Addressing Your Fears

I am saddened to admit that, like SuperMan, I too have my kryptonite. Somewhere in the past 15 years I went from leaping from the attic to my father's arms to be petrified of heights. I don't know when it crept up on me I just know that one day it was there, this sickening feeling in my gut accompanied by this unstable dizzying sensation as if I'm having my own personal earthquake.  

This feeling makes me feel weak.  It's not logic or reason based.  The quadratic equation will not give me the answer for "y."  Even though I know there is nothing to fear but fear itself that now means to me that I'm now afraid of being afraid.  

So, every year I do something that makes me sick or at the least EXTREMELY uncomfortable.  I crossed, like a turtle mind you, the CLEAR glass bridge at the Grand Canyon.  I hike up hellaciously tall mountains and go to the edge to look over and this year I saught the wind.

I got in to the line at Kings Dominion to once again alert my fear that I wouldn't let it rule me.  It was a September day at the end of the season so very light lines at the park.  I watched others go up and it looks kind of innocent like a merry go round at the top of a 30 story building.  30 STORY BUILDING!!!!

I calmed myself, said prayers, sang songs and spoke to no one else in the line.  When you are dealing with that much anxiety other people can't help no matter how they try.  Only you can conquer your fears. Finally, I am directed to a seat but as I go to put my bag in the container bin (because of the nature of the ride no items are allowed on with you even hats and glasses are suggested to be removed).  As I approach the bin with their warnings in my mind I contemplate just exiting by the gate so very close to the bins BUT I persevere.

I buckle in to the seat and test it to see if it will pop up.  I'm questioning the safety of it all and discussing how stupid this is to be doing anyway.  I have several conversations in my head but when the attendant approaches me to BARELY tug on my seatbelt I don't cry LET ME OUT (not aloud anyway).

The ride rises and it seems innocent enough until the seats start expanding out into a larger circle.  Ok, I can do that but then I look down and it was all I could do to calmly wrap my arms around the lap brace on the empty seat next to me.  I shut my eyes so tight that I started to develop a headache but finally I remembered that if I'm going to do it I'm going to do it right.  That was a lovely speech until the ride reached the top where you can truly view the entire park and started spinning faster and faster and faster and OH MY GOD what have I done.  So, this is why this stupid ride is called the Windseeker.

I maintained my lunch and it eventually slowed down and started to descend.  With eyes wide open and stomach on alert I gazed upon my surroundings as we finally began to approach Planet Earth again.  The view is so serene and settling and I would have easily allowed fear to keep me from ever seeing it.

In our lives we often do the same.  We allow fear and doubts to keep us from our dreams and aspirations.  So, you want to quit your 9-5 to become your own boss or you want to start a weekend cupcake business.  Well, the only thing stopping you is YOU.  Don't let fear, or other people's fears, keep you from having the best vision of your life possible...the vision of you being happy.

I will never say that the fears go away but I will say they have no control over you.  So, Go Get IT and as always Live Better, Do Better, Be Better!!!

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515

Grow Right or Die

Grow Right or Die

My great nephew, Jeremiah, is only 2 years old, (pictured left as a baby) but is the size of a very solid 5 year old.  But he still has the communication skills and comprehension of a 2 year old.  He has the same inclinations of a 2 yr old to throw things and that strong temperament often aligned with the "Terrible Twos."  So, he has all of this strength and height and therefore can get in to SO MUCH trouble but people see him and assume that he's mentally challenged because he doesn't really talk but not realizing that he's younger than he looks.  Fortunately, as he ages his mental abilities will catch up with his body but can your business say the same.

Our business babies that we nurture and grow can also have growth spurts.  The concern isn't the growth but how prepared are we to handle and manage it.  Did we know a growth spurt was coming?  Can we keep our quality to match our increased production?  Have we priced our products and services accordingly or are we undercutting ourselves?  Do our employees understand our culture?  Do we need more employees?  Is it time to switch from jack of all trades to delegating and specializing?

For children it's pretty easy to see if they're on track.  Grab your ruler makes some tick marks on the wall and talk with your pediatrician to make sure they are growing as they should.  For your business the formula gets a little more tricky.  So, yes the business down the hallway started at the same time as your business but does that mean you should expect the same rate of growth or success.

While industry data does assist you in understanding how you stack up your real measurement of success is a bit different.  Frankly what's most important is not that you are growing at the same rate as another business but are you able to grow healthily.  As a consultant I've worked with companies that have been around for more than a decade but because they've never planned but only reacted they are only a crisis away from having to shut their doors.

The simple truth is that many businesses have never written a business plan, established what kind of culture they want for their office, developed policy and procedure manuals or developed a training procedure.  So, there is no need to be amazed that the business that has been in your neighborhood forever has all of a sudden shut it's doors because you either Grow Right of Die.

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515