You are an entrepreneur and you are in business for one reason, to succeed. It’s your mission, your life, or at least that’s what you tell everyone.
Then when no one’s looking, you sit and ponder how to make a difference, set up to do lists and goals, rethinking the same thing you did yesterday. Right before you want to take action, you stop, and wait, and wonder if what you did is perfect…and plan some more.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, you are not alone. You are stuck in the Fear Pivot, and it’s one of the only pivots where you don’t actually shift, you stay in the same place…
Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself
Sound familiar? Back in 1933 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt took the stage to accept the presidency of a country on the brink of the Depression.
The fear was palpable in the audience, in the country, and in the hearts of people. He would be judged by this fear, evaluated and ridiculed, and challenged. Here’s what he said:
So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
Entrepreneurs face this fear every day, some handling it better than others, which is why I am writing this to you. Your fear is just that, fear, and can be a tool instead of a weapon against you.
That fear is nameless, resides in your heart, and often paralyzes what you are doing. And like FDR, I want to give you the support to yourself in these critical days, whether you are starting out, hanging on, or just figuring it out.
Beyond Fear is You, Your Actions, and Your Pivot
Your business is quite simple what you do and how you adapt defines your success. Each small step, each moment you are active, moves you in the right direction.
It may not solve your money problems today, or get people jumping up and down right away, but it will steer you in the right direction because it is action.
Actions don’t always lead to success, and they are not always defined by failure. Looking at the short term view and feeling it will just wear you down. Let it pass and remember your emotions are just a sensation inside of you.
The way you look at it, and act on it, defines you…bank on it!
When it Works, Be Amazed – Beyond the Success Expectation
Read that sentence out loud and ingrain it in your mind, body, and soul. This is life and the chances of things going as you thought are rare. That doesn’t mean you are a failure, the plan failed, people didn’t get your business idea, or it simply didn’t work out.
Instead of beating yourself, walk away for a few minutes, and breathe, deeply, making your belly expand. I know you’ve been taught to suck it up and suck your belly in, but the mere act of breathing, even for a few moments, will help shift you out of fear.
- Inhale deeply, let the air pass down past your throat, past that block in your chest which is where most people stop breathing, and fill up that bottom cavity of your stomach with air.
- Feel the rise and fall of your belly as you breathe, and loosen your pants if they are inhibiting your breathing (let’s keep this clean and loosen them, don’t take them off).
- Sound crazy? By failing to breathe down to the bottom of your stomach, you are blocking your body’s natural flow. That’s what fear does, it constricts and cuts you off.
Every time you feel like a failure, breathe, and realize it’s not you, it’s life and the trick is to keep breathing.
You Define You, Not the Circumstances
So many look outside for answers, and definitions, by what others think. Here’s the great lesson of life; people think about themselves, not you…just like you.
- You define you, every day, and every moment. You can define this as a ride you are on, seeing yourself going up and down the rollercoaster.
- You can see yourself from outside your body, watching yourself go up and down the rollercoaster.
- Now merge those two visions and you’ll understand what’s happening; you are on the ride, and you are watching yourself on the ride.
- Do yourself a favor, be kind to yourself as you watch, and trust the rollercoaster as you ride.
The Fear Pivot is a move away from being afraid of the future, or tormented by the past, and living in the ups and downs of the ride, and speaking to yourself, inside your heart, in a kinder, gentler manner.
It may not bring you a ton of cash but it will keep you in the game, and pivot you away from what is blocking your progress…the empowerment of fear.
What’s stopping you from success? Nothing…and feel free to ask if you’d like some more pointers on how to get out of the prison of fear.
You have the key, right now, in your hand and in your heart. Look at your hands for a few minutes and you’ll will come back to the truth. It’s all in your hands and the only thing to fear, is fear itself.
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