Why You Should Stop Listening To The Haters And Get On With It
Written by: Annette Densham, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
A lion was crossing a swamp when he heard an odd hollow voice. Seeing nobody, he became worried. He started walking again, listening carefully and the voice continued, making him tremble with fear. As he apprehensively stepped forward, now shaking and scared to go on, a bullfrog crawled out of the pond beside him. The lion, upon discovering the noise was nothing but the croaking of a tiny little creature, went up to it, and partly out of anger, partly contempt, stomped on it.
The Audacious Agency’s international award winning neurobrander Lauren Clemett shares this fable to show how FEAR, which stands for False Expectations Appearing Real, can stop us in our tracks. If we let it. “Unfortunately, today there is so much fear in the world, and with ongoing uncertainty and constant change, fear can feel very real for many of us, especially those running businesses,” she said.
“Humans aren’t built for handling stress for long periods. In fact, it’s likely we haven’t had to endure as much anxiety as we have over the past two years since World War II. It shows in the levels of stress we see everyday in the community around us.
“We prefer what we know, what we are used to, we like being in the comfort zone.”
Lauren has an interesting activity to try to prove to you how your brain will run back to the safety of what you know whenever something new is introduced. Try this…
Pop a foot (either one) out in front of you and start turning it in a clockwise direction. That’s right, twirl your foot around clockwise.
Now while you are doing that, point your index finger into the air in front of you and draw the number 6….
What happens to your foot?
It runs back to go in the same direction as your finger right?
How often do you twirl your foot around in a clockwise motion compared to how many times in your life have you written the number 6? Way more sixes huh!
Lauren said this exercise shows how your brain overrides something new with something it knows, each and every single time. “No wonder it’s hard to be fearless,” she said.
“However, fear of the unknown can stop you from growing, stunt your brand awareness and keep your business hidden from view and we often see fear manifested in business, no matter how long they have been established, or how new their approach. “Many have imposter syndrome, the fear of what people think of you, the fear that you are not good enough and that you haven’t achieved much or got any real success to crow about. These are the unsung heroes of entrepreneurship and their stories never get told. Which is not only sad for them, it’s unfortunate for every business owner or professional out there who might be inspired and motivated by someone's story.”
Then there are those who constantly compare themselves to others, holding off talking about themselves, because they are nowhere near as successful as their competitors. They hold off entering awards, responding to media call outs or commenting on important topics, because they fear that someone will call them out and put them back in the place where they think they belong.
“Chances are, many business owners are more afraid of other people's opinions than of failure itself, yet we live in probably the most opinionated societies with so many keyboard barriers and costal media trolls, ready to take people down, before even getting to know them or ask any questions,” Lauren said. “If you are not bold in business, if you hide your story away, fail to enter awards or hold off sharing content and ideas, your brand will fade into the background and lose its voice, drowned out in a sea of overwhelming noise.”
Lauren challenges you to overcome your fears.
“The first step is to get 100% clear on what your brand stands for. Why are you even in business? What is your purpose and why are you going in a certain direction?” she explained.
“Tech billionaire and fan favourite from Dragons’ Den, Robert Herjavec, said “Don’t start a business. Find a problem, Solve a problem, The business comes second.”
So, what is the problem that you solve and who do you help most?
Lauren suggests putting your audience at the centre of your marketing efforts. it takes the pressure off you.
“It also reminds you that you HAVE to get out there and share your stories, win awards, be interviewed on podcasts and write articles that can help someone,” she said.
“If you don’t you are doing a disservice to the very people you are trying to help.
“If no-one knows about you, how can you help them? “As a business owner or entrepreneur, you actually owe it to your own sense of purpose to do something that scares you, have a voice, stand for something and make some waves.”
Lauren’s final words of wisdom … “Don’t worry about the croaks of others, when you look at the bigger picture of where you are going and what you have set out to achieve, they are just little frogs who won’t amount to much as you travel along your own journey towards success,” she said.
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Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.
