Have you ever asked yourself, “What one thing can I do today that scares me?”
Starting your own business already assumes you’re taking a big risk. There is a part of you that is willing to venture out into unknown territory with the possibility of falling flat on your face. Something deep inside you though wants to share your ideas with the world and you feel drawn to see it through.
There is nothing certain about being in business for yourself.
Quite frankly there is nothing certain these days about working for someone else either.
For those of us who have already started a business we may still make choices that keep us safe and comfortable. These decisions and non-decisions potentially keep you small and your business less than successful in ways you may not even be aware of.
I’m not suggesting that every business needs to hit a magical revenue figure or employ thousands of people to be considered successful but many women know deep down that there is a next level just north of where they are right now that could change the course of their business and lives.
Just like any other muscle, you need to build up your ‘risk-taking’ muscle so you begin taking bolder actions in your business and life. I’m not talking about being reckless, I’m simply suggesting that you push yourself outside of your comfort zone and know you deserve a sincere shot at success – however you personally define success.
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Four years ago I took this quote to heart and began to embrace doing things that scared me.
It’s become a practice.
As someone who was fearful of public speaking, I began doing small scale talks to work on getting over this fear.
I can barely remember the first few talks I gave except for the fact that my face was on fire, my mouth was like a desert and I could hear a distinct shakiness in my voice. As for what I said, who knows! I just hoped I was being clear enough to make my points and then go back to my quiet under-the-radar life.
Each time though it got easier and easier and I felt my confidence growing.
Fast forward to December 2015 when I spoke on stage at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in front of over 200 people. I was invited to speak about my book which was an incredible honor and one that I was not going to pass up because of fear. When they invited me to come out to Washington, DC my first thought was “Oh no, I really can’t do this. I think you might have the wrong person.” But as I regularly tell my little guy, “There are no “can’ts in life”.
I took my own advice and I made a conscious decision that fear was not going to win this match. I mentally took a powerful stand and it paid off.
The talk went great and I was surprisingly calm. It is probably one of my proudest moments in the last 10 years.
Whenever you do something new or something that challenges you, there will always be tension and unease. Dig into why you’re feeling this way and ask your fear what it’s really trying to tell you. You’ll be surprised by the answer.
Taking risks and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone can excite you if you don’t let it paralyze you. These are the moments that can change your life and the person you’re becoming. Once you pass through the fear and see what you’ve accomplishment and how much you’ve grown you’ll be so glad you did it.
So what one thing can you do today that scares you?
What is that one small or large step that makes you uncomfortable but you know might lead to larger opportunities?
“Freedom lies in being bold.” – Robert Frost
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