Nothing drives us to succeed as powerfully as the emotions of fear and anxiety. They are the true superpowers that define the entrepreneur. They can inspire change, define concerns and transform business ideals. Of course, as with anything in life, moderation is key. Too much of these emotions and you can be crippled, too little and then you may not be fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead. But a normal amount of anxiety is an opportunity to challenge yourself and take your business to the next level.
Want to know why? Here are three excellent reasons…
Reason 01: Answering the questions
Fear forces you to ask questions. Do I want to do this? What if that happens? How do I fix this problem if that does happen? What if I fail? These are serious questions and they can make you feel as if you’re about to tame the world’s largest dragon but what if you turned them on their head? What if you looked at these questions as opportunities to plan ahead? Stop looking for the bad, it may never happen, instead look the monster in the eye and name it. Then you are in control and prepared for what the future brings.
By recognising your fears as legitimate warnings of reasonable concerns, you are giving yourself the opportunity to prepare for the future. That is the power of fear.
Reason 02: The next step
Often companies are held back by fear. They deliver only what their business started out doing, not evolving alongside their customers or providing customers with what they want. A great analogy is when someone walks into a store to buy a 14-inch drill bit and the business owner sells him a 1/4-inch drill bit. They’re still selling a drill bit to the customer, but it isn’t the right one and won’t solve the customer’s problem.
Fear can stop a business from transitioning and this can hold you back. Recognising that this is a challenge for your business will allow you to look at your offerings with a fresh eye and challenge yourself. This is very important, especially in today’s market where people and businesses are being disrupted all the time.
Reason 03: What you’ve been told may not be true
The ancient story of Icharus flying too close to the sun has been driven home across fable and tale since the dawn of time. Everyone is told – don’t fly too high or you will run the risk of failure! The reality is that the story was designed to stop people from trying too hard because the higher you fly the colder it gets. Your wings won’t melt, they will be just fine no matter how high you go. So, try, spread your wings and you will very likely discover that you’re only just starting to embrace your potential.
The way forward
Set a goal you would like to achieve and write down what concerns you about it. Verbalise these concerns. You will find that when you verbalise fears you end up finding ways of preventing them, or fixing them. When your fears have names, they become easier to manage and control and they become tools to help you take your business forward into a bolder future.
Fear isn’t your enemy, it’s your weapon…