of people who believe in you and will help propel you forward.
- Everyday, before you go to bed, take the time to write down everything you accomplished that day towards your goals. Anything and Everything. Feelings of accomplishment are powerful motivational tools to keep you moving forward.
Do you have any suggestions for overcoming fears of failure and/or success? I’d love to hear them.
Great post Traci! Who would have known that the fear of success would ultimately be as influential as the fear of failure. The honesty behind it is a lot of times we self-sabotage ourselves right out of promising opportunities by having doubt.
Wishing You Much Success
Thanks for your comment Andre. It was a real eye opener to me when I discovered this as well!