The inhibitions
Most entrepreneurs I have talked with have had to come face to face with their fears. I’ve had to as well. I want to share with you some of the techniques that were utilized to face and overcome them. The first step is not to be in denial. You have fears even if you don’t readily acknowledge them. They sometimes take the form of that little guy – or gal – in the back of your head that says you can’t do it.
Fear is such a huge factor in preventing people from becoming entrepreneurs. I’ve heard from the CEO of a real-estate based network marketing company that even though he has people packing into company seminars, that maybe 2-5% of them will actually go out and apply the knowledge by putting offers on real estate. He is convinced that the rest are paralyzed by fear. Following are some of the techniques I have used as I learned them from the entrepreneurs I’ve known and dealt with.
Your goals and work plan
Think about what you do want in the form of goals and objectives, and when you find yourself spinning the wheels in your mind over and again about your worst case scenario, turn it around and focus on what you DO want. Visualize yourself getting what you do want. See the new house. See yourself talking to the interested person as they become a part of your business. You get what you focus on.
Change the inner voice in a manner that when you hear yourself telling you that you’re not good enough – you’re going to fail, just change the voice from yours to that of Mickey Mouse or Pee Wee Herman or something else that would hold little weight with you anyway! Who cares if Mickey Mouse thinks you’re not good enough? Is Mickey Mouse an entrepreneur?
Discussion and research material
Share them with a trusted friend or associate. Hopefully you have been able to find some level of support from at least one other entrepreneur. Ideally, you have a significant other that supports you. If not, then you should have some kind of support network from your team, upline, or a top producer that you can talk to. Some people may tell you that it is silly you could even believe that you’re not good enough. For me, my wife has been a constant source of support. However, don’t go looking for support from all those people who doubted you and told you it was crazy to go out on your own. They will never understand the entrepreneur.
Have a personal development library. I draw tremendous support from my library. It is not just filled with how to resources, but also stories of others who conquered their fears. I couldn’t begin to list the many sources I have, but if you contact me I can recommend something based on your own description of your circumstances, although I am in no way a trainer or instructor.
Visualize. Act. Persist
Go ahead and “just do it”. Sometimes just making the smallest step will help get you going enough that the fear of not doing something can go away. An example would be neglecting to write an article such as this one out of fear of failure. Just starting it can create enough momentum to see it through.
Visualize the result, but make the action the goal. There is a subtle difference here for the entrepreneur. Of course you want the result, but maybe that’s not in your direct control. Visualize the result in your mind, but make your goal is the consistent and persistent action of the entrepreneur. Visualization and action will eventually produce the result and you can certainly achieve that goal.
Never, ever quit! I hate to even use that q word. If you do quit, you cease to be an entrepreneur! Not quitting ensures that you’re not beaten, you are moving ahead!
