Bright Ideas # 64 - is fear stopping you?

A while back, I met with one of my long-time clients to talk about how we might grow his business. He knew that one of his main sources of revenue was about to dry up, so he wanted to consider other options for generating revenue.

Together, we came up with a list of potential ideas. Then I created an action plan with a timeline for getting everything done. We met again a couple of months later and guess what? He hadn’t done a thing.

Three months later, when his other revenue source did indeed disappear, we met again. And he still hadn’t taken even the first step. Now he was starting to get worried about how he was going to pay the bills.

Three months later, he had started to do a couple of the things on the list, but nothing was finished—even though he now had plenty of extra time to take on new projects.

When I asked why he wasn’t taking action, all he could come up with were some vague excuses about time management.

But I can tell you why he hadn’t taken action…

FEAR!

And not just fear of failure. He was equally afraid of success.

Because clearly the chances were really high that if he kept on his current course he was destined to fail. Yet he still wasn’t willing, or able, to take action and try something different.

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“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” Franklin D. Roosevelt
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I started my last business, The Write Ideas, at the absolute rock-bottom low point of the economy after the bubble burst in 2002. Most people thought I was crazy. Many asked if I was scared.

Sure, I was…a little. But at the time I just didn’t have much to lose.

Thanks to the bubble bursting, I had been laid off from three jobs in nine months. At that point, I was more afraid of taking another job and getting laid off again than I was of accepting I’d be broke for a while. The roller coaster ride was just too much.

So I launched my business—and it turned out to be the best choice I could ever have made.

Then last fall, as I was getting ready to launch SuccessStream, I was at a party and mentioned I was starting a new business. Once again I heard the question “Isn’t that scary?”

Given that I am now on my fourth business, my answer was, “No, it’s not”.

I know what goes into starting and running a successful business. And I know how to attract and keep customers. Plus, I always do the market research so I’m not flying blind.

Besides, I’ve done many far more frightening things in my life than start a business…

• When I was 18, I became a whitewater raft guide on a whim
• At 19 I moved across the country alone
• At 22, I spent a summer working alone as a backcountry ranger in Colorado, and performed on stage for the first time as a modern dancer
• When I was 24, I lived alone in a tent while working for the Forest Service
• I’ve spent 16 years whitewater kayaking—including running a few big waterfalls and some Class V rapids
• I’ve spent years honing my extreme skiing skills at steep and gnarly resorts like Jackson Hole, as well as in the backcountry

Now, after years of taking calculated risks, I am rarely frightened. And when I am, I don’t let my fears keep me from taking action and going after my goals.

You see, the one thing I’ve learned from all these experiences is that it is better to make a bad decision and go forward with gusto, then not make any decision at all. Because if you don’t make decisions, life will make them for you.

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What is my secret to keeping fears at bay?
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Whenever I’m frightened, I simply ask myself a few questions…

1) What is the worst thing that could happen?

2) What are the chances that the worst thing will happen?

3) Is there anything I can do to reduce those chances?

4) What is the best thing that could happen?

5) What are the chances that the best thing will happen?

6) Is there anything I can do to improve those chances?

7) What is the most likely outcome?

8) Am I okay with all of those?

Here’s an example: Let’s say you are planning to start doing public speaking

1) The worst thing that might happen is you look and sound foolish or stupid, or bore your audience to death, and never get asked back

2) If you’ve never done any public speaking before, let’s say the chance of that happening is 30%

3) You can reduce those chances by preparing effectively, practicing, reading books on the subject, hiring a speaking coach or joining Toastmasters (now your chances of flailing are 10%)

4) The best thing that can happen is you get new clients or customers, and even offers to speak to other organizations

5) If you are new to public speaking but well prepared, the chances of this happening are probably around 70%

6) You can improve those chances by tailoring your talk to the audience, finding ways to engage them, and creating some helpful leave-behind pieces

7) The most likely outcome is that you gain some valuable experience and maybe even get a lead or two (95%)

8) Given the odds for success vs. failure, it makes logical sense to go ahead with your plan and book some speaking engagements.

This doesn’t mean you won’t be scared when you first walk up to the podium. It just gives you a way to reason with your fearful inner self. And it keeps you from talking yourself out of taking action.

So the next time you find yourself stalling or dragging your feet, just ask yourself those eight key questions. Then you won’t have any excuses.

©2002-2006 Success Stream. All Rights Reserved. www.success-stream.com

Do you have a marketing, advertising or writing question you’d like to have answered? Email me and you might see the answer in a future edition of Bright Ideas.

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