Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. It will take you out of your comfort zone and force you to be comfortable navigating “unknown” terrain. Yet, although one has to face all kinds of fears, it’s one of the most rewarding journeys of professional, personal, and financial growth.
If you haven’t yet taken steps to start your business, my question to you is, what’s your reason? Or should I ask, what excuse is masking your FEAR?
Most of the time, we have a million reasons why we haven’t started our businesses. Still, the truth is, they are excuses, and these excuses disguise our fear.
So what’s your excuse?
Is it, “I don’t have time” or “I’ll do it after I’ve taken care of
We all have time and make time for the things that are PRIORITIES in our lives. We are not short on time, given how much time we spend on Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, watching TV shows, and YouTube videos.
The truth? You are afraid of leaving your comfort zone and fearful of the unknown.
There’s never THE perfect time. The time is always NOW.
And it’s better to try and fail than to fail to try. You’ll never know whether or not you’ll succeed unless you try. And in my opinion, there’s no such thing as failure. What we call failure is feedback; it’s information to guide future decisions.
We celebrate great inventions all the time, yet what we never get to know is how many revisions it takes to launch a successful product.
Or is your excuse, “I’m not smart enough”, “I don’t know how to”, “I don’t have all the knowledge,” “I don’t have a business degree”
Welcome to the club. No one is born “all-knowing”. Everyone is ignorant about one topic or another. We all have to learn. We all start from not knowing before we can become an expert at anything. It’s a process.
Having the desire to learn and apply what you learn is a skill you will need to succeed. However, making this excuse shows you’re afraid of failure. You are scared of making mistakes.
But remember that you did not get this far in life by chance or luck. You are not where you were 3 years ago, 10 years ago or 20 years ago. You know more because you’ve learned more over time. You have grown. You’ve made progress.
The same is true when you start your own business. Embrace the process and be open to learning every day, even from mistakes. It’s a progressive journey.
You have what it takes to do whatever you set your mind. So go for it!
How about this excuse? “There’s too much going on right now,” or “I would do it, but I don’t think my partner (or kids) will be okay with it?”
Well, “Has there ever been a time in your life where you haven’t had something going on?”
The truth is you are afraid of letting down those who depend on you and putting yourself first. You are worried that your loved ones will judge you or criticize you for prioritizing your needs over theirs.
I believe that we are all called to a higher purpose. If you feel called to start your own business, then you should go for it unapologetically. Especially if pursuing your dreams is not to the detriment of your loved ones. If starting your business is the solution and answer to your prayers, then do not allow the fear of disappointing others hold you back. If they genuinely love you, they will support you. There may be some resistance initially, but they will get around eventually and maybe even become your cheerleaders!
How about this excuse? “But, I have bills to pay.”
We all have bills to pay. However, not everyone chooses to live on a decreased income, even for a little while until their business stabilizes.
If that’s you, then your excuse is masking your fear of being fully independent and self-reliant. You are afraid of taking full charge and control of your finances. You find comfort and security in relying on your employer to assure you and ‘guarantee” you of a paycheck.
The truth is, there are no guarantees in life. Even the most secure job is never assured. You can lose it unexpectedly, but bills, well, they will always be there. So, living expenses seem like a valid reason, but it’s an excuse hiding your fear of independence. If you are determined to start your business, you will figure out a way to make it work, even if it’s cutting down on luxuries for a season until you succeed.
Last but not least, “I’m not ready yet.”
The truth is you will never be ready. We can plan and prepare, research, and research some more, but we’ll never be prepared to do anything for the first time, and this is true for everything in life. You will never be ready to be married. You will never be prepared to be a parent. You will never be ready to run the marathon. You will never be ready to lead. You will never be ready for anything that you’ve ever dreamed of becoming, and so don’t expect to be ready to start your business.
The truth behind this excuse is your fear of taking action. This fear is paralyzing. The only way to overcome this fear is to TAKE ACTION! JUMP! TAKE THE LEAP! JUST DO IT!
So let’s stop the excuses, face your fear, and TAKE ACTION!