Big Red Car here, y’all, talking risk, fear, slavery and other deep stuff.
So, entrepreneurial endeavor is a risky business by its very definition, no?
When an entrepreneur faces risk, she will generate some resultant fear. Perfectly normal. Sorry.
That fear is pervasive. Never takes a vacation and lives in her brain like an African safari worm.
So, what does one do, Big Red Car?
Risk
If you want to become an entrepreneur, allow me to introduce you to a new friend of yours — RISK.
Entrepreneurs all face risk. Some deal with it better than others. Experience will allow you to come to grips with it more surely the second, third, fourth times.
But, the first time can be very scary.
So, Big Red Car, what is a founder to do?
Fear
Fear is the natural result of risk. Marinate risk and you get fear. Allow risk to take water and sun, you get fear. Nothing too mysterious about that, eh?
What is fear? Fear is a force which prevents you from doing things gracefully you would do in its absence. It is a third hand on the rudder which shoves the boat into the rocks and destroys it.
If you let it.
So, Big Red Car, what is a founder to do?
The Slavery of Fear
Fear will not only throw the enterprise onto the rocks, it will make a slave of you and the enterprise.
It owns you. You cannot draw breath without feeling that iron band around your chest. You want to do things, but the fear quickens your heartbeat while stilling your hands.
It freezes you with the ball in your hands, the winning shot waiting to be taken, and the clock running out.
It is pervasive and it is a heartless bitch which doesn’t sleep and resents it when you try to.
OK, Big Red Car, what do we do?
Big Red Car, what do we do?
Here’s what you do, dear reader:
1. Acknowledge its existence. Tell yourself it is real. Do not bullshit yourself.
Know it is normal even if “normal” didn’t send you a Christmas card last year. You chose the path of “not normal.”
2. Tell yourself, “Thousands have run this path and By God so will I.”
3. Tell fear it is going to become fuel — just like all the slings, arrows, slights, and insults which drive you. They become fuel.
Tell me I can’t do something, will you?
Not if you’re smart.
4. You will double down on your planning and prep.
You will create a written Vision, Mission, Strategy, Tactics, Objectives, Values, Culture, business engine canvas, business process flowchart, elevator/taxicab/boardroom pitches, dollar weighted org charts.
Shakespeare will look down from Heaven and whisper, “Well played, madame entrepreneur. Well played!”
5. When done with the planning, you will check, double check, and re-check ……………………………….. everything.
6. You will come to work early, stay late, work hard, work through lunch three times a day, and spend an hour studying your profession every day.
7. You will pray.
What happens then, Big Red Car?
In some fairly short time, you will notice your chest starts to feel unburdened, more limber. Breath comes easier.
Your dreams sit lighter on your shoulders. Your hands won’t sweat constantly.
You think, maybe that Big Red Car is right. Maybe, I’ve got this.
Why? Because you do.
Will there be pain? Yes.
Will there be setbacks? Yes.
Will you win? Will you slay the dragon of risk? Yes.
Will you be a slave of fear? No.
Now, get out there and bite the ass off a bear. You’re an entrepreneur and while you deal in the world of risk, you are no slave to fear!
But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car and the only thing I fear is when the Hell The Boss is going to put a paint job on me. Come on, Boss. Paint an old convertible, won’t you?
