5 Actionable Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs to Overcome their Fear of Launching
Most of my time is spent with employees who want to start their own businesses. Fear of starting is a big topic that keeps showing up almost every day. And this encouraged me to finally write a blog post dedicated to some of my tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.
My job as a business coach and strategist is to simplify the process of entrepreneurship for these busy professionals.
Starting your own business can be a daunting task. With so many aspects to consider, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged before even getting started.
However, with the right mindset and approach, entrepreneurship can be simplified and made more manageable.
Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur is not only about what you do: it’s about who you become.
After years of working in the safe predictable corporate environment it might be challenging to step into the unknown / and rather scary) startup scene.
The strategies and ways of thinking that served you as an employee are not going to serve you as an entrepreneur.
Is your employee mindset keeping you stuck as an entrepreneur?
“I have had this burning idea about my dream business, but I don’t know what to do with it.
I don’t feel confident about launching a business. I am not sure if I am entrepreneurial”
I hear different versions of this statement 2-3 times a week at least.
The worst part: I frequently hear that their business idea is something they have had for 10-20 years. Just never took action on it.
They try to suppress that desire for bringing that idea into life.
They blame it on the midlife crisis!
As an employee, a corporate manager you are probably used to a level of perfection and high standards:
- Impeccable presentations and flawless business cases that you have presented to a board or high level management
- Protocols, processes and procedures that you were obliged to follow
- Company culture that made the environment predictable for you
- Line managers, team members and colleagues that functioned as your support network
- Risk management protocols
- Large budgets ( even if you had to spend them carefully)
Corporate jobs are so much about perfectionism. Entrepreneurial ventures aren’t!
None of these exists when you start your own business. You will be working in a totally different context. Why would you continue to use the same mindset for thriving in this new context?
My Unconventional Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
1) You don’t need confidence!
“ I don’t have the confidence to start my own business”
“ I am not confident enough to be fully in charge”
“I don’t have the confidence to go public about this idea”
Another statement I hear frequently from aspiring entrepreneurs.Sometimes we don’t have the vocabulary to verbalise what we exactly go through. So we pick up something familiar that we have heard from others or on the media
Confidence is something that comes from results. It’s totally normal to not have confidence for something you have never done before.
You don’t have any results to rely on!
How to get results then?
Results come from action , not thought.
Marie Forleo talks about this in this interview.
And one of the results you get from action is clarity.
There are certain things that you can only learn through action: Learning by doing is no joke!
This process can be explained by neuroscience: When you do something over and over you create new neural pathways for them. You feel safe doing them. And when you feel safe you can be more creative.
It becomes easier to get results when you are more creative.
You will only get that confidence if you take the first step.
You need courage and self awareness. Which means you have them already, just need to access them ( that’s what coaches help you with!)
2) Face your fears
It’s the fear that is getting in your way.
Fear of the unknown. Because when you decide to become your own boss, you have no idea what you are stepping into!
Facing our fears starts with a journey of self awareness.
When you know yourself better you understand your fears better. It becomes easier to face your enemy when you know who to fight with.
3)Instead of the “Journey” focus on the destination
And before that journey let’
Fear is often due to confusion:not knowing HOW to do something.
And when you want to start a business the HOW is almost like a black box. You don’t know what the entrepreneurial journey will look like.
No one knows what’s in it.
Of Course the journey matters and you want to enjoy it. Normally you are invited to focus on the journey. Not this time!
It’s you who can decide how to shape that journey.
Before starting a journey you want to identify where you are now first, then you identify your destination, then you figure out HOW to get there.
Why would you worry about HOW before you are clear about your destination?
You don’t need to know everything to start. Because once you start and build your support system you will become a different person. You will have others to help you figure out the HOW.
4) Create your support system
One of the most useful tips for aspiring entrepreneurs is this last one!
Who you spend most of your time with matters.
Seek help and support: Starting a business can be a challenging journey, and it’s important to have a support system in place. Seek help from mentors, advisors, and other entrepreneurs who have gone through similar experiences.
5) Stay flexible
Your business plan is not written in stone. Your business idea might go through so many changes until it’s almost perfect.
Stay adaptable and keep an open mind: Entrepreneurship is full of ups and downs, and it’s important to stay open to change. Be prepared to pivot and adjust your strategies as needed to stay on the path to success.
Remember, it’s not about having all the answers, but about being willing to learn, grow, and adapt as you go. So, take the leap, embrace the challenges, and start building your dream business today.
I hope these tips for aspiring entrepreneurs have been helpful to you. If this article was interesting to you then you probably want to check these articles out:
Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Side Business
“How To Become Self-employed In Switzerland : Business Resources For Women Entrepreneurs
Sidepreneurship: The new way to start a business without quitting your job
And if you don’t want to spend another 10 years contemplating HOW to finally start your business in 3 months , get in touch with me.
About the Author:
Hi , I am Sara!
I am an ICF accredited business coach.
I can help you overcome your mental barriers and unlock your full potential as an entrepreneur.
Together, we can work on building your confidence, setting achievable goals, and creating a plan to achieve them.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your business journey and break free from the grip of imposter syndrome, contact me today to learn more about my coaching services and how I can support you on your path to success.
Apply for a complementary roadmap session with me and we can take it from there!
