Fear of Failure

I’m into my second month of running my own business and what a journey it has been so far! Every day has been a learning curve.

I have spent 17 years building up a career in teaching and feeling increasingly confident at what I do. Now, I’m starting all over again and it’s terrifying. I spent September setting up my online platforms – my website, a Facebook page, a Facebook group, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tiktok. I launched these new platforms with friends and family and asked them to spread the message far and wide.

I built content and shared regularly – blogs, helpful hints, motivational videos. Nothing seemed to be happening! By the end of September, I felt like I was failing. Then, there was the revelation. I WAS failing. And that was all part of the learning. How incredible would it be to go straight into a new business and succeed straight away, right? But it’s not realistic.

When I think back to the first class I ever taught, I wonder what I actually taught them. I knew so little then compared to what I know now. It’s the same in a new business. It’s important not to look at failures when building a new career as a ‘lack of success’. It should be reframed to an ‘Ok, so what do I know now that I didn’t know before?

What has been the learning here?’ For me, it’s been in understanding the needs of the niche I am focusing on and creating packages that are tailored to that. I have also learnt that I need to feel the fear and do it anyway…there was one particular package that I have been putting on hold to do until I felt more confident. But if it’s only confidence holding me back, I just need to get it done now!

So as terrifying it has been since starting, it has been equally liberating. Bring on the next failure because with it, will be powerful learning and each step will bring me closer to my goal. In the meantime, I am grateful for the life this career change is giving me right now.