I almost didn’t launch my Facebook Group last week.
(and what this can teach you to help overcome fear and take action)
Since we are being honest here, before the launch, I was telling myself:
I don’t have enough time. I am too busy. This is too overwhelming.
And then a little of this:
Why am I even doing this anyway? Who do I think I am?
I don’t know what I am doing.
And even this:
What if it flops? What if no one participates? What if people hate it?
Except, see, these are just excuses. They are not real. Not. Even. True.
So instead of listening to those voices, I went ahead and launched the new Rising Female Entrepreneur Community with 425 incredible women.
And it’s fantastic!
I have loved creating the space for connection, growth, and support.
The group has just started and will only get better from here.
And in less than one week, the community has already grown by over 170 women to almost 600 new members!
By the way, if you haven’t joined already, it’s time you do! JOIN HERE NOW!
So how did I take action instead of wimping out?
You are probably asking why I am sharing all of this? As entrepreneurs, you face new challenges each day and most likely hear similar voices too. This blog post will share the steps to help you check in with your resistance to take confident action when these voices get in your way.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Ask why are you doing this in the first place?
When faced with challenges, it is imperative to tap into our why.
Our why is our North Star. It guides us while motivating us forward.
Why is doing this important to you?
The deeper your why is, the more motivation it will bring.
To dig deep, ask yourself questions like:
Once achieved, who will it impact? How will it affect your life or the lives of others?
In this example, my why is deeply rooted in my Core Value of building an authentic community that positively impacts the lives of others.
After facing personal challenges, I have a larger purpose: to give back by creating a space for connection, support, growth, inspiration, and community.
When your reason is beyond yourself, it becomes much more powerful. It is here that you will find genuine drive and fulfillment that will motivate you to take action.
What is your deeper reason for taking action?
Step 2: Change the beliefs that are holding you back by asking yourself if they are true.
Here’s a big one! It’s essential to understand what causes our beliefs to occur in the first place.
Our beliefs are just thoughts that we keep thinking.
So if we can stop our current thought pattern by questioning if it is accurate, and replace it with a more productive viewpoint, then Voila!
The old belief no longer exists.
Let’s take the belief “I don’t know what I am doing. I have no experience.” as an example.
If I ask myself the simple question, “Is this true that I have no experience?” when probing further, the answer is no.
It is not valid.
I have plenty of experiences, such as leading and scaling global art teams, leading support groups, or even socializing during parties, all of which are similar to hosting a community.
What belief are you telling yourself that is not actually true?
Find the evidence to prove yourself wrong. As entrepreneurs, you will consistently face new experiences.
It is easy to forget that even though you have not had that same experience, all of your past life experiences prepare you for new opportunities in your present.
Remind yourself that just because you are doing something “new” does not mean you are starting from scratch. What related past experience can you bring to this new opportunity?
Yes, I have never run a Facebook group before. However, I have plenty of experiences that allow me to have or learn the tools I need. No, it won’t be perfect, there is still a learning curve, but I am also not starting from zero.
Step 3: Ask, “What is the worst thing that could happen?”
Sometimes we make things much worse than they need to be. We catastrophize the situation when really, it is not so bad.
What is the very worst thing that can happen here? Will you get rejected? Perhaps it doesn’t work, and possibly you feel stupid?
Many times we can build things up to be so much worse than they are.
In this case, the worst-case scenario is that there are not many members, not a lot of engagement, or I don’t have enough time.
Not too bad, right?
Not the end of the world, but it can still seem daunting.
To best overcome this, write out solutions for how to tackle each of the problems listed.
For example, if it doesn’t work out as planned, you can always change it, or it can be an opportunity to try something else.
Or if you don’t have time, you can hire someone to help you.
There are always solutions if you reach far enough.
Step 4: Set yourself up to win
It is always important to be as prepared as possible to set yourself up for success. However, keep in mind that you do not need to be so prepared that you do not start at all.
It is better done than perfect.
Be as prepared as possible and do your best to set yourself up to win without holding yourself back.
Ask, what do you need to do to feel prepared for success?
If you know me already, you know I am intentional with my time. I am currently working another full-time job while running my coaching business, and I need a great organizational system not to become too overloaded.
So to be best set up for success, I outlined all of the other tasks I did each week and created a strategic plan.
Having this organized posting schedule as a framework helps me feel more grounded.
Sure, I wish I was a bit more ahead of the curve, but starting with a clear roadmap allows me to take action each day.
What steps can you take to be best prepared?
Step 5: Hold yourself accountable.
Sometimes we have to put ourselves out there in a tangible way to hold ourselves accountable and take a step forward. A great way to keep yourself responsible is to announce your intention to the world publicly, have accountability partners, or create deadlines.
In this scenario, I tackled accountability on all fronts. I created built-in accountability by doing the following:
1. Public Announcement:
Not only was the community advertised on my Facebook profile and page background photo, but I also inserted a community post as homework in my Clutter to Clarity Course.
Where would they post it if the community did not exist?
Yes, that was a bold move.
How can you make your goal public to hold yourself accountable?
2. Accountability Partners:
Having accountability partners increases the likelihood of hitting your goal by 500%.
My first step to include personal accountability was to invite personal contacts into the group as well as letting friends and family know this was my goal.
Now, if the group did not launch, it would not be a very comfortable situation for me.
Who will you share your goals with to help you stay on track?
3. Deadlines:
Setting a deadline can be key to creating the urgency needed to take action. A fixed timeline can be the push needed to move forward.
My deadline was November 2nd as it holds a special meaning for me, marking my late grandmother’s 99th birthday!
Miriam Langer was a strong, capable, resilient, woman who demonstrated genuine empathy, warmth, and leadership and always has been my true inspiration.
There was no better day to honor her powerful legacy. Thanks for the extra push, Grandma!
What deadline can you set to help you take action?
Yes, sometimes it will feel that you are up against the impossible. Hopefully, these steps will help you move forward.
To Recap the Steps to Take Action
- Tap into your purpose.
- Change your negative beliefs.
- Ask, “What is the worst thing that could happen?”
- Set yourself up to win.
- Hold yourself accountable.
We can do anything that we set our minds to if we make the decision. It is time to break through our barriers and take a confident leap to make a change and take action!
And remember, anything worthwhile is a little bit scary!
What is one step you can take today to move in the right direction?
Please email me at michele@micheleleah.com so I can directly respond! I’d love to hear from you!
Oh, and for some added accountability and support, remember to join our Rising Female Entrepreneurs Group on Facebook! 🎉🎉🎉 LINK
Michele x