Do you suffer from a "Failure to Launch" or a fear of failure? Is self-doubt and a lack of total confidence holding you back from reaching your goals in life? Watch this video to discover the ONE thing that will guarantee you to fail... and read on for 7 simple solutions to the things that keep you from achieving success!

I recently asked my friends and business peers, "What's the #1 Fear you've had to overcome as an entrepreneur, or one you're still working on as you work toward your business goals?" Here are the Top 7 Fears that came up in those discussions... and simple solutions you can apply TODAY.

1. My Idea Is Not Unique / The Market Is Too Saturated

A common concern is that "it's already been done" or there are already too many __ (fill in the blank!) on the market already. You might ask yourself, "Who would buy MY cupcakes when there are so many other places to buy cupcakes already?"

Fact: there IS more than one of everything.

When you go to buy toothpaste for example, there's an entire wall of toothpaste to choose from! That doesn't stop people from buying the one they want.

How many books do you own on any given topic? I'm willing to bet you have more than one on any topic that interests you. I do. How many blogs do you read on topics that interest you - more than one, right? Of course! The same could be said for apps, ebooks, software, PLR content, or pretty much anything. Would you agree?

There isn't much that hasn't been done already.

Ideally you'll bring something fresh to the market - whether that's your unique personality, viewpoint, or a creative angle. Or simply: better marketing.

As for "the market is too saturated" - you can toss that one out too...

A competitive market will actually work to your advantage by providing more leverage, more affiliate programs, more potential JV partners and affiliates, more places to do content marketing, etc. More is good.

2. Is This A Waste of Time (or Money)?

Often when you're getting "invested" in something, doubt will creep in on you and you'll start second-guessing your decision. If you stop mid-project, everything you've invested WILL be a total waste. Period.

You might ask yourself, "What if this is a total flop?" or "What if someone else gets to market with this idea before I do?"

Either of those scenarios may very well happen. So what? Once you have a finished product, you have a whole new set of options regardless of what happens by then. You might partner with the competitor, repurpose the idea into a different format or delivery method, make it better - or simply market it better.

There are always options. Unless you quit.

3. I'm Not An Expert / I'm Not Qualified Enough

These doubts are rooted in low self-esteem or a lack of self-confidence. And in some cases, it's rooted in truth. That's okay! You need to power through it anyway. You'll gain confidence and your self-esteem will improve when you start making progress.

My approach has always been to "learn as I go". My last real job (back in the 90's) was as a Unix Sys Admin. I had zero Unix experience. And actually, hardly any computer experience. But I really needed a job, and I wanted an office job.

I pretty much bluffed my way through the interview, and sure - I had a hit of anxiety about even being able to DO the job, lol. There were 21 manuals to the system, which I snuck home one at a time and studied (they might as well have been written in Greek! lol). I did learn the job though, simply by applying myself and being consistently dedicated to mastering it, and it turned out I was great at it!

It was just a matter of wanting the job bad enough, and wanting to KEEP it bad enough. Which was good motivation! Consider what you really want, and how bad you want it, and commit to powering through to make it happen.

As for blogging, I've found that being a "non expert" is often better.

With my niche blog at TravelingLowCarb.com for example, I *am* my target market. I'm one of them. It started out as a journey we (my readers and I) took together - I was simply "leading". I really ENJOY my work AS my target market. It's much more fun than being "an expert". I can simply be myself with no real pressure, and share what I learn and experience along the way.

Fact: Most "experts" are self-titled experts.

Decide who you're going to be, what you're going to do, and dive into it head first. You'll figure out everything you need to know as you go.

4. "I Can't Do Video / Public Speaking"

First, you do not have to do video or speaking to be successful in business.

The beauty of an online business is that there are a variety of mediums for sharing content, and you can simply choose what works best for you.

If you really want to do video, but the thought of it gives you an anxiety attack, start by doing practice videos you have no intention of publishing. It's a great way to learn, to get more comfortable in front of a camera, and practice the technical bits.

My first radio interview made me physically ill. I aced it and became the weekly feature. The first time I got on stage to teach, I thought I would black out from anxiety. I spoke at their next 6 events in a row. I still get a sick nervous feeling when I host live webinars - even after doing it for years. I suck it up and do it anyway.

If these are things you want to do, power through and just do it. If they are NOT things you want to do in your business... don't. Simple as that!

5. What If I Make The Wrong Choice or Pick The Wrong Niche?

The great thing about choices is that you can always change them. Start with one color and change it to another, start with one tagline then revise it later, etc. Your business will grow and evolve with you naturally, and you can make the necessary changes as you go - as you realize what works and what doesn't (for you specifically).

While it's smart to pick the right niche from the start, most people don't. It's not the end of the world.

ClickNewz used to be purple. My business model has changed dramatically. I've started a lot of things along the way and then ditched them, or turned them into something different. Just go with the flow - stick with what works and drop what doesn't. Of course, you won't know what works and what doesn't until you actually DO something...

6. Getting It Wrong - And Facing the Consequences

As I mentioned in the video, you should always ask yourself: "What's the worst that could happen?" Some things carry big consequences, or they seem to, and it might cause you to procrastinate out of concern.

We'll use Taxes as an example. The consequences for "getting it wrong" can seem pretty bad in some cases, lol. But more often than not it's just a matter of a paperwork hassle and then following the steps to resolve the problem. Worst case scenario you might owe tons of money and have to make payments toward the tax debt. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Obviously you should seek professional counsel on legal and financial matters, and have your ducks in a row. Use a little common sense, but don't let fear hold you back.

If you make a mistake, you can fix it. And you WILL make mistakes. Get used to it. Do it right if you can, step in and fix it when you need to, and continue on...

7. I Hate Selling. I Don't Want To Be Pushy or Sell.

You and I are sitting on the beach and I'm getting eaten alive by invisible little bugs (sand fleas!). You happen to know the best product to keep them from biting me - or the best spray to relieve the itching and redness - but you bite your tongue and don't tell me about it. So I sit there and suffer, and ultimately go ask someone else.

How rude is that?

Most people think selling is rude, but actually it's rude NOT to sell. Or rather, not to tell your market about things they really need or want. You don't have to be "a big red headline" about it (unless that's what works with your market). You can simply share solutions, or tell them about great finds and sweet deals.

They'll THANK YOU for it!

Definitely read this: Do You Avoid Making The Pitch?

Is "Being A Perfectionist" Holding You Back?

I'll throw this one in for good measure as it comes up a lot in my conversations around the web. If you're a "perfectionist"... good for you! I failed miserably at it myself, and gave it up many years ago.

File>Edit and Edit>Undo are now two of my best friends. (lol)

If you really struggle with this one though, and tweak things to oblivion to the point that you never get them "done & out" - you should read this about perfectionism. It will totally change your perception of "being perfect."

The Worst Case Scenario Exercise

As I mentioned in the video, my favorite thing to do is a "Worst Case Scenario" exercise. I write out all the absolute worst things that could possibly happen (or go wrong) if I move forward on an idea or a project.

Obviously the worst thing that could happen if you do NOT move forward is... nothing! If you don't "launch" you won't see ANY success at all. No traffic, no sales, no success, nothing. Worse than that, you could just end up with a lot of wasted time and/or money and nothing to show for it.

^ That really puts things in perspective, right?

The act of writing down your worst fears can help you look at them from different angles. It allows you to analyze them for validity, and come up with potential solutions. It's a great way to be prepared, and to avoid disappointment, as you'll have a logical "next step" in place.

Give it a try! Look at a project you haven't completed, or you've been stalling on, and ask yourself WHY. Then analyze the answers you come up with.

I find this to be an extremely helpful exercise when I feel "stuck" or have some hit of fear or anxiety associated with a task or project. Even better is to turn to a trusted source - a mentor or community - and ask for feedback. Sometimes a fresh perspective, or a different set of eyes can make a world of difference!

I hope this helps you push through and get past some of the things that have been holding you back, or maybe just slowing you down a bit. You're not alone. I've been through all of this myself at one time or another - and some of them even still.

The difference between those that succeed and those that don't is not luck or skill or magic. People who do, do. People who don't, do not. And the people who DO, make mistakes and have fears. They just do anyway, and revise as they go.

*cheers*

Best,