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My Friend Tried To Save Me From Starting My Business
My friend was trying to be helpful.
This friend, whom I’ll refer to as K, had just found out I resigned from my corporate job the week before.
My first thought was: you’re asking me this 2 weeks before my last day?
My second thought was: K, don’t you think I’ve thought through this for the last two years I’ve been planning this?
I wish I reacted with deep calm and reserve.
The text triggered a wave of self-doubt because K is a friend that I deeply respect. They helped me get the job I was leaving after 17 years.
You’ll likely experience something similar when you tell friends and family you’re thinking of quitting to start your own business.
They mean well, they really do.
The thing is their “helping” comes from a place of fear.
I don’t know about you, but anytime I try to be helpful in that way, it’s rarely constructive.
Fear overrides your sense of possibility and draws you to the worst case scenarios.
The antidote is simple: surround yourself with other entrepreneurs, mentors, and coaches who’ve done what you’re trying to do.
Your community of like-minded folk are rooted in the sense of possibility.
They see setbacks as opportunities – not reasons to have a backup plan. I wish K had led with curiosity and optimism by asking me what I’d done to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Of course it’s useful to listen to your friends and family’s concerns for scenarios you hadn’t considered. That’s helpful!
Take the solutions they offer with a grain of salt, though. Then, find one of your like-minded folks to work through the challenge.
K’s text helped in a way they probably didn’t expect.
It reminded me that I know how to deal with self-doubt when taking on big goals – a skill I learned over the past two years. I now teach this skill to my clients.
I bet you’re wondering how I responded to K. I essentially told them I’ve skilled up and created resources to pull me through the challenges ahead.
It felt good to say that from a place of confidence.
What happens when you share your dream with friends and family?
Drop me an email at pierre at pierrebradette.com to let me know.