Don't Let Fear Prevent You From Starting Your Own Business

Don't let fear prevent you from starting your own business.

Life is too short to be in a career that holds no purpose for you, and if, after taking a career change quiz and searching your soul, the idea of starting out on your own appeals to you, then do it, despite the fears that are holding you back. You might only regret it if you don't.

By starting your own business, you could…

– Improve your work-life balance.

– Do something that better fits your passions.

– Put yourself on a stepping stone to a potential new career.

– Earn more money than you are making at the moment.

Excellent reasons all.

Now, we appreciate that some fears can't easily be overcome, but let's take a look at them and put them in perspective.

The fear of inadequacy

You want to start a business, but you are afraid of screwing it up. Your limiting self-beliefs tell you that you can't; that you aren't good enough, that you don't have the talent, that you will probably fall flat on your face. You might also feel inadequate because you compare yourself to others. Well, guess what? Nobody's perfect, not even those other people in business whose shadow you fall under. If you have a business idea, and you have some semblance of talent to bring it into fruition, then you are off to a good start. If you are weak in any area, you could always invest in training for yourself, or do what many business owners do, and outsource those tasks that you feel weakest in. 

The fear of failure

Okay, so you have probably read the statistics about business failure, and they may well have put you off the idea of starting out. We get it, we really do. But hey, while there are some businesses that will fail, statistically there are plenty of businesses that don't, so have that ‘glass half full' mentality. And rather than fear failure, embrace it. Let the thought of failure spur you on to make wise decisions in business, such as giving you the impetus to manage your finances better and to market the hell out of your business. And then think of the alternative. You might only feel like a failure anyway if you don't take the courage to step out on your own, and this will breed inner resentment when you're toiling away in a job that you despise, so confront this fear and take steps to realise your dreams. And hey, even if you do fail, at least you tried!

The fear of humiliation

Perhaps you're worried about what other people might think. If you fail or if you do make mistakes in the running of your business, you might worry that people will laugh at you, ridicule you, and point fingers at you. You might worry that you will look like a fool in front of your friends and family members. However, the truth might be far different. If you start your own business, people might respect you for it. And if you make mistakes, they might help you rather than put you down. But hey, if there are people in your life who are critical of you, and if they are always ready to mock, look at it this way. If you do succeed, they will have to eat their stupid words. And besides, you don't have to let your self-esteem be affected by what other people think anyway. At least you will have done what few others have the courage to do, and made an effort to do something unique in your life. 

So, don't let fear prevent you from starting your own business. If your heart is set on it, do your research, spend time reading the articles on this website and others, and then take steps to transition out of your job. Despite your fears, you might one day be glad that you did.