Fear of Failure — Aisha Rose

Fear of failure can stop you from making a lot of decisions, but this year has been the year I put that fear aside. In January, I walked away from my job of almost three years and my first job after graduation. It was definitely difficult, but I knew it was for the best. I went on to pursue a job at a marketing agency I admired. I was super excited!

However, after getting there it wasn’t exactly what I expected and I still felt just as overwhelmed. I decided to take time to get The Strength of SHE and a few of our projects off the ground. I also wanted to finish my MBA on time and graduate in April. So in March, I left that job to do just that.

Learning after the Leap

So here I was an entrepreneur, full-time, and boy did I learn a thing or two. Entrepreneurship is a constant grind, especially in the beginning. Every day you’re working so that your brand can be seen, building relationships, seeking partnerships and most of all—making ends meet. Many people don’t realize how tough entrepreneur life can be, especially now that it’s been so glamorized on social media.

You work day in and day out. There are days you may not leave the house. There are weeks business may be booming, and others where you may make nothing. I believe that anyone can stand out in a saturated market, but you have to work for it! You trade in a predictable direct deposit, to track down freelance checks in the mail. That is the reality.

Getting Through Tough Times

You have to have focus and understanding of where you want to go so that you don’t get distracted. You must have strength to keep going even when you feel defeated. Most of all, you must have faith that things will get better and that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing what you should be doing. Lastly, you need to be honest with yourself about your skill, ability and situation and not compare yourself to others.

Some entrepreneurs get proud and don’t express when they need help, or there’s something that needs to be done. I was able to do this and had no fear or shame in it. I believe that God is preparing me for something that is amazing on this journey I’m on. There’s no doubt about it. He’s positioning me for something that I wouldn’t have made it to on my own, on the path I was on.

Done with the Fear of Failure

I am on a brink of a new journey. I will no longer be a full-time entrepreneur as I will be returning to the workforce. I wouldn't have had access to the opportunities that are being presented to me if I didn’t overcome my fear of failure. I never said that I was opposed of going back to work after working for myself, but I did fear how it would look. There are so many boss babes that hold down their own business, while working a full-time job. I just didn’t believe I could do it, and I didn’t want to feel like I was giving up on myself. Guess what, I’m not!

I’ve had this time to establish myself and get my name, and my brands' name, out there more. I’ve also had time to figure out what I wanted to dedicate time to and what I didn’t. These six months have given me time to know where I needed help to manage my brand and learn more about the legalities of making my business work.

So when you feel that people are watching you, and you're scared to not only talk about making a new move, but actually do it—don’t! This is your life and the last thing you want to say is—shoulda, woulda, coulda. Hold your own, but don’t stop because you’re scared to fail. Sometimes to get over the fear of failing takes one realization—success comes to no one who didn’t take a chance every now and again.

[bctt tweet="success comes to no one who didn’t take a chance every now and again." username="aishadherring"]

What fear are you getting over?