Why Am I Scared to Start a Business?

Have you been thinking, “I’m tired of waiting for the perfect moment”? Do you want to quit your corporate job, start a side hustle, or grow your business?

If you’re still waiting or too scared to take the leap, this article is for you.

I get it. I’ve been in your shoes. I left my corporate job in 2018. In hindsight, I realise I should have left five years earlier, because fear of starting a business held me back.

Fast forward seven years, and I’m finally gaining some traction, but trust me—this is hard work. There’s no shortcut.

I reached this point by deciding to start, showing up daily and working hard.

Today, I will share my best insights to help you change your situation within a year. My goal is to help you start making progress toward your dreams and goals today.

Step 1: Understand Where You Are

Before we get started, we need to be brutally honest with ourselves. We’ve procrastinated, we’ve had ideas, and we’ve had dreams—but we haven’t taken action.

So, let’s figure out where we’re starting from.

• What skills do you have?
• What education or training have you completed?
• What resources do you currently have access to?
• What support systems are in place for you right now?

Don’t skip this part—it’s crucial. Understanding your starting point will give you clarity and lay the foundation for the work ahead.

Step 2: Know Where You’re Going

When you use a GPS in a car, it requires two points: your starting location and your destination. The same goes for your business.

You don’t have to know every detail of your journey, but you should have a general direction.

• What’s your goal?
• What’s your vision for the future?

It might not be crystal clear yet, and that’s okay.

But you need a sense of direction—a general idea of what you’re aiming for.

Don’t get bogged down in the specifics just yet.

Focus on your dream, that vision that excites you. The how will come as you move forward.

Step 3: Get Comfortable with Discomfort

One of the biggest reasons people are scared to start a business is that they’re waiting for the “perfect moment,” for everything to feel safe and comfortable.

But let me tell you this: the perfect moment doesn’t exist.

Building a business will be messy.

It’s going to be uncomfortable.

It’s going to require you to take risks and step outside your comfort zone.

Some things will work, others won’t. And all that is okay.

If you have a high need for safety and comfort, maybe this journey isn’t for you. But if you’re driven and passionate about your dreams, then you need to ask yourself:

• Why am I doing this?
• What do I want from this experience?
• How will it impact my family, my future, the legacy I want to leave?

If you’re a fan of Simon Sinek, you’ll know how important starting with “why” is. The answer to “why” will give you the clarity and motivation to push through the tough times when you hit those inevitable roadblocks.

Step 4: Start Building Momentum

Now that you know where you’re starting from and where you want to go, it’s time to get into motion. The key here is to set a small goal, so you don’t feel scared to start a business.

Just take that first step. No need for perfection—just action.

Most people who are scared to start a business feel overwhelmed.

You don’t need to think too far ahead. Instead, make a clear and specific plan for the first small phase. Just commit to getting started.

Then, build a practice of learning from what works and what doesn’t, and ask yourself:

• How do I need to keep pivoting to make progress?
• What’s the next step I can take?

Then just keep tweaking and moving forward.

This process of trial and error, reflection, and improvement is exactly what will get you closer to your dream.

At first, your goals should be about figuring out what a viable business model looks like.

Consider testing the market if you already have a product or service in mind.

Talk to many stakeholders and potential customers.

This helps you understand market conditions and viability.

If you haven’t reached that milestone, direct all your efforts toward making your first sale.

Every day, I guide people through this process.

It is the most valuable part of my journey.

Don’t get stuck waiting for everything to be perfect. Just start moving.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Get Distracted by the ‘Nice-to-Haves’

Many people mistakenly focus on unimportant things at the start, such as business names, logos, or websites.

But none of that stuff will get you anywhere if you don’t have customers.

And guess what? Your first customers are probably already in your network.

The first step isn’t to get a website or logo—it’s to talk to people. Build your communication and sales skills. Don’t wait until you’re “ready.” Start now by having conversations with people. Become comfortable explaining your actions, your reasons, and how you can assist others.

Selling a product or service requires mastering the art of sales and communication to succeed in business. You might need to work on your sales skills, but that’s all part of the process. Start practising now. You don’t need fancy tools to begin—you need practice in real-world conversations.

To learn more about prioritising tasks and focusing on essentials, read my post on the 4 Ds of time management.

The Truth About Starting a Business

I’ll be real with you: starting a business is hard. But I’ll also tell you this: it’s worth it. It’s not about waiting for the perfect time, and it’s not about getting everything right from the start. It’s about taking action and staying consistent.

If you’re asking yourself, “How hard is it to start a business?”—the answer is simple: It’s as hard as you make it. But you can do it.

Sales, communication, and learning as you go—those are life skills every business owner needs to develop. And with practice, you’ll get better. If you’re sick of thinking “I’m tired of waiting”, tired of asking, “Is starting a business hard?” then let’s just acknowledge the truth: it’s supposed to be hard—and that’s okay AND I don’t need to wait any longer. Getting started and stepping out of your comfort zone is where the growth happens.

If you have read this far you are ready to take that first step. Stop being scared to start a business and just take that first small step today. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Start now.

Helping people like you navigate this journey is what I do. If you’re ready to take the next step, click here to book a free call and learn more. Good luck, and see you soon!