4 Actions to Help Overcome Fear in Your Business

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As a young professional starting out 20 years ago, I was constantly struggling to overcome fear.

But nothing prepared me for 2008. That was the year I decided to leave a financial services job I loved and, with my new husband, move almost 2,000 miles across the country from Montana to Pennsylvania.

It seemed like a good decision at the time, in part because I naively assumed that all my clients back home in Montana would continue to work with me.

Instead, it turned out that my assumption was completely wrong.

So, here I was…

…In a new city where I didn’t know anyone other than my husband.

…Facing a financial services client roster that had almost dropped to zero.

…Struggling to get by with very little money and no significant income in the near future.

And trying to find my way around Pittsburgh’s bridges and tunnels was… well, let’s just say a few profanities came out of my mouth.

Sometimes life tests us to grow bigger

When I look back today, I can see that the events of 2008 were a major turning point in what I didn’t even know would become my life’s best work.

Fear in business is a barrier that can hold you back and even kill your dreams completely – if you let it. Back then I felt like I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and it was scary.

But life events like these really are a blessing in disguise. They create a drive in you to move beyond your comfort zone, especially when that drive is fueled by the fear of what will happen if you don’t take action.

On a gut level, you know that you have to step up big and do the hard things. Your situation demands it.

The alternative is a life of regrets – or worse.

Yes, I could have crawled into a corner and felt sorry for myself. (some days I could barely get out of bed because I was so anxious and afraid.)

I could have decided that I really wasn’t cut out for the client-service work that I loved and was successful at in Montana.

Or, I could have just given up and resigned myself to becoming one of the 70 percent of workers who hate their jobs.

But instead, here’s what I did…

I found the right mindset and actions unlock success

• First, I let myself have a good cry (actually more than one). I admitted to myself that I should have planned better, much better. And then, when I was done – super important! – I stopped punishing myself for what happened.

• Second, I decided I wasn’t going to give up.

• Third, I dug in and figured out exactly what I needed to do to rebuild and grow my career in this new city.

• Fourth, I followed through with my plan, step-by-step.

I knew I had a passion for the financial services profession. While it seemed like my life was a disaster at that time, I knew that I had to dramatically shift my mindset toward the positive and take calculated action.

Those four action steps provided the foothold I needed to overcome my fear and push it aside.  I clawed my way out of that dark, scary space between the rock and the hard place.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy.

There were a lot of days when the “what-ifs” crept in. I would find myself doubting whether any of my hard work would actually pay off.

But, I just couldn’t allow myself to give up. With focus, persistence, and every small win that came my way, my efforts gained momentum and the scale finally began to tip in the right direction.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable

When I look back now, it’s clear that my cross-country move and all of the turmoil that came with it was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

Today, I am CEO of a successful financial planning firm, I provide business coaching for women business owners,  and I help women achieve their dreams of entrepreneurship at Pittsburgh Women’s Mastermind.

I love every minute of it. Life is good.

Here are my top 8 insights for learning to overcome fear in business:

1. When you feel fear, don’t let it stop you.
2. Smart women sometimes make business mistakes, big ones!
3. Buckling into fear and making mistakes is temporary. It doesn’t mean your career is over or your dreams can never become reality.
4. What you perceive as a disaster can actually be a stepping stone for growth – to something bigger and even better than you ever imagined.
5. As a woman in the financial services business, you need to grow a tough skin. (I know I had to!) You’ve got to develop the resilience to take a hit, and sometimes another hit and another, and keep going.
6. You’ve got to be willing to take (calculated) risks. Research has shown that women, in general, are less comfortable doing this, but keep in mind that risk-taking is actually a “muscle” that you can build with practice.
7. A great client, mentor, or support-in-the-trenches friend may be waiting for you around the corner, but you’ll never know if you give up after a setback.
8. When one door closes, move on and look for another one.

Finally…

Trust yourself and keep going

Maybe the most important thing I’ve learned as a woman in financial services is that this choice of work shows who you really are.

You have to be prepared for your character to be tested. This work will reveal how much focus, motivation, perseverance, endurance, and resilience (among many other things) you really have.

And, as your character is tested, you’ll need to learn how to market yourself, get more comfortable with risk, build your connections, and stay open to changes in everything from technology to client demands.

Feeling stuck by fear in business can be agonizing, but it doesn’t mean the game is over.

These “growing pains” are all part of the process to get where you want to be.

That fear you have when faced with something uncertain or new? As the saying goes, feel it and do it anyway. And you’ll be on your way to overcoming your fears. On the other side is a more empowered confident, and competent you.

What do you do to overcome your fears? Please leave a moment below.

Do you have questions about how you can succeed in your business and accelerate your journey toward reaching your goals? I invite you to learn more about From Startup to Success coaching packages. Begin with a no-cost 30-minute consultation to discuss where you are with your business and where you want to go.

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