Every entrepreneur, every self-employed person feels fear.

Look around at the people you admire in business and in life.

♥ Are you tempted to think they’re fearless?

♥That’s success has come easily for them?

♥That they’re somehow gifted and everything they touch turns to proverbial gold?

I promise you, they’re just as afraid as you are – are once were. They’ve heard NO more times, they’ve had their ideas rejected more times, they’ve ‘screwed up’ the courage more times and they committed to overcoming their fears. How? One step at a time.

Putting yourself ‘out there’ is terrifying for most of us. You just have to want the result more than you fear the big thing that’s holding you back, whatever that big (or seemingly big) thing is.

The famous American automotive pioneer Henry Ford is famously quoted as saying: whether you think you can or thing you can’t, you’re right!”

It’s up to us. Your success will be directly proportional to your ability to look your fears in the eye, stare them down, and do the thing anyway. Most of our fears aren’t fatal. Asking for help, contacting potential clients, believing in what you have to offer the world – no matter what you think, or anyone else thinks, or says – it won’t harm you.

Sure, it might sting, or feel tough to take in the moment, but you know what they say: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Take on your fears in small steps.

Tell yourself what you’d tell your best friend or trusted colleague if they were in the same position. Reassure yourself, encourage yourself to take one step. You’ll find the next one to be easier and the one after that, easier still.

If you want something that you don’t already have, there’s a good chance you’ll have to do things that you haven’t already done.

Doing those things may not feel natural to you. You may even feel uncomfortable and awkward. But ultimately, behind the frightening facade of fear is a bigger version of who you already are. That’s where the fun is.

Cracking your comfort zone involves feeling fear and befriending the bastard. Your fear is there for a reason. Respect and embrace it.

The best of the best feel fear. So will you. The trick is to not let it immobilize you, but instead, use it as a driving force to take you where you want to go.

Fear keeps us in the background

It convinces us we can never accomplish our dreams, tells us to keep quiet, and separates us from the ones we love. Fear has an unparalleled ability to freeze us in our tracks, and limit what we are willing to try. Fear makes us lead a smaller life.

The things that we are afraid of may be different, but our reactions to fear are usually the same – our palms sweat, our mouths get dry, our stomachs churn — and we would do anything, make any sacrifice, just to make it go away. How many times have you turned away from an opportunity or even a relationship because you were too afraid to go for it?

The toughest step is usually the first one. So, go gently, be easy on yourself and commit to doing one small thing every day that feels scary. I think you’ll be surprised how, when you set your intention, step into what is yours to do and put yourself out into the world, the universe will step toward you and open the door that seemed before to appear as obstacles.

Be bold and great and mighty forces will come to your aid – some of them will show up looking like new business. I promise.

Go forth boldly and share your results.