Let’s Talk About the “F” word.

No, it's not THAT "F" word.

There are a lot of “F words” in entrepreneurship. Funding, finance, fear… But I digress.

Recently, a good friend of mine told me he was leaving his job after a long time in that position. I asked him how he felt, and the answer was fear, but he said this with excitement. 

Fear.

Fear is a huge deterrent to many of us, and we let it take over.

Thousands of years ago, fear was a representation of danger for our ancestors. It meant “get away, run, fight or flight.” But in the modern world, fear often represents that change is coming.  And with change comes opportunity.   Now fear can be a hindrance or a motivator.  It’s entirely up to you as to how you handle fear.  It can be a motivator, or it can cause complete paralysis. It’s up to you.  

However, fear is a powerful tool for the entrepreneur. It can keep you honest, it can keep you motivated, it can get you up and drive you every day. Maybe it’s not the most significant thing in your head, but it’s there at some subconscious level.   I think every entrepreneur has a little bit of fear deep down inside.  If you’re not a little bit nervous, you’re not growing. 

Starting a business is hard. Most people don’t do it. Although, most people think it would be great to be their own boss. I always chuckle at this because I think, “if you only had any idea how hard it is.  But that’s what makes it so great. It’s like the line from the the movie A League of Their Own “it’s the hard that makes it great.”

It’s funny, as I think back on that conversation I had with my friend. I asked him how he felt once they let other people know that he was leaving their position after such a long tenure. The response was a single word. An “F word” I have never thought about before.   

One that I am sure mixes with many other emotions and many other words.

That word was… “Free.” 

Which F word are you going to use?