Right now you likely fall into one of three categories: 1) you’ve finished setting your goals for 2018 2) you’re in the process of setting your goals or 3) you’re not going to set goals for the next year. For purposes of this article, I’ll be focusing on the first two categories but first, let me share a quick story.
Before launching my business, my goal and dream was to leave Corporate America and run my business full – time, someday. Someday sounded good but because I was comfortable with consistent paychecks and honestly I didn’t want to fail, someday was coming no time soon.
I didn’t realize that fear was holding my dreams in the palm of its hand. It’s what kept me planning and planning and planning some more – all to remove any perceived risk and potential for failure.
If you’re a small business owner, one of your goals is likely to grow your business and/or make more money. Let me be the first to tell you that you can do it.
Let me also share what you must leave in 2017 if you’re going to achieve your goals next year. Fear.
Let’s define fear so we’re all on the same page. Fear is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”
Now, let’s look at how fear manifests itself and keeps you from achieving your goals, year after year.
You set a goal to build a profitable business but you avoid taking action because of fear. You set a goal is to grow your business but you’re afraid to hire a virtual assistant so you can focus on revenue generating activities. You set a goal to make more money but you’re afraid to pick up the phone and make sales calls.
Based on the definition of fear, building a profitable business, growing your business and/or making more money, is likely to cause pain or a threat. Is that really true? I don’t think so. Besides, if those things were likely to cause pain or be a threat, you wouldn’t want them.
The reality is, that’s not fear. That’s an excuse to remain the same. That’s your ego fighting to keep things just as they are. In other words, that’s called being comfortable.
Let 2018 be the year that you leave fear behind and build a highly profitable business.
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