Facing the Fear Factor

As small business owners, the most daunting obstacles to reaching our Biggest Vision for our business are our unique personal fears. Often, we don’t realize that we’re deciding not to pursue a great opportunity or try something new in our business because of fear. We get locked into an idea of how we should market, sell, manage, or structure our day. We hesitate to change, and when we get mediocre or poor results, we still refuse to abandon our approach.

I was always a very determined person (okay, stubborn!). I’d stick with an idea, strategy or plan, even if it felt like I was batting my head against a brick wall. This way of doing things is like continuing to head the wrong way on a one-way street, despite the signs that are telling you you’re headed in the wrong direction. It was actually deep reflection on, of all things, the Serenity Prayer (see below) that turned me around. Now, whenever I get that “running into a brick wall” feeling, I recognize this as a signal that I need to change direction.

Fear of change is a big vision buster. Recently I’ve run into several small business owners who truly fear technology. Even though adding certain technology solutions to their businesses could increase profit and put some functions on auto pilot, they are afraid that the change might temporarily disrupt business or that the implementation might prove too difficult. They’ve come up with lots of unsubstantiated excuses why they shouldn’t change the way they’re doing things. Yet, they work hard and really would like to grow their businesses and have more free time. They don’t recognize their hesitancy as fear, and try to camouflage it as a legitimate business decision. While clinging to outmoded or inefficient systems simply because you’re afraid of change might maintain the status quo, it will ultimately block you from achieving your biggest goals.

Don’t we all do this sometimes? I love the saying, “if you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got”. Every time I start getting a headache from the brick wall, I repeat it like a mantra.

Getting honest with yourself might hurt a little. After all, you might have to admit you made some decisions that didn’t work out like you’d hoped they would. So what! It’s a right of passage for seasoned entrepreneurs. Cut your losses and make some changes.

How do you know where fear is bogging you down? Sit comfortably in a quiet place for fifteen minutes, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Let the stress and worry of the day leave you. Now ask yourself:

What is not working well in my business?
What could work better that I’m not addressing?
What am I tolerating that needs to change?
What is creating stress or draining my energy?
What needs to get done that I keep putting off?
How would my business look if it were just where I wanted it to be?
Where am I afraid to try something new?
Are all of my strengths being used well?
Where do my weaknesses negatively affect my business?

Answer these questions honestly and you’ll begin to understand where you may be holding yourself back from the most wonderful, fun, profitable business you have the potential to create.

The Serenity Prayer helped me understand that when I pushed to change people or situations over which I had no control, I couldn’t, but sometimes fear was stopping me from changing the things I could. It’s worth contemplating. For example, I never thought I’d include a prayer in a business article, but I’m doing it!

You’ve probably heard this before: the letters in FEAR stand for “false evidence appearing real”.

The Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Take a calculated risk, try a different approach, reach outside your comfort zone; think outside the box. That’s the true test of a successful small business owner or entrepreneur.

Copyright 2006 Janis Pettit

Article Source: http://www.new.citynewslive.com

Janis Pettit is a successful entrepreneur and small business growth and marketing expert who has helped hundreds of small business owners worldwide to reach their profit and personal potential. For a copy of her e-book, How to Build a Profitable Small Business in One Year or Less, and more small business help, go to www.smartrack.net

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