Let’s face it: entrepreneurial life can be scary.
Whether you’re just starting a business or you’re ready to take your business to the next level, it’s inevitable you’ll need to make some bold (and occasionally frightening) moves to turn your goals into reality.
And while it’s easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in fear, the only way to achieve your entrepreneurial dreams is to take a deep breath and jump out of your comfort zone.
Being outside of your comfort zone can feel disorienting and daunting at times, but it doesn’t have to—as long as you’ve set your internal GPS.
What’s an internal GPS?
It’s your inner road map that keeps you heading in the direction to where you want to go. It’s your inner guiding force that keeps pulling you forward toward your goals.
Yet like a GPS system in a car, the only way your internal GPS can work is if it knows the coordinates of where you’re going.
As far as your internal GPS is concerned, your coordinates would include things like your core values, your guiding principles, and very specific goals around what you’re trying to achieve.
The more dialed-in you are with this information, the more accurate your internal GPS can be in leading you to your ultimate destination, and the better your chances for avoiding detours or roadblocks along the way.
Here are a few tips for setting or fine-tuning your own internal GPS:
- Get really specific about where you want to go.
What do you most want to achieve with your new business or with your up-leveled business? Is it a financial goal? A mission of impacting a certain number of people? Whatever it is, get laser-focused about what you want to achieve and the key steps to getting there. - Set or revisit the core values of your business (and your life).
Your core values are the things in business and life that mean the most to you. It could be time freedom, authenticity, work ethic, integrity, or independence—the list is endless. Take some time to think through your core values. Then make sure that the specific business goals you created in tip #1 align with those values. - Ask yourself “Why Now?”
Once you have your goals aligned with your core values, ask yourself the important question, “Why now?” Then complete the following sentence for each goal: “I’m doing this now because I want to achieve…” The more detailed you can be in your responses, the better off you’ll be when fear and challenges strike. You’ll have a firm sense of why you’re doing what you’re doing and why it’s important to do it now, instead of putting it off until later. - Look into the future.
Once you’ve reinforced the importance of the “now,” take a moment to look into the future. Imagine that it’s 2-3 years from now and write a letter to your future self, detailing all the things you’ve accomplished because you had the guts to take the bold steps you’re taking today. This can be an incredibly exciting, powerful, and motivating exercise! Reread the letter often, especially if times get tough.
As with any type of growth, stepping out of your comfort zone can be uncomfortable. Yet in order to soar to new heights with your business, leaving your comfort zone is a must. By setting your internal GPS and following boldly where it leads, you’ll enjoy a more direct path to accomplishing your goals and alleviate the fear and challenges along the way.