Overcoming Fear, Stepping Out
These days I like to wonder about many things. One recurring theme of my thoughts is about a future company that I would like to establish. But more often than not, fear gets in the way. Can I do this? Where will the money come from? What field of business? How to even start? Will I even have the guts to begin the process? Where to begin, Malaysia or overseas? Will it be another mediocre also-ran company like so many companies in existence today? How will the company culture be? Can it be grown to a global scale? If yes, how can it be done? How to motivate staff? How to maintain business accounts? (I am clueless about business accounting) And the million dollar question: “Sell what and do what kind of business?” Yes, again, talk is cheap, but that is really all that I can do now. I don’t have the guts to skip university to start on my own and learn it all independently. So I’m studying first, to learn the ropes from the academic track. Then comes the “fun” later. But owh, isn’t it soooo soooo difficult to succeed with a new company? I mean, 90 % of all new companies eventually fail. And that is a fact.
Sometimes we fear because we don’t know enough, and that is precisely what I am experiencing now. I simple don’t know too many things.
I recall myself in secondary school when at the end of Form 1 I was selected, or rather offered (which means that I can deny the appointment), to be the Afternoon Session Head Prefect in Form 2 (I am not trying to blow my own trumpet here, just relating a story). I was so so scared even though I had been Head Prefect in primary school. I began imagining myself giving talks in front of a large group of people, talking about prefect stuff, and I shudder to think about it. I would have to read the national pledge in front of the school weekly, as well as give occasional speeches, and then I have a large group of prefects to take care and meet every fortnight in meetings (there were never meetings in primary school, the occasional meetings in primary were handled by teachers). I saw the previous Head Prefect doing her job and I thought, “I could never do such a job like that, I would not be as good.” I got intimidated. The previous Head Prefect was so eloquent; she was a debater, I hated debates. I wanted to push away that Head Prefect appointment. The thoughts in my mind kept on harping on the large responsibilities that lied ahead. I wanted to escape it. I remember crying in my grandmother’s home because of this fear of responsibility that gripped me. Although at some point in time I decided not accept the appointment, something made me give it a shot, for some reason. I don’t remember how or why, maybe it was some words of encouragement from family, but I gave it a shot anyway.
No regrets whatsoever. o.O that’s Zaid in the background =)
It was during this time that I bought my first leadership book written by John Maxwell, entitled “The Right to Lead.” It was a pictorial anecdotal book filled with quotes from admired leaders all around the world. I found some strength in the stories and the words spoken to me through that book. My courage grew greater. So initially when I took charge of the Form 1 Orientation at the start of my job, I was still scared, but then I realized that the people all around me were so supportive, and eventually the fear dissipated and disappeared. I loved the job. The rest, as they say, is DJ History. I had the best time of my school life, and the chance to repeat the fun in Form 4/5 when I was appointed again for the Morning Session. I worked with a bunch of really great people, the prefects. And I really mean it. All of you were fantastic.
Fantastic people. (And all of your neck-ties are up. Amazing. That took awhile to happen. XD)
My point is this. STEP OUT. Do what you fear to do. You hate that job? Hate working for the same ungrateful boss? Go out and be your own boss. Warning: You WILL fail along the way in different degrees, but you will encounter a more meaningful journey. Or you have been dreaming of doing that something for a long while, yet there have always been excuses not to do so. SILENCE THE EXCUSES. Go out there and sweat it out. Pursue your dream. Like-minded people will go all out to support you. Remember this: COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR. Courage is going on DESPITE THE FEAR.
I know that I may not be such a credible person to advise such things. After all, who in this world cares or gives a damn about this boy who has not even entered university. And the number of Head Prefects in Malaysia equals the number of schools there are, which lies in the thousands. No big deal. But hear me out. Though I may be nobody, I still exhort you to do it. It’s up to you to listen, though. I am also still learning to embrace this, as there are also many dreams of mine buried in fear.
Theodore Roosevelt “arena” statement sums it nicely:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
In the Bible, Peter WALKED ON WATER because he STEPPED OUT of the boat in the direction of Jesus. I am not asking you to stray from Him and go against His will, as more often than not we do not step out of our comfort zone even though we are being called by Him to do so. Fear gets in the way. When one has the faith and courage to step out, things become more exciting. The impossible happens. But when fear disrupts, we do not achieve our fullest potential. God gave us all gifts and talents to be used for His glory, but if we do not take the initiative to step out and have faith we are really wasting the gifts and talents that He has given to EACH AND EVERY ONE of us. A preacher named Rev. Vincent Lau who preached in my church last weekend said that we should all die EMPTY, not in the sense of dying penniless or poor, but empty in the sense that we have given all that we have in this life to utilize the skills, talents and gifts that He has given us, and exhausted every way possible to invest ourselves into the purpose that He has called us for in our lives. Amen to that.
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Going the extra mile!!!!!!
i miss my prefect uniform LOL 
Not everyone can miraculously start a business without a degree like Bill Gates. If you have no means to start a company right now, well, you are going to learn the answers to the questions that you ask as you work for someone else. After that, you begin to think “hey! I can do better than that” and forms a company. XD
I second your call to step out and be courageous. Neither did I have all the skills when I joined Student Council. and I learned a lot along the way. It is all about whether you are brave enough to do it, not whether you are able to do it.
In fact, I would like to add too that this calls extends to the call to be follow Jesus and be like Him. In this world, where a set of values (worldly values) prevails, be strong and do not compromise on living your life like Him. Don’t be discouraged by people who are accusing you of being religious, holy or whatsoever. Bah, even if your cell group are lukewarm Christians, be a true follower of Jesus! The difference in you will begin to stir people around you and bring to light God’s life-transforming power. =) Neither do I have the credibility to say all this but heh.
@ome: what you said is so true… was reading “The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham” today and I realized that I needed to uphold myself by the Word and be a doer, not just a hearer of the Word, like Billy Graham did. And be unfazed by the many things that strain us once we have held onto that calling, to keep the focus and not be distracted. And to live a life truly like the one Jesus did, not sinning in anger and loving those who criticize us harshly.
Yeah, to me all this sounds hard and I know that realistically speaking, there is a possibility of me slipping, which is okay because we are humans, that is why Jesus is there to catch us when sinful nature gets the better of us. It’s part of the learning process. We will be transformed be better persons, Amen!
@ome: Amen to that. By the way ome, just want to ask on your opinion on how a business can contribute to God’s kingdom. I’ve been wondering about this for a while, because the last thing a person wants is to involve himself in a certain task and in the end find out that it is not serving the main purpose. Of course, some obvious ones are generating profits which enriches people and thus we can contribute more to God’s work. But there has to be more than that. What do you think about this? What is the main purpose of business in God’s kingdom?
and rachel too, any ideas to add to this? how does a business serve Him?
I love this post..
@Jun-Li: haha thanks
Ern Sheong, I can think of two ways so far.
The first, more obvious one, is through the use of money. There are companies that sponsor God’s people for advancement of God’s kingdom using part of the company’s assets. God channels financial resources into companies that can be trusted to handle money for God-given purposes, be it church-building, overseas missions, conference trips and many more. God might direct you to be that “financial miracle” for a person, a family or a church! (Well, when someone gets an “anonymous” donation, it can’t be money popping out of thin air every time.) As far as I know, the purpose of business in God’s kingdom is for the people whom God can trust them with money to prosper, so that the money is not kept to the person, but channeled for God’s use; money being used as if it is God Himself managing it! It really requires obedience to pull this one.
The second one is through the company culture. Let’s face it, practically, having a company that is fully Christian is a wild idea, but it is not impossible. With God, it is possible to stand by your Biblical principles (no bribes, forgiving, one in purpose, etc.) and head a Biblical company. The difference in the company values is going to draw people who deal with the company to God. Non-Christians in the company can also be drawn to God as they see the difference in working environment and the difference in Christian colleagues and bosses. I think it is one wonderful way to draw God’s children back to Him.
Try googling “Christian businessmen”. You will find a staggeringly large (hopefully quality) amount of information of how real God is in businesses. They’re not Bill Gates or someone at that level of riches, but they still accrue abundance for God’s purposes.
As for what to sell or what service, I cannot think of anything in particular right now, so it might be up to our God-given creativity in the end. If God wants us to serve Him in business, He will give us all we need, and that includes the idea or inspiration to start a business.
@ome: hey ome I like your second point about building a company culture that stands by Biblical principles and avoids all the brouhaha of modern day company politics, backstabbing, badmouthing, cheating, lies, etc. sounds like a very good point to me, besides the obvious money point =) and thanks for taking time to share your ideas with me =P
XD No problem.
By the way, I intend to take business accounting modules for my minor is business so I can help you with business accounting too. X)
lol u sound as if you plan to join my company in the future, if it does exist that is… =)