Ready to Start Your Small Business but…
Is the dream of running your own business finally becoming a reality? You have read a lot about what you need to get started. Maybe you are still working in another job. You want to be cautious about your start-up. So, you work on it on the side. But, even after knowing what you need to do, you’re unable to take those first steps. There are barriers to launching your small business.
Small Business Start-up Overwhelm
Getting a small business off the ground is a lot of work. First you need a business name. Then you need to decide what type of business to set up like a limited liability company / LLC or some other entity. Additionally, you need to set up a website. And if you are selling online, you need to create sales funnels. Then comes the marketing. This is when you try to get the public to know about you – your product or services. All of this before having to deal with shipping and taxes! And how are you going to do that ?? It’s overwhelming, to say the least.
Small Business Start-up in “Chill”
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could plug away at your business idea in “chill”? It would be great to take each step as they come, one at a time, with confidence. You would love to approach each task knowing and feeling that, yes, you can do this – even shipping and taxes!
The Fear of Getting Started
I’m here to say, even with all the work and steps and tasks, you can do it. I am probably one of the most unlikely people to start a small business. If an unlikely specimen like myself could do it, so can you.
I was in the same place as you – that place of having a fear of taking that first step. I am an artist and a mental health educator. As an artist, I struggled with a “fear of the blank canvas.” This is similar to writers’ block that many writers deal with – an inability to get started and get the words from their brain onto the page. For an artist, it’s the struggle of putting the ideas in their head with paint onto a canvas.
Combating the Fear of Getting Started
Because of this “fear,” I did a lot of reading about how to deal with it. I read books on the subject like Art and Fear, The Artist’s Way, Affirmations for Artists and other resources. But it wasn’t until I read Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by the Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert that I finally had a breakthrough. In Big Magic…, Gilbert offers a new way to confront fear. Instead of trying to ignore it or get over it or get rid of it, she suggests we accept and acknowledge fear and “travel with it” [my quotations] without giving it any control. I loved this idea.
Previously, much of the literature about dealing with fear suggested ignoring it or trying to “get over it.” I appreciated Gilbert’s fresh recommendation to not ignore it or try to get over it but to acknowledge fear. She suggests not necessarily embracing fear but to at least recognize it’s always there. In an oft repeated metaphorical vignette about a car ride, Gilbert says to take fear with you. This is what resounded with me that I could do things with fear by my side along for the ride without letting it take control.
A Way to Take Fear with You
But for me the mere concept wasn’t enough. I wanted an actual “something” to take with me. This “something” would represent my fear. It would remind me that fear is always there. I can acknowledge it but keep it tamped down and under control.
Enter “phearnik!® The Courage Buddy”
phearnik! is a little rag-doll-like plush. The name phearnik! (pronounced fear-nick) means “little fear.” Small enough to take anywhere in a purse or backpack, the little purple plush reminds me that fear is always with me. I just don’t need to let it take control. Plus, a having a little fear helps us to pay attention. This helps to keep us safe.
The Courage Buddy opened up my ability to breakthrough my fear of the blank canvas and more readily start creating. Having the quirky plush by my side reminds me a little fear about what’s going on the canvas is okay. But it also reminds me not to let it take over and shut me down.
What’s This Got to Do with Starting a Small Business?
For me, everything. aws Studios is where I sell my mental health/social emotional learning resources and art online. When I wanted to transition these hobbies into a small business, I experienced a fear of getting started. I worried about taking those first steps. I knew what needed to be done but it all felt so overwhelming. How was little old me going to get the NY state government to give me an LLC? How was I going to sell my mental health resources and art online? And how was I going to tackle shipping and taxes?!
The Courage Buddy to Remind You
Just like breaking through my “getting started painting” fears, my Courage Buddy reminded me to keep my fears of starting a business small – oh, so very small. By doing this, I was able to take those first steps. I applied for an LLC with the state of NY. Scary! I also applied and received a registered trademark for phearnik!® Also scary especially when you’re doing it all by yourself! And phearnik!® helped me set up two online stores. Full disclosure, I’m still struggling to better understand shipping and taxes! I’m confident phearnik! will get me through those hurdles too.
A phearnik!® Courage Buddy™ for Every Entrepreneur
Here’s my wish – every would-be-entrepreneur has a phearnik!® Courage Buddy. The fun little plush will help remind them that “you can do it!” By keeping fears small and taking a baby step out of your comfort zone – like learning how to get an LLC or open an online store – you can slowly and confidently get the tasks done that move you to opening day (maybe hold off on the shipping and taxes for now)!
How to get your own phearnik!® Courage Buddy
The opportunity to own your own Courage Buddy is in the works. I want to make the plush available in my Etsy and Amazon shops for people like yourself and others like writers with writers’ block and artists with a ‘fear of the blank canvas’ to be able to have their own phearnik! Courage Buddy.
Currently, I am waiting to receive a sample of the plush made by a toy manufacturer. In the meantime, if you would like to follow the Buddy’s journey to the market, join the phearnik!® Courage Buddy Campaign. By signing up for the Campaign, I will keep you abreast of when you can own your own fear less phearnik!®