Having an idea can be a very scary thing.
Have you experienced that? You’ve had that same idea nagging away at you for a fair little while now, tugging at you to take a closer look.
But when you do, it all just feels too overwhelming. You stumble when explaining it to others, you freak out when you think about whether you’re up to it and you have no idea where to start with all the practical and logistical aspects of this idea.
And finally, the biggest of all, the grandmother of all fears: MONEY. How on earth will you make a living out of this crazy idea?
Fear not, there is one very good solution: Forget about it. Put this idea out of your head – in fact, pretend you never had an idea at all. “La la la, I can’t hear you….”
This works very well. It means you get to stay right where you are and not deal with any of this, including with any of that fear.
It also means that you won’t get four years in to running a business, like me, and feel that scariness still showing up. You won’t schedule a workshop and find that less people sign up than you’d expected; you won’t experience fear gripping you, you won’t feel “Oh my God, no-one wants what I’m offering” shudder through you.
As I’ve been experiencing this fear and these doubts first-hand, I’ve been reminded of how very scary this whole offering-your-passion-to-the-world thing really is. You are putting yourself out there, on the line, on a regular basis. It can feel incredibly vulnerable and it can be very tempting to chuck it all in.
And because I’ve been experiencing this myself, a suspicion has dawned on me. As I look out on this frosty day, I have an image of all these ideas out there, frozen under the ice. Ideas that are so exciting and yet so daunting that they’ve been hidden away, determined to avoid being thawed out. Ideas for community activities… small businesses… projects… workshops… charities. Ideas that you would love to get into action about but which just feel way too big and clumsy and complicated and downright scary.
Well, guess what? I’m not standing for that. I know what that fear is like and I know that it feels horrible. I also know that it is absolutely worth it to do it anyway. Yes, you need to be courageous. Yes, you’ll need to overcome challenges. Seeing an impassioned idea into reality is certainly not always easy, but it is absolutely worth it.
I absolutely love what I do and I am so grateful that I get to follow my passion. This is why I want to share with you my fears so that you know they’re part of the journey – and that I would choose it again and again anyway. As I read the emails from those who’ve already signed up to the Kickstart Your Venture workshop, I am struck by the bravery as they take those first steps, and I urge you – if you’re in ‘can’t thaw/won’t thaw’ mode – to find that bravery yourself.
The World Needs Your Passion, So…
1) Sign up for the workshop. If you live within 200 miles of Cambridge and you have an idea that you’d like to get out of your head and just a little bit more out there in the world, sign up now. The workshop is taking place in central Cambridge on Sat 16th January, 10am – 4.30pm, £40 per person. You’ll receive a workbook and leave with clarity, solutions to some of your key challenges, energy, motivation, contacts and possibly even a few new friends.
Click here, scroll down to the ’Buy Now’ button at the bottom and pay for your place today.
2) Laugh at the scariness. Put on some dance music or whatever rocks it for you and move. You’re not abandoning that scared part of you at all – in fact the opposite – you’re standing eye to eye with the fear and going “Yep, there’s a whole lot of scariness right now… and you are NOT going to win”. Then dance and laugh some more.
3) Leave a comment, letting us know whether my suspicion has any truth… Has the scariness been getting the better of you? What’s it like to freeze an idea because it’s just too scary to think about? How much evidence do you have of feeling the fear and doing it anyway – and it being worth it? (and if you don’t have much, what could you do to find some more…?)
© Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2010
Very good post and exactly where I’m at…
I love the idea of a new year and fresh start, but I woke up on 1st Jan thinking “but I’m still scared!”….
I’m very much looking forward to our coaching session next week to plan out some exciting ideas for 2010.
And I’m scared too! But scared is just the place we need to be!
Denise, Ann – There’s an alternative title for this blog post, “We’re All Scared”
Thanks so much for these immediate responses – it’s scary to put out a post where my vulnerabilities are on show, as I know you both know from your own experiences. I see you both as brave women, bravely following your passion with the fear tucked happily in your backpacks. Thanks for blazing the way for others.
And by the way, feel free to link to your blogs when you post here by ticking the ‘CommentLuv’ box at the bottom. You both have tremendous stories to share.
Corrina´s last blog ..It’s All Scary
Hi Corrina!
Wonderful post… vulnerable and spot on… if I lived within 200 miles of Cambridge, I would be there with Denise and Ann!
You offer the most wonderful gift of all through your workshops… a gift that IS scary to most of us because it means that we have to take action and be accountable. As a read through your post, I connected with every single word. “We’re All Scared” is a great alternate title.
I had been thinking about my Feedback mission for a few years, scared at not starting it right. One day I spoke of my passion with a colleague and she encouraged me to start (baby steps). That was 1 year ago and I am thrilled at all that I was able to accomplish. The one thing that helped me was having someone believe in me.
So it is incredibly important to create a group that allows you to talk about your plans, bounce off ideas, and solidify those baby steps! Imagine what you can accomplish 1 year from today, with a little help from Corrina Gordon-Barnes!
Wonderful…
Sonia
Sonia Di Maulo´s last blog ..Take 5 minutes for yourself today
Corrina, I love this blog.
Thank you so much for it. For showing us your vulnerability, this takes great courage. It also shows how happy you are in life to be able to admit these feelings to us. It says that ‘being afraid shouldn’t keep you from living your dreams’ – and this is spot on.
Like you, I too am scared. And I’m learning every day that this fear is an indicator that I’m moving forwards, taking a step higher, out of my cosy comfort zone.
I was scared when I recently told a friend that I liked them, I was scared to admit that my relationship with a family member wasn’t how I wanted it to be and I’m scared to have signed up to run the Marathon this October. But I believe that we do need the fear, we need the bravery and we need to act regardless to see the life we truly want manifest before our eyes.
Rosanna
Rosanna Gordon´s last blog ..Why I’m Running the Marathon in 2010
I wish I could have fear tucked happily into my backpack.
What I’m learning is that fear doesn’t have to mean you don’t do whatever it is. It’s possible to move forward despite the fear. Just acknowledging the fear and moving on.
Not comfortable though
Rosalyn
Rosalyn´s last blog ..Have a wonderful Christmas
Rosanna – It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it, taking courage to be vulnerable
As I read your comment, I’m reminded of a new ‘motto’ I’m playing with: “If I’m not on the edge, I’m taking up too much space” which I smiled at when I read it in Tim Smit’s book ‘Eden’ (about how he created the Eden Project – talk about scary ideas!) What happens for you when you feel the fear and take those kind of risks anyway?
Rosalyn – Go on, tuck it in, it likes to be kept warm in this cold weather… Yes it’s absolutely not comfortable – downright painful, in fact, I would say. So why do we do it? Why don’t we stay in comfort zones? For me, I notice too much discomfort in the comfort zones – soul angst or whatever you want to call it, knowing that you’re not living enough, that you’re not becoming all you can be. You?
Corrina´s last blog ..It’s All Scary
Amazing! This is exactly what we explored today in my Voice of the Soul class. At this time of year when we are all making new resolutions and intentions what comes up in response to that is a whole lot of fear – cant i do it? do I deserve it? what if I fail? – etc -I myself was going through some anxiety and a dear friend got me to see that what I was afraid of was not the potential failure but actually the success of my endeavours – of going to the next level. So today in class we embraced, loved, shrieked and shook out our fear. Then declared ourselves ready to be the love, success, freedom etc that we were afraid of being.. and sang our new intentions and mantras of breakthrough.
So lets love the fear – for its only being protective after all – and say I am ready …to follow up on that idea, to go to that workshop, to run that marathon, to ask that cute person out, to wear that red dress in the back of the wardrobe, to go to the next level..
Thanks Corrina as ever you chime in perfectly synchronistically with wisdom and grace
love katiex
Another wonderful article Corrina, how do you do it!? I am petrified right now, making so many changes, leaving my job in 10 weeks because it’s not serving me and as of yet don’t have a definite something to go to, but I do have a strong plan! It’s a new experience though as my fear is inspiring me and spurring me on! Thank you for sharing your vulnerability with us, I think I admire you even more, if that is possible!
Laura X
Hi Corrina,
Found your blog through Mark Silver’s great post today. I love your post title, it’s what drew me here, because I have a cat whom I madly adore, and he finds many things, every day, Very Scary, and it cracks me up to watch him go from flopping-over purrs to Run! Scary! – so he would resonate with your title!
And of course, the content resonates just a *wee* bit for me as I’m figuring out how to support myself freelance writing and editing. I’m within 200 miles of Cambridge, but the OTHER Cambridge, ya know, across the pond! Also, love the laugh/dance advice and the new motto (wow!). Thanks for the post.
Shana
Shana ´s last blog ..Rose tea on a wedding day
Corrina, you’re right, ultimately not facing fears mean life is stuck and stagnant. A very unhappy place to be.
Your post spurred me on to finish my draft about facing fears (not the first time there has been serendipity
)
Rosalyn
Rosalyn´s last blog ..Facing fears – moving beyond your comfort zones
Katie – Sounds like a powerful class – I’m so happy that we’re collaborating on a workshop in March
Delighted for the synchronicity and thanks, as ever, for being part of this strong, brave, fear-embracing tribe of women. (And see you Saturday – excited!)
Laura – To use the word ‘petrified’ and then say that the fear is spurring you on… That’s inspiration indeed. I think we’re all getting the feeling that EVERYONE’S scared – and so we might as well all be scared together, and all do it anyway. Hooray for you as you leave your job and follow your heart. I’m thinking of running this workshop again on 24th April, are you free then?
Shana – Welcome here. Love the cat story, especially the capitalised Very Scary – I can totally visualise that. Wishing you all power to your journey of freelance writing – and shame (for me!) it’s not this Cambridge you’re near. Oh – and I just went out with my iPod with some rocking Lady Ga Ga and danced down the snowy street. I highly recommend it
Rosalyn – Hooray! I love the line in your blog: “I fear heights – so recently went abseiling” – like it’s obvious that if we’re scared of something, the best thing to do is… to do it. Very inspirational, thank you for sharing.
Corrina´s last blog ..It’s All Scary
I’ve got mine up and running, sort of, though not to the point that it comes anywhere close to supporting me yet, so I face that fear every day and often wake up in the middle of the night with it. It’s only been two months, though. I invite anyone with an interest in textiles to visit my textile business incubator in Norwich. Come and talk and brainstorm with me. It’s called Pocktorian Textiles, and if you want to visit, it’s on the first floor of the Looses Building on Magdalene St.
Donna – Congratulations! There’s that concept of starting a venture being like starting a rocket: it takes so much more energy to get it going (and challenge stasis/paralysis) than it takes to keep it in the air. So a huge well done for your bravery and action in getting this far.
In terms of putting in structures that create a business which financially supports you, I always recommend the work of Mark Silver at Heart of Business:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=978831
Next time you post here, feel free to link to your textile business incubator if you have any kind of online presence – or indeed your Twitter account.
Corrina´s last blog ..Truth, Action, Peace
Unfortunately, Pocktorian Textiles (at least in the UK) may well end up being a very temporary thing. My husband and I consulted an immigration advisor on Tuesday and were told that our chances of having our visas extended were essentially nil, not worth spending the money for an application. If I get one or more of the grants I have applied for, they must be spent for Pocktorian rather than for my support, so I’ll try to pass Pocktorian on to an ambitious local (Norwich/Norfolk UK) textile person or organisation (accepting suggestions). To get an idea of its creation and progress up to now, see http://www.pocktoriantextiles.wordpress.com, and I twit as @djcnorwich.
Donna Carty´s last blog ..Baths, Temari, Pysanky, Holiday-Centered Classes, Business Trend Articles, and Knitting Machines
Donna – Ah I’m so sorry that logistical matters may well prevent you from seeing your project through here. You have such a unique vision and there’s clearly so much heart behind it – I can only imagine that someone else will be inspired by you and want to carry on the torch. Let me know if you do need to pass it on and I can spread the word.
And where does this installment sit within this context of ‘it’s all scary’?
Corrina´s last blog ..Truth, Action, Peace