Is it Fear?

In the last episode, I shared 2 new blind spots that hold me back. Here's a direct quote from "Counting Your Chickens Before they Hatch". "These 2 new blind spots explain why I take my foot off the gas pedal. It's why my pipeline of marketing prospects has run out time and time again over my 20-year entrepreneurial journey. I'm not consistent and it's not because I'm afraid of doing the work. I am a hard worker. I simply get in my own way and stunt my own growth."

Coach Josh found 2 blind spots. Then TLF uncovered 2 more as I stated above. I brought these back to Coach Josh and entered the Easter Egg Hunt again. Josh simply listened and said. "Is it fear?" Josh said it a few times on recent coaching calls and Marco Polos. I heard it, but I didn't listen. Here's a direct quote about another weakness, although I know about this one so it's not a blind spot! "Overthinking causes a lack of action. This is fully masked in fear. Ken, is it fear of failure? Or is it failure of success? Either way, the only way to cure fear is to take action. The majority of men are masses of beginnings." This is a new concept to unpack. Is it fear? Am I getting in my own way and stunting my growth because I'm afraid? If so, what am I afraid of? Am I afraid of failing? As I asked myself this question over and over, I concluded the answer was 'no'. I have failed a ton over the years, so it's nothing new. Eliminating one forced me to ask the second question. "Am I afraid of success?"

This is a preposperous question. Why would anyone be afraid to succeed? That's easy. If you've never succeeded at a high level, it's fear of the unknown. I've never built a $500,000 cleaning company with management and cleaning teams. The steps I'm taking will form that up over time. That's a fact. But am I subconsciously sabotaging my own ability to succeed because I'm afraid of succeeding? I could NOT answer 'no'. By default, if I can't answer 'no', I must answer 'yes'. I do not like this at all. I want to succeed. I pray to succeed. I set goals to succeed and then take the action to succeed. But then I veer off course through my many blind spots and weaknesses. I count my chickens before they hatch. I allow my busyness to be an excuse for not getting required business action steps from becoming consistent. I faked myself out about my pricing for commercial cleaning prospects. And so on.

These last few podcast episodes have been therapy sessions for me in front of all of you. Let me ask you this question. Are you learning the same things as I am or do you just feel bad for me? My guess is that everyone deals with fear. What is fear. It's "False Evidence Appearing Real".  What if my business isn't good enough for great candidates? What if offices don't want my high-priced service? What if I forget how to train new employees and they stink at cleaning? The list of internal questions could fill up this podcast. The good news is that we can defeat fear. Do you know how? It's pretty simple actually. ACTION CURES FEAR. That's what I did in November. I told Josh that I would be accountable to completing the initial contact, emails, office visits, and phone calls to 240 offices on my prospect list. I had to pick up a 1,000 pound phone and dial the number and ask about their current cleaning service. I had to stop into offices to introduce myself and drop off information. I had to email people I've never met and put myself out there. I was afraid, but it worked. The more I took action, the less I was afraid. I completed this accountability and it lead to 4 new estimates and proposals for potential office clients. I also posted 2 job ads on Indeed and Facebook. I put myself out there and felt very uncomfortable. But people found the ads and applied. Isn't that the craziest thing. When I take action, the fear goes away. When I take action on a regular basis, the fear stays away. This allows me to talk more confidently on the phone and accomplish more.

Counseling session over for me. What about you. Why are you not succeeding? Is it fear?