Today we have Matt Heinz, of Heinz Marketing, sharing some wisdom on the topic of fear. In my opinion fear is responsible for more failures than any other business obstacle you’ll face, learn to control it and you’re 90% of the way to success.
One of the most powerful obstacles to innovation and success is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of what’s ahead, fear of failure.
It’s easy to be paralyzed by fear in any capacity, but in our work – especially for business owners – it can stifle innovation, growth and success.
Successful Entrepreneurs Have One Thing in Common
Listen to successful entrepreneurs talk (or read their writing) and you realize quickly they have little to no fear. Otherwise there’s no way they’d have attempted what they were able to do. Successful entrepreneurs get that way by doing what nobody has ever done, or by getting there on a path nobody has traveled. Taking that path not only requires a lack of fear, but it also often is paved with failure.
Look at the history of successful entrepreneurs and they’ve failed – often many times. But that didn’t deter them. Didn’t faze them. They kept going, kept innovating, knowing they were onto something and knowing they would reach success. Sometimes that fear is based in ignorance. No matter. By ignoring the fear and obstacles, they did something incredible.
The Many Faces of Fear
Fear also comes in many shapes. Fear keeps some from starting their own business in the first place – quitting a steady job, putting their family at risk, taking a gamble on something they want, something they believe in. For some, fear is enough to keep them from getting started.
For others, fear is more mundane. Fear of testing a new partnership. Fear of hiring a full-time salesperson. Fear of opening that second retail location.
Fear is What You Make of It
Not having fear does not equate recklessness. Those who work without fear still make calculated, smart choices. Research can mitigate risk which reduces fear, certainly. But giving that business or project or hire or expansion the green light is the ultimate test.
Business owners work incredibly hard, and as Branch Rickey once said luck very much is the residue of design and hard work. But that work and dedication is colored by fear.
But you know what? The thing you fear isn’t real. Yes, failure is possible. But you control that. The new sales rep might not work. But you can fix that.
To grow, you need to embrace opportunity, ignore fear, and move forward. Sure, the risks are still there. But most of the time they aren't actually in your way.
About Matt
Matt brings more than 12 years of marketing, business development and sales experience from a variety of organizations, vertical industries and company sizes. His career has focused on delivering measurable results for his employers and clients in the way of greater sales, revenue growth, product success and customer loyalty. Read more from Matt at his blog, www.mattonmarketingblog.com. Follow Matt on Twitter at www.twitter.com/heinzmarketing.
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A very wise instructor in college taught an outstanding course on Leadership. One of the pearls I got out of it was this:
The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is fear.
Love is movement towards something and fear is movement away.
Think about your decisions in those terms and it will tell you the right thing to do.
Cheers!
George
Fear is indeed one of our worst enemies. Not just in business but in every area of life. Great job! Thanks!
@Tumblemoose
I like that saying, and it’s so true. Fear holds us back so much more than we realize, and pushes us away from what we really want.
Matt
@Stephen
Agreed. While we put a business slant on this, it really applies to all aspects of life.
Matt
No fear = Peace of Mind = Creative Freedom = Entrepreneurial Paradise.
Good article.
You can’t just get rid of fear Luke. You can however overcome it in most cases. Just don’t let it take control of you and you should be fine.
There’s never a right and wrong… and it is different for different people, but my father thought me, that there is a fine balance between fear and Greed. You can’t be too fearful, but at the same time you can’t be too Greedy, those that are able to find the right balance, will have alot of success. And sometimes… being lucky helps.
Till then,
Jean