Learn to Overcome Your Fears and Get What you Want Out of Your Career, While Being your Own Boss

Opportunity is everywhere, but to grasp what you want, you have to take that brave step into the unknown.  No one said that step was going to be easy. It can actually be very tough and quite terrifying, but success (however you define it) never came easy for anyone. Plus, would it really be worth it if you didn’t have to work for it?  This is especially true if you want to be an entrepreneur.

While being an entrepreneur is one thing, being your own boss is where it gets tricky. You can’t let things slide because no one is there to push you; you have to be your own motivator, producer and deliverer. Luckily this can all be achieved with a courageous attitude, focused mind, and the ability to make mistakes and learn from them.

Here are some pointers to help you get started on this journey, and then an interview with a young entrepreneur to get you even more motivated!

Problem-Solving Practicalities
As an entrepreneur, one of your biggest jobs is problem-solving, especially if you are starting from the bottom with no financial support. Being faced with a challenge can sometimes be too much for a new business, and the person who started on a venture with high hopes may end up walking away from the task at hand. Don’t let fear take over. I’m not saying throw everything on the line and hope it all works out, but in order to get what you want out of your business, you will have to make some sacrifices and some bold decisions. So don’t act on impulse, and keep a strong head when faced with a positive or negative situation. Learning from your successes and your mistakes is how you grow.

Be a Goal-Setting Go-Getter
When it comes to goal setting, be SMART. Think simple, measureable, attainable, realistic and timely. What can you accomplish in one week’s time? What about one month’s time? What needs to be accomplished first? Goal setting is one of the most challenging exercises, but it is also extremely beneficial, and it feels awesome when you get to check off each completed task on your list. The most important thing to keep in mind is time.  Use your time wisely and put the time in to accomplish every goal. You’ll notice that taking shortcuts may bring you to many roadblocks. Learn from the process of acting on — and completing — a goal or task, and always evaluate what worked best for you. It will improve your business in the future and teach you to be patient with your work.

Keep a Focused Mind and Body for Maximum Success
Your mind is your business partner. Keep it focused and it will help you get what you want. Motivate yourself, push yourself and be good to yourself, physically and mentally, especially when you are venturing on your own. You’d be surprised how much a healthy body and a healthy mind affect your daily routine, decision-making and work ethics. Feed your body with healthy, high-protein food, and you will notice an uptick in your brainpower.  Then feed your mind by researching how to improve your business, continuously study your industry and always keep up to date with what’s happening within it.

Interview with a Fearless Entrepreneur 

With the event industry booming in Toronto, Nikki Northern, a young event specialist, decided to jump in and open her own, eponymous event services company called Nikki Northern Events. Being over-worked, underappreciated and under paid by large corporations and not feeling challenged enough by smaller organizations, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to take a risk and try it on her own. Here Nikki sheds some light on how to take advantage of your strengths, motivate yourself and accomplished your goals.

As a young entrepreneur, what do you find to be your greatest strength and your toughest challenge? 
My age. I’m able to take risks, try different things and push the envelope, but with a young age comes doubt among some people. I’m thankful to be passing the point of rejection by proving myself with my portfolio.

What has pushed you the hardest to get to where you are today? 
Being told ‘you can’t’ too many times. It fuels me.

How do you manage your goal setting and accomplish everything on your list? 
I try to prioritize as well as be honest and realistic with myself. I set goals that push me out of my comfort zone. I think of creative ways that will benefit my business on multiple levels like attending client events to network and using social media to further cast my net. I love what I do and am passionate; I put in the hours to make my goals achievable and know that nothing will stop me.

What is your greatest networking tool? 
Having a ‘yes’ mentality. When I’m invited to go somewhere, I will always say yes unless I’m already booked. I will go out, meet and interact with new people regardless if it’s for drinks, attending networking events, paintballing or even a sports game. Follow up by staying connected with social media so it’s easier to touch base every once in a while.

When it comes to a work ethic, what motto do you live by? 
I have the same amount of time in a day as Beyoncé! No excuses.

When it comes to taking risks, what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs? 
Don’t be afraid of failure. There is so much time to learn from it and build, which will set you up for more sustainable success in the future.

From your experience working with successful individuals and celebrities, do you have any advice for entrepreneurs working with huge clients? 
Let me tell you a story: At 18 I was doing a TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) after-party with Brad Pitt who was in town promoting his Burn After Reading movie.

I coached myself, ‘no big deal, it’s just Brad Pitt. Just another work day.’ I walked up, stuck out my hand and introduced myself.  All I remember is him saying my hand was cold…and I’m pretty sure that I blacked out. I couldn’t focus on anything, including my responsibilities.

One of the venue managers came up to me and said ‘It’s not like he’s saving lives. Why do you idolize him?’ Then it clicked. Everyone is human and everyone is equal, so why create a divide and risk compromising your own success by admiring someone else’s?

Leading yourself and learning from yourself is how you grow as an individual and as a business. Motivation and focus can be tough when you feel no advancement in where you want to be, and you are the only one cheering yourself on, but you have to keep on pushing. Take risks, put the time in to reach your goals and always finish the task at hand. No shortcuts and no quitting. It’s not easy being your own boss and managing a business, but when you get to where you want to be, that hard work is what makes success so sweet.

“Look forward to failure. This is how you learn to succeed. There is plenty of time to get it right —  so go ahead and just do it — and get it wrong.” –Graham Phoenix