Leslie Samuel

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Do you ever deal with fear when it comes to building your business?

One of the major points where I really felt that kind of fear was about four years ago. This was when my wife and I decided that I was going to leave my job.

After making this decision, there was one day when I started freaking out. I actually enjoyed what I was doing. There was security in it. I thought, “What in the world am I doing?!”

I was hit with fear like I had never experienced before.

Eventually I got past that fear, and I’ve been blogging full-time for almost three years. I can’t complain. The business is doing great.

But I realized that I was feeling another kind of fear.

It was the fear of success.

That was a much sneakier kind of fear. And the result of that fear was that I didn’t do some of the things that I knew I needed to do to build my business.

If something like that is mentally holding you back, it can really block your success.

Ten Steps to Conquer Your Fear

Here are some of the things that I did in order to get past my fear.

1. Accept the fact that fear is a normal part of life

Fear is a part of Life
Accept that FEAR is a part of Life

That’s just the way it is. You’re gonna experience fear.

When you think about the most successful people out there, I guarantee you they have all experienced fear. It’s about being outside of your comfort zone.

But guess what? The magic happens outside your comfort zone.

If something really freaks you out, that’s an indication that you’re pushing yourself beyond what you’re comfortable with. And that is a great thing.

2. Answer the following question: What’s the worst that could happen?

Sit down. Think about it. Write it down.

What specific things are you afraid of? When I was leaving my job, it was about not having money to pay my bills or buy diapers or food.

3. Then answer this one: If the worst thing were to happen, what could you do to fix or rectify the situation?

Ask yourself questions
Ask yourself questions

So let’s say that I couldn’t pay my bills or couldn’t buy food. What could I do?

Well I could get another job. I could work nights at McDonald’s. I could even get another teaching job.

Write does those things down, too.

4. What’s the BEST that could happen?

Just like you did with the worst case scenario, write it out. What’s the best case scenario?

Make a list of all the amazing things that could happen. Be just as diligent in answering this question as you were with the worst case list.

As you start to make this list, I think you’re going to get really excited imagining how great things could be.

5. Compare the two. Do the pros outweigh the cons?

If you can answer YES to that question, then move on to step 6.

6. Create an ACTIONABLE plan

In other words, what are you gonna do about it?

How do you make it so that the best happens? How do you move in the direction of the best case scenario?

If you don’t know how to make that plan, take some classes or read a book or talk to someone who’s done it before.

Take the First Step
Take the First Step!

A goal without a plan is just a wish. Make a plan.

7. Take the first step

Go to your plan, and do the first thing!

8. Take the next step

Repeat as necessary. Keep on moving.

If you’re standing still, you’re actually moving backward. Keep going. Take a step, and then the next step, and the next step.

9. Surround yourself with great people and talk to them

Good support
Surround Yourself with People Who Support you

No one is an island. We need people around us.

But if we have the wrong people around us, that can influence us in the wrong direction.

You need to find people who are thinking big and doing great things. That motivation will be so essential to finding your success.

I could not do what I do without seeing people ahead of me and seeing their success.

10. Have faith

All things are possible through Him who gives me strength. If God wants me to do something, it will happen. I just have to get out of His way.

At a certain point, it becomes bigger than you.

Have faith in yourself. Have faith in God.

(It’s okay if you don’t believe in God. But at least have faith in yourself.)

Infographic

Ten Steps to Conquer Your Fear
Ten Steps to Conquer Your Fear
  1. Thanks Leslie, for the post. I used to have a hard time with fear – your points remind me of how it was. I used to tell fear that I will give you time tomorrow 9am to talk. Just for today, let me not get into the future telling error (Dr.David D Burns) – after all if I don’t start guessing the future, there is none of this fear. Focusing on the micro details – the action plan like you said. And just today, now, here, around me, being here, breathing, in my body.
    I also used to remind me that I don’t have to be first in the exam 🙂 Whatever this exam of life is or one particular part of it… 82 percentile is enough. Usually I get it done by just following the steps, doing what is needed and not try too too hard with ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’ to myself.
    thanks mainly for opening this topic up and remind me that it is normal. Not alone. I am cautious, because I care. I want it to work.
    One of the books I read reminded me that first off, one can start thinking bad about anxiety and start renaming it as excitement since it seems anyway most of the symptoms and chemicals maybe the same (i am not sure of the chemical side of it – catecholamine, adrenaline etc – excuse me for that. you will know better.)

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