7 Strong Steps to Move From Business Fear to Business Faith

Have you ever felt confused when it comes to your business? Maybe you've felt unsatisfied in your business, longed for some challenges, or knew you wanted to enter a new phase or direction of business, but just felt unsure about what to do or how to go about it. Whenever this topic comes up with my clients (as it has also come up for me), I've learned to notice that it isn't really about confusion, it's more about fear of success.

Do any of these fears connect for you? The fear of starting something new, fear that you won't be able to measure up, fear of disappointing others that count on you, fear of not doing something right, fear that

you're a fraud, and the biggie, fear that you DON'T DESERVE IT? Or the even bigger, biggie - fear of the ECONOMY.

I don't think I know anyone who hasn't experienced some form of fear when beginning or growing a business. It's natural. The problem is when it stifles your energy, and leaves you living dull and disconnected from your purpose.

So how do you move past that fear and on into the success of your life? You look for the coffee.

When I was a teenager, and would get so nervous the night before starting a new job, my dad would always say to me, "By this time tomorrow you'll know where the coffee is." This was code for--you're scared because it's unknown, but you've got to actually go do it to get to the known. And he was always right. By the end of my first day, not only did I know where the employees got their coffee, but it was also always a good conversation starter to people I didn't know,

"Could you please tell me where the coffee is? Oh, I take mine with just milk. No sugar, thanks." You get the idea.

Fear of change keeps you from thriving, from evolving, from asking for what you really want, from reaching out to connect with others, from taking care of yourself, and from challenging yourself. You are the manager of your energy, and this equals the master of your life, which includes your business and the level of your success.

Ok, so this sounds all good, right? But exactly HOW does one become the master of success no matter what's going on around you? Well, I'm what I like to call a "Get-It-Done-Gal." If I'm going to master anything (especially my life's purpose) I'm going to want to know some concrete steps I can take to do that. Now I know you're thinking (maybe, wishing?) that I'm about to try to pass on a magic bullet. Nope. What I am going to say is there are exact steps to take, but those steps aren't about expending your energy outward. Instead, those steps are about turning your energy inward. You've got to shift the inside to see the results on the outside. And when you do shift the inside you WILL see results on the outside no matter what's happening "out there." (I'm blessed to see this in action every day with myself and my clients.)

Here's what you do:

1. Begin by identifying the original fear that's holding you back from making a change in your business or starting a business. (Fear of starting something new, fear that you won't be able to measure up, fear of disappointing others that count on you, fear of not doing something right, or, again, maybe the biggie, fear that you DON'T DESERVE IT...or perhaps what seems to be the favorite collective fear right now, fear of the economy.)

2. Look at your history. Start with your first job. Write it down. (Don't just read; do. You'll get faster results. Trust me.) Continue the list from there. Now go back and mark something that you received or learned from each position. What evidence do you see in front of you?

3. Celebrate what you've done. Give yourself a big pat on the back for everything that you've experienced and achieved so far. Nothing is too small. Wahoo! Go you! Seriously. To energize your success, you want to start by acknowledging what you've done so far.

4. Accept the compliments of others. This is just as important as #3. If you want more energy and success in your business, you've got to be able to let it in! If you can't say "thank you" when someone tells you they like your sweater, what makes you think you'll leave your energy open to accepting a new, high-paying client?

5. Track your commitment. Confusion and fear of success are great ways to talk around what you say you want, without having to actually do anything. It's important to check in with yourself. Do I really want this? Take one week and track the amount of times you think about/talk about making this business change. What kind of energy is generated? Do you feel excited, but scared? Or, could you really care less one way or another?

6. Re-evaluate the limiting belief or your fear. Is this fear who you are or maybe, just maybe, now that you've shed some light on it, not so powerful after all? Is it perhaps just a defense (again, it's natural to defend yourself when you're scared) or an excuse because you're actually happy to stay where you are, but feel pressured by others to want more--do more. The more open and honest you can be with yourself about your fears, the less power they have, and the more energy you actually have available to use and to make the change.

7. Continue to allow Energy Source (Spirit, Soul, God, Buddha - whatever language speaks to you) to work through you. Do this with bold action and the certainty that you can create whatever you want, whenever you want, no matter what. Abundance is the natural energy state of the world. Look around you - trees, flowers, animals - all thriving. It's the humans that make it hard to do so. The more you focus on abundance, think about it and experience it, the more you will become aware of the natural magnificence that really is. Then you have no reason to be confused. Or afraid.

Your Call To Action:

If you can't shake the fear, then FEEL it, but act. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the things you think you cannot do." That's been my practice. (This can happen a lot as a self-employed professional. You never know what the day holds.) When I feel myself being stuck, I recognize the fear, I take a breath-break, and then I do it. It usually turns out just to be about the "unknown" and then I remind myself that I NOW know where the coffee is.