5 Things Entrepreneurs are Afraid Of and What To Do About Them
If you’re an entrepreneur, don’t be disappointed in yourself if
some of these issues make it hard to sleep at night. You’re not alone.
Here are five of the biggest fears you may confront and what to do
about them.
Saying no
When you’re building a business, your cashflow relies on bringing
in new clients and new work. It’s difficult to say no to work or clients when
you know it means saying no to the money, too. Sometimes you have to say no. The work may not be a
match for you, or perhaps you aren’t on the same wavelength as the client. By
taking on work when your heart isn’t in it, you risk burnout, procrastination
and the loss of other work which you’d love to be doing. Saying no when your
gut tells you to is the right thing to do. Follow your instincts.
Failure
You’ve stepped up, and now you stand out. If you fail, everyone is
going to know about it, right? Wrong. When we’re afraid, we build stories in
our minds about how bad it’s going to be. Everyone will laugh. Everything will
fall apart. You’ll never have a business again. Yes, it’s quite dramatic, and
therefore the worst-case scenario is nowhere near as bad as you imagine. Fear
of failure means you’re stuck right where you are. How do you get past it? Ask
yourself what’s the worst that can happen. This talks to the sensible and
non-dramatic part of your brain, so you start to see things in perspective
again.
Losing their mojo
Most entrepreneurs like you are creative people who thrive on new
ideas and original creations. You rely on your mojo to keep ahead of the game.
What happens if you lose it? It’s inevitable at some stage that your mojo will
desert you. But remember; it’s never lost – it’s just taking a break. Your mojo
is part of you, so you can’t lose it permanently. But when you’re having
trouble tapping into it, you probably need to take a break. Go on a holiday. Do
something different. Find a new creative outlet. That’s how you trigger your
mojo back into action.
Being copied
Your ideas are original, and you don’t want them stolen or
imitated. But, it’s quite possible that it could happen at some point. Take
heart in knowing your imitator is a pale copy of yourself.While he or she doesn’t
have the creativity to come up with new ideas, you do. You will always be one
step ahead so take solace in that thought. Do what you can to legally protect your
ideas and then get on with your business. If you don’t take your eyes off your
goal, you won’t have to worry about looking for copycats.
Being alone
Being an entrepreneur can be hard on your relationships. You work
as many hours as you can to build the business you see so clearly. It is a
lonely way to live. Ask yourself what really matters to you. Why are you
building the business? It’s not just because you can. There’s usually a
motivator there, like a desire to give the best to your family. Don’t lose your
balance. You need someone to share your life with and to celebrate the wins.
That’s what will ultimately make sense of all your entrepreneurial efforts.