Why Don’t You Do It Afraid?

Almost ten years ago, I began a new chapter in my life when I launched Hooper Williams Communications. After spending nearly 27 years in Corporate America and getting used to earning a regular paycheck, it was one of the scariest things I have ever done.

After publicly announcing my intentions of starting the business, there was no turning back. So, there I was standing on the cliff of life and contemplating making the big jump with the feeling of fear constantly rumbling in the pit of my stomach.

For months, I had suffered many sleepless nights contemplating whether I was making the right decision. Questions constantly swirled in my already busy mind such as – What if I’m not successful? What if I don’t get any clients? What if I lose everything? What if I end up living in a park sharing nuts with squirrels? Okay—I admit I was a little dramatic!It also didn’t help when my colleagues said things like, “Wow, I can’t believe you are going to walk away from your paycheck, I admire your courage.” In the end, I decided to do it afraid.

What gave me comfort was knowing that I could always get another job if my new venture didn’t work out. Besides, I had saved up a considerable amount of money as a cushion until the business took off. I also set a realistic target of two years to make it, or I would return to corporate America and get another leadership position. The first year was filled with a lot of uncertainty. I secured a few contracts, but not enough to make a living. By the beginning of the second year, I was fortunate to have a colleague recommend me for a three-month consulting assignment at a major company. During that time, I quickly won the support of both the organization’s president and head of human resources by launching a variety of new programs. Because of these early wins, the three-month assignment turned into a three-year consulting job. During that time, I also secured a few more clients and expanded my team to include several freelance writers. Over the years, the business has steadily grown, but every now and again I still experience some self-doubt and fear. However, I quickly chalk it up to human nature and face my fears.

If we let it, fear will paralyze us. The fear of failure…the fear of judgment…the fear of success…the fear of public speaking…and the fear of rejection are a few of the fears we grapple with daily. Nelson Mandela once said, I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. I’m glad I could get beyond the fear of starting my business. What dreams have you put on the back burner because of fear? Why not, do it afraid.