Seven steps to overcoming fear and starting a business

Any time you’re doing something new, it’s easy to let your nerves get the best of you. You may worry that you’ll fail or that you won’t meet the goals you have in mind. When it comes to starting a business, though, it’s essential to set those fears aside and forge forward

If you have a business idea that you believe in, consider these seven steps for overcoming your fears, finding support, and diving in.

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1. Find a mentor

One of the best resources you can find when you’re starting a small business is a mentor. A mentor can be any person you derive inspiration from — a friend, family member, or colleague. The most effective mentors, though, are ones who can offer relevant advice regarding your business and the formation process. To find somebody who meets these criteria, try to connect with successful business owners through professional organisations and networking events.

2. Create a business plan

You don’t want to be flying blind when you’re launching your business. You need a plan — a business plan. Your business plan will ensure that you stay organized and on track for success. It should detail your strategy for marketing, establishing a business structure, finding funding, and bringing new staff members on board. Be sure to create a clear protocol for each of these items.

3. Start small

Many new entrepreneurs are consumed by fear because of the magnitude of the business they envision. If you want to launch a chain of stores that eventually become a franchise, great! This probably shouldn’t be your initial goal, though. You will need to start small and work your way up to gradual expansion. When you give yourself permission to start small, you can start a business that’s built to grow. 4. Learn from failure

Too many entrepreneurs are crippled by the fear of failure. Indeed, it can be daunting to face the prospect of a business that’s a nonstarter — especially if you’ve poured your resources, energy, and time into it. Still, it’s essential that you shift your concept of failure and take it as a learning opportunity. Nearly every successful entrepreneur has failed at some point.

5. Maintain positivity

Surrounding yourself with positivity can have a major impact on your mood and the trajectory of your business. If you want to feel optimistic and thus reduce the fear you’re feeling, be sure to spend time around people who are encouraging and supportive. They’ll instill you with the confidence you need to jumpstart your business.

6. Set reasonable goals

As you’re developing your business plan, you’ll need to set goals for your revenue, sales, and other important metrics. Perhaps the most important way to banish fear is to set reasonable goals. Aiming for perfection will ensure that you fail, and the inevitability of failure will feed your fear. Instead, set goals that you can reasonably expect to achieve through consistent hard work. 7. Manage documents

When you're sending documents to clients or potential customers, you want to make sure that they're well-organized and professional-looking. Unfortunately, JPG files often don't meet these standards. They can be difficult to open and read, and they don't always print out clearly. PDFs, on the other hand, are universally compatible and easy to read. They also maintain their formatting when printed, so you can be confident that your documents will look great no matter how your recipients choose to view them. Converting your JPGs to PDFs is a simple way to improve the professionalism of your correspondence. You can save it as a PDF first and then send the files to clients.

You can set aside fear and be an entrepreneur

Becoming an entrepreneur is a major accomplishment — and you don’t have to be perfect or make six figures to do it. You can become an entrepreneur simply by following these steps, letting go of your fear, and diving into your business. Words: Joyce Wilson