Credit: sxc.hu/profile/hotblack
Have you ever awoken from a nightmare that felt so real, that you actually felt relieved when you realized it was only a dream?
Many people each day wake up to a similar crushing fear, but theirs’ is not caused by a bad dream, but instead by a feeling of helplessness, and despair.
Each day, people who hate their jobs, dislike their quality of life, and have an overwhelming desire to live out their dreams of starting a business, instead choose to put on their business suit, pick up the briefcase, head to the office, sit in their cubicle with tropical destination pictures all over the walls, and remain there for the next 8-9 hours.
Why do people do this? Fear. They may hate their job, but they know what to expect. They know what time to wake up, what time to be there, what time to leave, and exactly how much money they will receive in two weeks. It is all they’ve done for 20 years, it’s all they know, and it’s what they’ve come to depend on.
Gripping Fear To Start A Business
This comfort forms a comforting shell of fear. It is a fear of change, a fear of risk, and a fear of failure. You know there won’t be failure if you keep doing things the same way. Often, it isn’t until you are more afraid of things staying the same, than of failing that you finally gain the tenacity to start your business.
What does it take to get to that point? Most people finally arrive when:
- They’ve gotten laid off.
- Or they’ve been pushed to the absolute limits of their sanity.
In both of those instances, they seem to be terrible times to take on the stress of running your own business! Should someone wait until they are 3 feet from the mental ward before they decide to start a business?
Coping With Fear
To avoid the above described situation, fear must be addressed. Coping with fears directly is the only absolute way to gain the confidence to make the correct decisions. The first step, in my opinion, on coping with this fear is to accept the fact your current job isn’t any safer.
There is a high percentage of the workforce who are desperately seeking employment after being laid off, or their company collapsing. Many of those people felt safe, but weren’t. Employment provides a false sense of safety. Whether you’re an atheist or all the most holy pastor on the planet, we all live on faith.
Each day, we step out of our doors assuming the air is clean enough to breathe, we get in our cars (which use combustible engines) and have faith that they’ve been engineered properly. We get on the roads (no explanation necessary) and we drive to a company that we assume is healthy enough to still have their doors open. You live on faith, even if you didn’t know it.
Starting a Business Responsibly
SCORE.org once stated that about 90% of all business failures occurred because a business was under-capitalized. That means they didn’t have enough money to operate properly. To take the sting out of your failure fears, a business plan must be created, implemented, and you should speak with a SCORE advisor. SCORE advisors are volunteers that will assist in looking over the business plan, and let you know what they think.
In addition to SCORE advisors, there is the SBA (Small Business Administration) to figure out how viable your idea is. They provide assistance on a variety of businesses – anywhere from Starting a Website all the way to starting a manufacturing plant. There is no reason to toss money into the wind and cross your fingers.
Starting a business does not have to be a bunch of guesswork, as long as the business is started & managed responsibly. Have enough confidence and desire, and you will be successful. It’s time to get fearless. Remember: Every business started with someone taking a risk.
About WealthArtisan
I think a traditional job is really not much safer than being self employed, because your security is subject to the whims and needs of other people in a lot of ways. At least with your own business you have more control over the outcome, but you do have to be more diligent and more proactive in what you do. Once you get over the fear of starting a business it’s usually not that hard, it just takes time and tenacity.
My latest post is about just this sort of thing when it comes to getting out of debt. You have to get past the fear.
Hello @DrCabler,
My apologies for the delayed reply. I completely agree with you, and I believe there is roughly 20% of the US Population that would agree traditional jobs aren’t that safe either. If you have a good head on your shoulders, you’re probably safer running your own business. Thanks for stopping in. I hope to hear more from you
.
In His service,
Timothy
Great Job Timothy! As an entrepreneur, I have dedicated myself to digesting as much information on the subject as I can. You are right on track with the fears and that until one is “PUSHED into a corner” many will be illeffective at starting a successful business.
Too many think that they have to quit their current job and start a business full-time to make it a success, but this is oh so wrong. Starting a business part-time and working it into ones full-time income is so much more responsible. Plus when snags are hit along the way, one does not become paralyzed with fear because they are absolutely dependent upon the business income.
One fear that is very real that you did not mention though, was the fear of success! I first heard this from years ago from the great Zig Ziglar. Many have become so engrained in the status quo that it is hard to comprehend they could be successful. How would they handle it? How would they handle the income and the friends and relatives that seem to pop out of the woodwork when they hear about ones growing financial success!
Another fear that some don’t think of, but should, is the fear that as a business grows it consumes the owner. You see this in many sole-proprietorships like a handy-man service. The owner as a single entity becomes very successful at getting and maintaining business-as long as he/she is able to get up and work for it every day! If they cannot physically work, the income ceases to exist.
You know my business model, as we have discussed it before, which is a fantastic model for those that will dedicate themselves to achieving higher goals. Staying focused and tenacious will in many cases insure success; but this could be true in most any new business venture.
Thanks for your insight on this subject, as there are many in todays economy that should-or even need-to get away from the daily grind of working for someone else. They should take the first step to enjoying the many benefits of business ownership!
Steve
Hey @whyyoushouldgogreen,
Thanks for the awesome insights. Many people could learn a lot from you! I didn’t even think of the fear of success! I’ve heard little nuggets of knowledge from Zig Ziglar, and I recently picked up one of his books, I just need to take some time to read it.
You pointed out one thing that I think all of my readers should consider: starting a business WHILE working. This is a great way to “safely” segue into a business. It limits the shell-shock, and lets you adjust as you go. Obviously, the con is that your time gets stretched thin while you’re juggling the job and business.
If you can manage the time, then that is definitely the route to go. Thanks again for your always awesome, and thoughtful comments.
In His service,
Timothy
Hey Timothy, You’re spot on, SCORE is a completely underused local resource that’s free.
I’ve found that first step of working for yourself to not be anywhere near as scary as I thought and extremely liberating and empowering! Warning: once you start, it’s hard to go back.
Hey @newcarcoach,
I think all business owners should work with SCORE at least once just to see if it is for them. If I had more ordinary hours, I’d have a weekly meeting set up with a counselor! I definitely believe that people put too much hype into their fears about starting a business. Just do it.
Thanks,
Timothy
Starting a business is scary at first. Just like any other thing, if you have no experience and you want to do it right on the first try, you’ll most likely be consumed by fear do not take action.
Instead, develop a learning mindset. Keep learning. Try new things, lose money, lose more money, and one day you’ll succeed.
I’m in touch with small business owners, the core reason their competitors go bankrupt is because of fear, lack of action for growth. Not because they tried something new and lost money.
Hey Ashley!
That is an excellent way as long as you have the control to manage your spending wisely. Many people lack that discipline which is why this system is so terribly strict. There’s no reason why you couldn’t modify it in the manner you stated and still manage to be extremely successful
.
Thanks,
Timothy