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By Vishal P. Rao
Good ideas are literally "a dime a dozen". Individuals
conceptualize revolutionary new products and new services
with each passing minute of each day. Although there is such
a steady stream of ideas that can be marketed successfully
and developed into a lucrative business, there are actually
few new businesses that make it past the "initial stages"
into actual existence.
Why is this, and what factors contribute to the abandonment
of great ideas that could've possibly netted the creators a
small fortune?
There seem to be two major psychological forces at work when
a great idea is abandoned before completion or a business
fails for no apparent reason. These two psychological
syndromes are:
1. Fear of Success
2. Fear of Failure
It is a very frightening prospect to start and maintain a
home-based business. There's no doubt about that. And every
business owner feels the "fear" of being responsible for
their own destinies, and for their own futures. It's quite
common, to be somewhat nervous and stressed about our
businesses, especially in the beginning.
Conquering this fear is a necessity, however, as no one can
be effective in a business if they allow the fear to
overwhelm them.
Fear can be "healthy" in a way, as it can keep an individual
alert and aware of any failures of the business, which
thwarts problems before they start. Fear can also be
"unhealthy" when an individual experiences such fear that it
leads to inaction and the business never really gets off the
ground as a result.
The two fears above seem to be the most prominent among new
business owners. In the first, Fear of Success, a new
business owner may have a great idea, and may develop every
facet of the business thoroughly, yet they never seem to
"open" the doors of the business. They may find excuse after
excuse, why they can't really put the business into play,
although all facets of the business are established. They
may find that they run into repeated crises in their lives,
sickness of themselves or a loved one, disasters that are
not "really" disasters crop up repeatedly. This is simple
Fear of Success, and part of a psychological pattern.
Although crises do occur to us all, we go on with life
despite these, and no one has crises that are continuous. A
business owner with this syndrome is merely afraid that
success will "change" their lives and they are afraid they
won't be able to cope with the changes. Of course, success
will change someone's life. However, the Fear of Success can
be so overwhelming, that some new business owners simply let
the business fall by the wayside, thereby ensuring its
failure. After all, if the business fails to get started or
to succeed, they never have to face the reality of their
"Fear of Success".
The second fear is just as detrimental as the Fear of
Success. This fear is the Fear of Failure. This fear seems
slightly more common and is characterized by the inability
of future business owners to even get "started" with any
plans or any concrete method of establishing a business.
They constantly procrastinate in even the most simple of
business chores. They fail to ever establish the business in
any way, and for the most part are always promising to
"start tomorrow", only tomorrow may never come. They also
may jump from "idea to idea" always hatching a new plan for
the next great business. Unfortunately, the plans are the
only thing that is ever hatched, as nothing concrete ever
materializes. They can be seen by their family and friends
as mere "schemers"/ "daydreamers".
Occasionally, business owners can "waver" between the two
fears, actually experiencing both Fear of Failure and Fear
of Success simultaneously, becoming almost paralyzed with
the emotions of all this, and unable to attend to the
business with any degree of rationality. They can start
businesses over and over, or make plans for businesses over
and over, and yet never see any real degree of success.
These fears, like all other fears, can be overcome. There
are many methods to use to overcome them:
1. A business owner needs to stop "projecting the worst case
scenarios" onto the business. This is by far the most
effective method. Business owners that worry too much about
the worst happening, eventually make this projection a
reality.
2. Business owners need to be realistic about the timeframe
involved in success. A good business may take months or even
years to stabilize.
3. Business owners need to be aware of their own feelings
and motives. When "stalled" within a business, they have to
question their own inner emotions and ask themselves if
perhaps their emotions are overruling their own common
sense.
4. A business owner will need to have as much personal and
business support as possible behind them. This includes
family, friends, and of course, other business people.
Knowing we are not "alone" can easily alleviate misgivings
and misconceptions.
5. A business owner should take time to relax and de-stress
whenever needed. Fears become more palpable and real during
times of extended stress.
6. Business owners should always have well thought out plans
of action. Good plans reduce stress and the symptoms of
stress, which exacerbate our fears overall.
It is best if any potential business owner addresses their
fears and their approach to life as well as their motives
before starting a new business. It is better to address any
underlying issues prior to beginning a business, as
addressing them while "within" the throes of a hectic
business start up is difficult, if not impossible.
Remember all fears can be conquered, and it is better to
have tried and failed than never to have tried at all!
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Vishal P. Rao is the owner of
Home Based Business Opportunities
- One of Internet's leading website dedicated to starting,
managing and marketing a home based business.
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