Watch this if you’re afraid of starting your first business

Summary

• Don't wait to feel fearless before taking action; act despite the fear to build the muscle of courage.
• Reflect on personal experiences of overcoming fear, such as approaching clients for sales when I was younger, and realize that the feeling of making your first sale is incredibly empowering.
• Invest time in learning new skills, even when it's uncomfortable or challenging, like when I bought sales books and applied the knowledge to improve my job performance.
• Recognize the power of authenticity and conviction in sales over tactics or scripts; people respond to genuine emotions and intentions.
• Always be prepared to find new clients and understand that business is unpredictable with many fluctuations to anticipate.
• Confront fears directly; they often turn out to be much less daunting than anticipated, acting as a shortcut to personal and business growth.
• Maintain humility while leading a team, but don't mistake it for insecurity; ask for honest feedback and act confidently in your strengths to become an effective leader.
• Entering business for the wrong reasons, like avoiding decision-making, suggests you might be better off with a job; running a business requires accepting a lack of complete certainty.
• Seek advice selectively and be resourceful in learning; gather knowledge from experts in specific fields rather than looking for a single mentor for everything.
• Understand that respect from your team is crucial, but so is being liked; it encourages discretionary effort and better performance.
• Communication must be scaled within a growing business; find creative ways to make your knowledge and presence felt across the organization.
• Hire experienced leaders if possible to avoid the pitfalls of an inexperienced team; this can prevent significant mistakes as the business scales.
• Recognize that business ownership entails responsibility and may limit absolute personal freedom; align your business model with your true goals, whether they are for freedom or impact.
• Use feedback loops within the business – financial measures, client results, employee satisfaction – to gauge whether you're making the desired impact over time.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest starting small and simple. Focus on building courage, not on trying to eliminate fear. Try taking one small step today that scares you a bit, maybe it's calling a potential client or trying a new sales pitch. Remember, it’s okay to have butterflies; just get them flying in formation!

Here’s an easy way to boost learning. Pick up a book to gain a new skill. Don’t let it sit on your shelf. Read for a little bit each day and try to apply what you learn. This can be a game-changer. It was for me when I started selling; it can be for you too.

Don’t forget to be real – in sales and leadership. People can tell if you're genuine. Share your story, your struggles, and how you overcame them. This can create a strong connection and build trust. And when leading a team, ask for feedback. This helps you grow and shows your team you value their input.

Now, when it comes to decision-making, accept that it can be tough in business but don’t shy away from it. You won't always have the answers, and that's okay. You’ll learn more by making decisions than you will from waiting for certainty.

Networking is also low-cost but can be high-value. Find ways to connect with new clients and keep an eye out for opportunities. Markets go up and down, so always be prepared.

If you're running your own business, remember to be liked as well as respected. It's fine to want your team to value you, but it helps if they enjoy working with you too. They’ll go the extra mile when they genuinely care.

Lastly, remember to keep tabs on your business through feedback loops. They don't have to be complicated, just consistent checks on finances, client feedback, and team happiness. Use them to steer your business in the direction you want it to go.

Take these actions one at a time. Before you know it, you’ll build a successful business that’s not just surviving the fear but thriving because of the courage you’ve developed.

Quotes

"You don't act without fear; you carry it with you and do it anyways"

– Leila Hormozi

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"After you make your first sale you realize that you have the ability to make money"

– Leila Hormozi

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"What I've realized that's been a huge strength for me from that day forward in business has just been authenticity"

– Leila Hormozi

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"Fear is a mile wide and an inch deep"

– Leila Hormozi

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"If you change how you're acting, eventually your mind will catch up and it will stop having those thoughts that provoke the anxiety and the fear"

– Leila Hormozi