Fear. In life, in business, or after a heavy night out. The Irish as a nation are so susceptible to this notion that they have coined the term for the general paranoia we feel the morning after the night before. The Fear. It paralyses us, questions our motives and stops us from moving forward with our day. And in business? It’s even worse. When it comes to striking out on our own, to follow the dream of doing something our way – fear is often the biggest obstacle.
Fear is a very basic emotion. It’s something primary, felt from childhood before many other thoughts have developed. We know what fear is from birth. As we grow up, it manifests itself in different forms. And where it truly freezes us is when we allow it to make decisions on our behalf. Making decisions based on fear rather than happiness inevitably leads to that other dreary F word – failure.
As young entrepreneurs, what drives us to fear? Is it the 140-character society we live in? When we don’t get an immediate response, does the panic set in? What happened to patience?
So, here’s a thought. Feel fear. Sit there and think, what is it like to be afraid? That feeling in the pit of our stomachs, let’s turn that on its head.
Feel the fear and do it anyway
My constant question is, do fear and adventure not go hand in hand? The fear of the unknown is greater than the fear of the known. But the marvel of the unknown far outweighs the marvel of the known. I choose to be marvelled over fearful. Every time. That excitement that comes with the discovery of something new. The ta-da moment, when it all comes together. Is it fear that creates the rush, the release? The fear of the unknown that pushes us to explore, to conquer the adventure? Being unafraid to take that leap. To share a part of ourselves so personal. There is no point in allowing fear to act as a negative. Why be so cowardly? Fear accelerates us. It is the rush of downhill skiing, the fresh wind on our faces. That glint in our eyes knowing we can do it.
Inevitably, we will come across people who are better, stronger, faster than us – in mind as well as physical presence. We admire, stand in awe, wonder how they got to where they are so fast, so unscathed.
Talking to another entrepreneur friend, we discussed the hilarity of the fact that we are either constantly tired or afraid (and sometimes both together). All the time. The point is that neither of those facts stops us. The amusement comes from the fact that no one discusses these side-effects to the passions of driving a business. Being afraid is okay. No-one discusses that aspect. Come to own these realities. Embrace the fear. Allow it to fuel the adventures. Acknowledge its presence. And keep moving forward.
Getting on with it
What about fear that is thrust up on is? If someone we care about falls ill. If we are transferred abroad with our jobs. When the circumstances are beyond our control. We can still feel fear, but we have no choice but to get on with it. And we all usually come out the other side. A little bruised, a little shaken maybe. But armed with new lessons to keep driving us forward. And if we’re able to get through these challenges thrown at us out of the blue, should we not know by now that we can embrace challenges of our own choosing?
The key, of course, is determination and perseverance, a sense of gumption. Think that you’re working hard – and then push harder. Be realistic. Any of us can only make decisions based on the information we have at our disposal. Surround yourself with the best people (not just yes-people) in order to make it happen. And know that when an idea truly isn’t working, to walk away, and take the lessons on board for the next venture.
Get back on the horse – don't be dragged along the ground by it. Asking "what if?" won't get anyone anywhere. But testing "what if?" will give all the answers we need. Serial entrepreneur Richard Branson recommends "learning by doing, and learning by falling. . . because you fall over that you learn to save yourself from falling over". Herein lies the challenge. In order to put our ideas in motion, we often have to share our dreams. And that is what some of us are most scared of. Creativity is often so intrinsically personal, sharing it with the public is like sharing ourselves. Negative feedback is taken not just against the idea but against our very beings.
But. Here is the truth that I have discovered: we are a community! And we are here to help each other. As entrepreneurs, we are all trying to disrupt, renew, discover. Drive is what unites us. Fear pushes us forward. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Natasha Sherling is a business graduate from Trinity College, and a Graduate Gemmologist from GIA New York. Her jewellery designs retail in several high-end stores and she is co-ambassador for Sandbox, the network of innovators under 30.
