By Dawn Flanigan-Johnson
MORTAR Events Manager
How often do you use the “F” word? Chances are that if you’re an entrepreneur, you use it more than most.
Here’s what MORTAR Founding Partner Derrick Braziel had to say when asked about the “F” word…. “I’m still afraid to FAIL, I’m still afraid of disappointing people… I’m human. However, who else is going to try? Who else is going to carry this burden if not for us? So, I soon realized that this was my burden to carry and I would do my best to carry it through to the final destination.”
Think about how many people’s lives Derrick has touched through MORTAR. What if the fear of failure stopped Derrick dead in his tracks and paralyzed him to the point where he was not able to move forward with MORTAR? Little did he know, that if he had decided to give into the fear of failure, that decision could have been tragic for the whole city and MORTAR could’ve never been born. Imagine that! Now imagine that you have the same gift and capacity to make an even greater impact and influence on people. Imagine if Barack Obama gave into the fear of not being elected, or if Martin Luther King gave into the fear of standing up for equality.
You are just as powerful! You were born with all of the tools you need to succeed and to make a difference in this world no matter how big or small your idea may seem.
I invite you to write down what failure means to you then ask your friends and family if they see failure the same way. More than likely they won’t. Failure is in the eyes of the beholder. Failure is an ego based emotion that is meant to block you from seeing your divine self in the mirror. Ask yourself this question: “If there was no such thing as failure, what would I do?” When you can answer that question, take a deep breath and bravely go forward, because the truth is, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE!!
START PLANNING TODAY!!
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”…. This is a quote that a dear friend of mine by the name of Talib Kweli said to me about 10 years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. The first thing you have to do is set a deadline. Studies show that people who set deadlines for themselves are far more likely to meet their goals. Right now, you’re just dreaming of quitting your job. If you set a deadline, and stick to it, it helps you to actually visualize and manifest quitting your job. If you are uncomfortable with setting a deadline to quit your job, begin giving yourself deadlines to complete certain tasks within your business that will get you one step closer to taking the BIG leap:
– If you want to quit to become a freelancer, set a deadline to have 20 potential clients pitched.
– If you want to quit to pursue a business in photography, set a deadline for a complete portfolio and website.
– If you plan to open an eCommerce store, set a deadline to have your items listed, the store up and running and a marketing plan in place.
Treat yourself like your own boss and take yourself seriously when you set deadlines. This way, you begin to trust yourself more and more and will become more confident in your decision to make that BIG leap down the line.
