april 12, 2021

Author: Satya Nelms 

Fear and worry can feel like an inevitability for business owners. And it's easy to see why, what with all of the uncertainties that can keep you up at night, the immense amount of energy required and the responsibility that rests on your shoulders. The weight of running a business can be heavy and leave you more susceptible to worry and stress.

When asked if there are any particular moments she has felt afraid or overwhelmed, small-business owner Rajone Morris-Walsh said, “A better question would be when have I not felt afraid or overwhelmed.”

Morris-Walsh is the owner of Daily Fashion Finds Boutique, an online retail shop that helps women find outfits that are trendy, classic, comfortable and fashionable. She started building her business in March 2020, shortly after losing her job due to the pandemic. While starting a business in the middle of a global crisis added an additional layer of pressure, she hasn’t let it stop her.

When those feelings arise, business and mindset coach Gieselle Allen says that, “it’s really important to deal with those feelings. If you are fearful in your brain, you’re not going to show up for your business in the way that you need to.”

Having a handle on your mindset “is even more important than focusing on your business strategy,” Allen says. Morris-Walsh and Allen both offered the following advice on how to manage fear and keep it from getting the best of you.

1. Give yourself some space.

Ignoring your feelings will not make them go away. You have to allow yourself to feel them.

Rather than try to pretend you are not afraid or overwhelmed, “take a second, ground yourself and listen to the fear,” Allen says.

Allen has found that when her clients listen to their fears and acknowledge them, they will often dissipate. Your fears loom larger when you don’t face them head on.

2. Remind yourself of what’s true.

Your fears can feel very real, but that doesn’t mean that they are. “We treat our fears and our unhelpful thoughts as objective truths, but really it’s all a fantasy,” explains Allen. “You’re making it up.” If fear is telling you that your product isn’t going to sell, point yourself to the evidence that it will. (And even better—take actionable steps to make sure it will, like creating a strong marketing plan.)Prove your fear wrong and ground yourself in reality.

3. Focus on the good.

“One of the main reasons that business owners feel afraid and overwhelmed is focusing on the negative,” Allen says.

With all of the goals you create for your business, it's easy to get caught up in the goals you have yet to accomplish, but it is important to celebrate your wins. Focus on what you have done.

“If you’re so focused on always getting to the next level,” says Allen, “then you’re not taking the time to appreciate where you are right now.” Celebrate all of your wins, no matter how small.

4. Be proactive.

Being proactive about your worry means making space to address what comes up for you when those feelings appear.

Take the time to notice any recurring fears. Pay attention to triggers.Morris-Walsh recommends "a brain dump," or making a list for yourself.“Write down everything that is in your brain, and get it out. Then start to make sense of it,” she says.

Once you have a handle on what stories you are creating around your fears, you can reframe them, conquer them and keep them from reappearing.

5. Get help.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” Morris-Walsh says.

There is a lot you have to master as a business owner and trying to learn it all on your own contributes to feeling overwhelmed. You don’t need to do everything by yourself. Do some research and find a mentor or a coach who can help fill the gaps in your understanding. Having a support system can relieve a lot of that stress.

It's important to be honest with yourself when you are running a business. Constructive criticism is necessary, but fear can be counterproductive for your growth as a business owner. Those emotions act as roadblocks and stand in the way of your progress.

Acknowledge your fear and feeling overwhelmed, but keep things in perspective. Don’t feed those negative feelings, and don’t let them stand in your way.

Photo: Getty Images