Hi Mike,

> How often have you heard or read or talked
> to someone that won't get started because of
> the fear? They're waiting for that one last
> piece of information to give them the self
> confidence they need to get a project
> going--unfortunately there just isn't any
> information out there that will remove the
> fear. I think fear and the entrepreneurial
> spirit go hand in hand.

That's an important point. I've found - when doing anything new - there tends to be a degree of "fear".... There's the fear it will all go horribly wrong, beyond your control. It can be enough to "paralyze" you, so instead of moving forward, you're "stuck in the headlights" - frozen on the spot!

How to you gather the courage to move forward? Here's a technique I've found helps me....

It's the power of visualization. But it's not visualizing your goals, as many books talk about. Instead, it's visualizing the PROCESS you need to go through....

For example, let's say you need to write an article - but you're not sure how you're going to write it. You still don't quite know how to start. I sit down or lie down, close my eyes, and visualize....

I visualize doing everything I would need to do to start and write the article. So I might see an image of myself searching through the internet and through the library for source material I need for my article. I'd visualize myself reading the books or articles I'm using as my source material. I'd visualize myself making an outline of the article. I'd visualize myself sitting down at my computer, and typing out the article. I'd go through the whole process in my head, every step I need to take.

After I've done this process (which usually takes no more than a few minutes), I feel a lot more "empowered". I think the reason why is because it's always easier to do something the "second time" than it is to do it the "first time". When you go through the visualization process, it is like the "first time" you're doing it. So when you get around to doing it "for real", you feel as if you've already done it before. And you have - since you already went through the process in your mind. The fear disappears, because you've "done it before" - and now you feel like you know exactly what to do.

This is like the process a champion basketballer might go through, to visualize his success on the court. Or like the visualization process a champion golfer might go through, to visualize a more accurate swing. It's a powerful technique - and it's proven.

Sometimes, the visualization process is difficult - again, because of fear. You fear the process so much, it is even difficult to visualize. BUT - it's still MUCH easier to visualize the whole process first, than it is to actually do it. So visualize the process first, then, once you've gone through it in your mind once, you feel more confident to get up and do it "for real".

Well, that's a technique I've been using recently, and for me, it works. I hope this helps a few of you, whether you're just starting in entrepreneurship, or if you're already a seasoned veteran.... :)

- Dien Rice