It Wouldn't Be An Adventure If It Wasn't Scary
There are over 50 fears that you have to overcome to be a successful entrepreneur, but fear not (no pun intended), most of us are blocked by only one or two of them. In this post I’ll talk about the top 5 most common that I support my clients to overcome through brain training.
I want to begin by putting your mind at rest. Fear is a fundamental part of being human and we all have fears. Our brains are wired to feel fear because it helps to keep us safe. But the fear that keeps the general public ‘safe’ actually stops talented business women from taking steps to move their business forward.
Fear stops us breaking through the self-imposed financial glass ceiling, it stops us from growing our business, it even stops us from the success we desire so that we can financially support our families and loved ones, even though we want it so much.
The emotion of fear is found in the part of the brain called the amygdala which is part of the subconscious mind. Here all our beliefs are on autopilot which means that they are actually hard wired in so we don’t have to think about them. This means that often we aren’t even aware of what is blocking us.
As talented entrepreneurs, when we decide that we want to make changes to our business or increase the investment on our offerings, our brain searches for the known and the familiar to see if this is a good idea. If the known and the familiar around this activity is fear we will physically experience the emotion and it can show up as stress, anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, lack of clarity or indecision.
All of these ‘blocks’ are your brain’s pressure release valve and are showing up to keep you ‘safe’. This is your brain’s way of telling you that change is not a good thing, even if you consciously want it.
To overcome this, we must face our deep-seated misgivings and worries. As entrepreneurs we have to acknowledge our fears and actually move towards what makes us afraid.
It wouldn't be an adventure if it wasn't scary, right?
Some of the fears include disappointing others, taking risks, being wrong, saying no, but here are the top five that my clients come across most often.
1. Fear of change
Our brain does not like change, it’s actually programmed to avoid it. Change means hard work to our brain, it means using more glucose energy, it means building new pathways and so it would prefer to remain the same. Our brain likes comfort, stability and routine - anything else feels like a threat.
As entrepreneurs we have to embrace change. We have to train our brain to be flexible and learn how to say ‘yes’ to what we want and not be afraid to say ‘no’ if it’s something that doesn’t move our business or success forward.
In business, change is inevitable at every stage, it can not be avoided. We have to learn that when we take calculated risks then we may succeed or we may fail, but either way we will have taken the opportunity to grow and learn.
2. Fear of failure & success
Failure and success are two sides of the same coin. When we think of failure we think of unbearable embarrassment and the anguish of losing everything. Fear of failure is often rooted in our identity.
Fear of success is also rooted in our identity and how people view us. Success bring about fears of self acceptance and we begin to ask questions such as:
>> What if people don’t like me when I’m successful?
>> Will the relationship with my partner change and how will they feel if I earn more than they do?
>> Will I have to give up time with my family for the chance of being successful?
If we think of failure, we believe that all those who doubted us will have been right and that we were wrong all along about our dreams, desires and even the way we show up in the world. Our brain’s safety valve is perfectionism, as we try and try to be perfect but we never really put ourselves out there and don’t step up to who we truly are.
3. Fear that you are not enough
It may sound trite, but you don’t know what you don’t know. We all have gaps in our knowledge, or blind-spots in our business acumen. Being aware of helps you take steps to mitigate those gaps. If you’re worried you’re missing areas of information or expertise, start working to rectify the situation.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Find mentors and resources to help fill in your blind spots. Seek feedback from others at each step of the way. But don’t allow fear to cause you to constantly second-guess yourself. Have confidence in yourself and trust your gut instinct and never forget that you are enough, more than you need to be. You don’t need to feel like you have to prove yourself.
4. Fear of the unknown
Uncertainty registers in our brain like an alarm. We avoid the unknown because we fear change and we try our very best to have all of our ducks in a row before taking ANY action.- this shows up as procrastination. We’re afraid of losing control and being unable to manage potential outcomes - this shows up as perfectionism. Allowing ourselves to take a massive leap into the unknown is terrifying because we have no guarantees of how things will turn out.
The unknown will certainly lead to change of some kind. It might lead to success, but could just as easily lead to failure. When you understand what drives success in your business and you feel confident in your business model and prep work, you’ll feel more assured when you step into unknown territory and you won’t feel the need to get caught up in the “cursed HOW’S”
5. Fear of committing to business expenses
It’s one thing to dream big, develop a business plan and set goals and objectives. It’s another to actually put your savings on the line and incur large business expenses. But here’s the thing: there’s almost no way you can move your business forward without putting money into it. You may need to hire a team, take out a loan, hire a coach etc. All of this is what it takes to be successful, but most entrepreneurs that I have worked with have big money blocks, so if this is you, you are not alone.
Most people’s money stories come from the environment they grew up in. They are often not their own beliefs and yes, these beliefs can be changed. There is also a strong narrative about self belief and being successful around the fear of expenses.
Even a low-overhead, low-cost business will eventually need an infusion of cash in order to grow. Committing to expenses is a risk but unless you’re willing to invest in your dream, your business will quickly fail.
TODAY'S INSPIRED ACTION
I invite you today to really look at your fears that are holding you back from success and answer the questions below.
If I was in the same place this time next year, what would I think and feel about myself?
Define what it means for you to fail at something. Describe the opposite of that (success). Where do you think you got these BELIEFS about success and failure?
How can you change these beliefs that you are not enough to be more positive ones? Write down 10 positive affirmations you can replace your limiting beliefs with.
How would I feel knowing that it really doesn’t matter if I don’t know the outcome of this situation because I live in a universe that is always bringing me my highest good?
What am I afraid will happen if I invest in myself and my business?
If you have resonated with this topic of fears and you know it is time to learn more about how you can change your beliefs, transform your fears and train your business brain for success then I invite you to join me for a FREE Discovery Session.
Click the link below - I look forward to hearing more about you.
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