Facing your fears — “Start Something that Matters” Chapter summary
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines! Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!”
Fear is going to be with us for the rest of our lives, we must learn to face it, and the first step is understanding what fear is.
Fear happens when we feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible situation or event — in other words, something that hasn’t even happen yet. Fear also gives us a hormonal jolt that allows us to deal with urgent situations — the so-called “fight or flight” response, designed to launch us into action. But instead of responding to fear with action, too many people stop acting when they feel fear. They feel overwhelmed. They retreat. They give up. And often they use it as an excuse not to start something that matters.
Everyone feels fear in business at some point, but the important thing to remember is that what you fear won’t kill you, in business at least.
I guarantee that in any endeavour, there will be days you’ll feel completely doomed, convinced that failure is inevitable and that, no matter how hard you work, you will never succeed. I had plenty of these days during the first few years of TOMS. We were doing something totally different and it was scary.
When that does happen, you will be faced with one of the most important tests you’ll ever encounter. Setbacks and fears are inevitable. The things that distinguishes the ultimate successes from the ultimate failures is this: What do you do with them?
“The things that distinguishes the ultimate successes from the ultimate failures is this: What do you do with them?”
Fear is one of our powerful emotions, and the more we focus on it, the more it frows and distorts out behaviour. But there’s a way through it. Instead of focusing on the fear itself, which you cannot control, focus on what you can control: your actions. How you react to negative feelings will be the key to your success. Becoming comfortable with fear, and acting confidently in its face, will not only give you more courage when facing it next time but also greatly increase your chances of achieving success and happiness.
Instead of focusing on the fear itself, which you cannot control, focus on what you can control: your actions. How you react to negative feelings will be the key to your success.
No matter what happens, win, lose, or draw, never forget that life goes on.
Don’t fear the unknown
“People think that they should start something only when they are totally and completely knowledgeable about the field they want to enter. That probably will never happen. No one goes into these ventures knowing everything. You have a good idea, you have energy, you raise money, and you do your best. If you spend all your time learning and studying to be ready, you will never stop learning and studying, And you’ll neven start your venture.”
Don’t worry about what others think
“But we are doing something we really care about and that we love. That’s worth it”
Don’t fall victim to the best idea freeze
“Many people starting something new are intimidated by the question ‘is this the best idea I have?’ Of course, a good idea is a great start, but the success of most ventures lies in the execution phase, not in the idea. I’d take a decent idea and superb execution over a great idea with sub-par execution any day of the week.”
The fear killers
I some effective ways to live with the fear until I could overcome it. First, I remembered to live my story. I went back to my core question: Why am I doing this? When you go back to your core motivations, you affirm the authenticity of your project, which takes away one of your biggest fears: that you are a fraud. When you live your story, you don’t have to pretend you’re someone you’re not. You can just be yourself. It's been said that there’s nothing more dangerous than someone who has nothing to love — and it’s true in business too. When you are living your story, it means your actions and your mission are the same, which eliminates any room for shame or disappointment, the two emotions that underlie our greatest fears. That's when you have nothing to lose.
First, I remembered to live my story. I went back to my core question: Why am I doing this? When you go back to your core motivations, you affirm the authenticity of your project, which takes away one of your biggest fears: that you are a fraud.
I also made sure to surround myself with interns. The wonderful thing about interns is that they are so enthusiastic and new to everything that they don’t waste time being fearful. They’re just excited to be working on something that feels important and meaningful. Having a group of enthusiastic people around you, all busy working toward the success of your enterprise gives you confidence, makes you feel legitimate, and ultimately, helps me whatever idea you are trying to create a reality. Thrive on interns, who can challenge your ideas and make you feel young and confident, no matter how old and scared you are.
What if all this is a terrible failure — what would be the worst that could happen? I would wake up at thirty having an amazing experience and be ready to do something else.
I surround myself with inspirational quotations. This easy-to-follow piece of advice has played a huge role in my being to get past my own fears and insecurities throughout my entrepreneurial career.
Say you’re starting a company, and you don’t have the money to hire a high-powered assistant or a board of directors or anyone at all who could give you advice, motivate you, or just be a sounding board for your ideas. You still have the ability to seek out amazing help.
How? Quotes. Quotes from people who have seen their way through fear and failure and still risen.
In addition to surrounding myself with short quotes, I read biographies. Because I left college to start a business and never received my degree, much of my education came from books that I found on my own, not the ones assigned to me by professors. My favourite books have always been biographies of successful entrepreneurs and other inspiring people. When I advise to read biographies, I don’t mean only in book form. There is plenty of biographical material on the internet.
You’ll probably be able to find stories by or about people who have done (or doing) something similar to what you have in mind. Learning how someone else is already doing the thing you want to do, or a version of it, can eliminate dear — every path is easier to follow when you see someone else’s footprints already on it.
I also remember to think small. It’s best not to regard your next step as a tremendous risk. Think about it as one small step on a long journey. Thinking big always sounds good, but it’s a common mistake shared by lots of people starting a business. We started TOMS with 250 pair of shoes in three duffel bags — that’s it. I didn’t quit my job immediately. I didn’t invest tens of thousands of dollars. I just made 250 pairs of shoes and tried to sell them. By starting small, you can work through your story, try out your idea, and test your mettle. Starting small is particularly good for someone who already has a job.
I also remember to think small. It’s best not to regard your next step as a tremendous risk. Think about it as one small step on a long journey. By starting small, you can work through your story, try out your idea, and test your mettle.
I would also write down my fears and look at them. When fears are stuck inside your head, your imagination can go wild, torturing you with all the various negative possibilities and outcomes. But when you write them down, you clarify exactly what you are afraid of, and soon the power they hold over you will fade.
Using the internet, you can reach almost anyone. Now you can write an email and in minutes receive great advice. I’ve found that people like to give advice to those with whom they empathize or in whom they see a version of themselves. So many times I’ve seen young women reach out to successful entrepreneurs and get terrific advice because the latter identify with a version of themselves in former times.
The timing is never right
If you wait for the timing to be right before you make a move, you may never make a move at all. What is holding you back from kick-starting your bucket list? Start today!
~Rahul vignesh Sekar
P.S: All the content above is exact ditto from the book ‘Start something that matters’ by Blake Mycoskie. I have written this blog as my personal notes and any credits(and all copywrites) will solely be to the author.
