Executive Business Coach Chuck Boyce’s Blog: Fear, Desire And The Entrepreneur

In my new article, “The 5 Key Traits of a Clutch Leader,” I discuss the primary personality characteristics of people who work well under pressure.  These traits were uncovered at West Point by taking a look at the cadets who were the best clutch leaders in their classes.

The first four traits are the ones you’d expect.  It’s no big surprise that Focus, Discipline, Adaptability and Being “Present” would be important in a crisis situation, right?

No, it’s the fifth one that might initially throw you – Fear and Desire.  Wait, is this an Ingmar Bergman movie or a small business guide to success?

But then after you think about it for a minute or two, it starts to make sense (well, to me, anyway).    As I wrote in the article, it’s the combination of Fear and Desire that promotes balance and logical thinking.

Let’s start with Fear.  In this instance, the specific fear is the one every entrepreneur faces, as I know from being a small business coach; the fear of your business failing.   Most major problems that you face in your role as business owner will trigger this fear and put you into what I call “survival mode” – doing what’s absolutely necessary to preserve your business operation and losing all the unnecessary extras for the time being until things improve, or the crisis has passed.

That’s why Fear is important – it motivates you to cover your bases and anticipate trouble before it hits.

But you can’t run a business only from a place of fear.  Being a business owner or entrepreneur is usually a nerve-wracking proposition.  Someone who can’t deal with an uncertain economic outlook is generally going to go to work for someone else – they’re not going to try to launch something on their own.

And that’s where Desire comes into play.  You have to want things to be an entrepreneur;  personal freedom, limitless potential, the ability to be your own boss, etc.   Even when problems do threaten your momentum, your desire helps propel you through them.  You may not be able to see light at the end of the tunnel at the moment, but you’re sure going to do everything you can to make it to daylight.

Desire without Fear, however, means putting yourself in jeopardy without a thought to the consequences.  It means taking ridiculous chances that will most likely take you down, as opposed to calculated risks that could potentially pay off big.  Not good.

Bottom line?  Desire moves you forward.  Fear keeps you grounded.  And a healthy dose of both are necessary for business success.

“Independent Executive” Chuck Boyce is an experienced small business coach who can help you get the most out of your business.  For more information on how you achieve your business goals, go to www.breakingfreeblog.com.

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