The awkwardness of NEW

There is something energizing, inspiring ... and downright clumsy about starting a new venture. Nothing is solid. Everything is shifting.Ideas and opportunities are everywhere. It's so easy to doubt yourself, become distracted from your purpose and start pedaling backwards.

During my turn to share my wins, failures and asks, I explained to my Success Buddies group that I have been busy procrastinating. I am SOOOO busy I do not have time to do what I really need to do - get in front of decision makers of the companies who need my help.

There's plenty of busy work to be done - website, social media updates, networking events, planning marketing campaigns, arranging signage, creating more product, researching ... yes, those will pay off in the future, but to be sustainable, I need to focus on what is closest to the almighty dollar. I need to generate sales!

I see why most small business start-ups fail. It's easy to get caught in a rut of busy-ness and lose sight of the important priorities ... which will turn into urgent ones the longer we avoid them.

I know this stuff. I teach leaders of companies how to manage their subordinates around this stuff (see my latest GetThrival blog on all the steps of goal setting). Somehow helping myself around this stuff is much harder than helping others. But that's true with most things.

• It's easier to promote others than it is to promote yourself.
• It's easier to see what others need to change, stop or do than it is to see your own needs.
• It's easier to help someone else plan a path to success than it is to plan your own path.

Starting a business is always tricky to budget. We cut funding for things that would take us further faster, like hiring help. We hide the fact that we're a struggling start-up from other business people because we fear they will judge us, not buy from us and not recommend us to others.

Here's what I believe. If you are authentic, if you have a clear purpose and have passion for that purpose, if you have focused on and really know something others don't have time to study and if you are ready and willing to share that knowledge with others to help make their business or personal life better, being a start-up does not matter. People will promote you. They will want to see you succeed. They will capture your passion and vision and want to pass you on to the connections who can help you the most.

Fellow entrepreneurs, when you find yourself buried in busy-work to avoid getting out there and making sales:

1. Ask yourself what you are afraid of. 
2. Ask yourself what is the worst thing that could happen if you go out and talk to the people who will decide to purchase from you. 
3. Know the worst. Prepare yourself on how to handle it. 
4. Think of the BEST things that could happen. Brainstorm on all the possibilities. 
5. Prepare yourself  on how to handle these great things.

Do these 5 steps. Do them every time you catch yourself doing less of what is going to fill your bank account and more of what is simply "busy" work. Contact fellow entrepreneurs and do these steps together for each others' businesses. Do whatever it takes to get back on a solid path to success!