The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

May 1Fear the Storm

Lovely weather so far. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott—Little Women (1868)

Turns out that astraphobia is an abnormal fear of thunder and lightning.

Many entrepreneurs suffer from something akin to this, known more commonly as resistance. Some might call this a form of fear—of failure, of success, of being frowned upon by your parents, of being laughed at, of being told by your “friends” you're not good enough, of neglecting your family—and the list goes on.

Resistance is a mighty force.

It's the thing that stops you from jumping at an opportunity, sitting down and writing your book, opening up and consuming the countless courses you've bought.

It's the fear of storms—real and imagined.

But here's the thing: if you are afraid, if you don't at times feel like a fake, then you might not be on the right path. A total lack of fear in your undertaking will show up as indifference—and then who really cares what you're creating?

Use fear as a clear signal that you are on the right path, but kick the resistance it creates right in the teeth.

If you don't, you'll cheat not only yourself but the entire world of your gift.

Challenge Question

1. What do you fear and where could it lead?