These new fears in your new business venture may include:
- What if nobody buys my product?
- What if I call a prospect and they think I’m not good enough? After all I am brand new in business!
- What if I don’t know what I’m doing?
- What if I perform poorly for a client?
The list, in fact, is endless.
Most new business venture owners experience this sudden sense of panic. I know I did! Typically it is only a problem if you allow it to stop you moving forward. If the fear prevents you picking up the phone to call a prospect then it is getting in your way of succeeding.
Here are five strategies to help you get through this stage of fear:
Strategy 1
Share - fears always minimise when you share them. Everyone has fears so there is no need to feel you are the only one. Confide in a trusted ally and the fear will start to dissipate.
Strategy 2
Ask yourself: if you did the thing that is causing you fear - what is the worst thing that could happen? If that result actually eventuated what would you do about it? Would there be a solution? Probably … so is it really worth spending time and energy worry about it?
Strategy 3
Reframe your fear. This involves coming up with an alternative logical or objective viewpoint. For example, if you have a fear of failure you might reframe this to say “It is better to have a go and fail that not try at all”
Strategy 4
Create a positive and empowering message. Instead of focusing on your fear of failure you might say to yourself “I am successful simply because I took action”
Strategy 5
Choose to take an action! How many times have you been afraid to do something and when you FINALLY summon up the courage to do it you immediately think to yourself “That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”. You may even feel a sense of exhiliration at having faced your fear and come out on top.
The golden rule to remember is: fears diminish rapidly as soon as you begin to take action.
As the saying goes: “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is doing what it takes despite your fear.”
“ Ask yourself: if you did the thing that is causing you fear - what is the worst thing that could happen? ”
Linda Anderson is a Certified Professional Coach dedicated to helping people live bold and rewarding lives. Linda has an energetic and direct style of coaching which suits people who like to be challenged.
