WHY THERE’S NO TIME FOR FEAR (IN BUSINESS)

Be honest.

Are you frozen in fear?

Lost in that “sea of overwhelm” everybody keeps talking about?

Can’t move forward because you’re afraid of failure – embarrassment – disappointing other people (or worse, yourself)?

Buckle up, buttercup. This one’s for you.

A REALLY GOOD QUESTION

Yesterday I spent my little one’s naptime being interviewed by one of my new clients (new friends, I should say.)

She was curious about the inside scoop on all this crazy success I’ve had in the first two months of my business, and I was happy to share it. No secrets here.

She had a lot of great questions, but one really stuck out to me.

We’d talked about what led to the business idea, how I unexpectedly started building a buzz, the process of getting new clients, what it takes to deliver on my promises, etc. Easy peasy.

Then came the doozie: “Did you have any fears or doubts?!”

I sat and thought for a second. Surely there was something. It’s totally normal (HUMAN) to be afraid and have doubts. I should say yes so people don’t think I’m a robot, or worse, that I’m LYING.

But my answer, to my surprise and hers, was NO.

Maybe it’s because I’m a new kid on the block and I haven’t been jaded by the “scene” just yet, but I haven’t had time for fears or doubts. (2015 Update: It was totally because I was a NKOTB. I’ve had PLENTY of time for fears + doubts since then. But I still keep movin’.)

I keep putting myself out there, making commitments in public, and then I have just enough time to deliver on them!

To steal a line from UP, one of my fave movies, once I’ve put it out there: NO BACKIN’ OUT!

Does that make sense?

Since I started offering sessions in April, I literally haven’t had time to stop and dwell on doubts or fears. There’s just no room in the inn.

What if I fail? Well, I’ve still got family and friends who love me. My value comes from my Creator, not my business.
Am I good enough? You bet. My biz is new, but I’ve been doing this for YEARS, and I love it. It’s in my blood. My clients are happy. Really happy. That answers that.
What if people unsubscribe? They will. They DO. And even though it stings a bit, it’s totally okay. If I try to appeal to everyone, I’ll probably appeal to no one. What fun would that be?
What if I don’t live up to the hype? Every time someone raves about a super-productive session in public, I see that as a challenge to raise the bar even higher. At the end of the day, all I can do is my best. So far that’s workin’ out just fine.

WHAT MY TODDLER TAUGHT ME ABOUT FEAR

Lately I’ve joked about how my son was born without a “fear chip.”

He seems to think the laws of gravity don’t apply to him. He literally reaches for the sky like he can touch it. He’ll step off the couch like it’s a stair. He’ll walk off the top step and expect to land on two feet. He just goes for it and trusts it’ll all work out.

And I think he’s onto something.

THE FEAR FACTOR: DEBUNKED

Without asking you to eat live bugs or jump off of a building (a la the ol’ TV gameshow), I’m gonna tell you why fear is not a (limiting) factor for you.

When it comes to physical safety, fear gives us common sense.

When it comes to business, fear gives us frustration.

Are you using “fear” as an excuse not to start? Be honest.

Think about what you’re afraid of, then think all the way through the worst case scenario.

Is it really that bad?? Probably NOT.

Is it really just resistance? Probably SO. (Wrote a whole post about that, actually.)

Can you learn to function WITH the fear and make it work for you? Absolutely.

Let me relieve some pressure: You don’t have to be perfect. (Perfect is boring.)

If you fail, just admit it. Owning up to mistakes makes you more endearing. Plus, there are usually funny stories involved.
If you feel like you’re not good enough, study or practice until you know you are. That’s it.
If people unsubscribe, wish them well and find more people who can’t WAIT to get your emails each week! There are plenty of subscribers in the sea.
If you don’t live up to the hype, learn from constructive criticism. Then improve and exceed the next round of expectations.

NONE of these fears need to keep you from sharing your gifts with the world. You really have to look at this like you’re being selfish if you DON’T put yourself out there.

Truly, we need you. We need your gift. Nobody else can (legally) share it for you.

So what are you waiting for?

Be bold! Be brave! Do something that scares you a little bit today!

You’ve got nothin’ to lose and a WHOLE lot to gain.