Fear vs. Exhilaration
I’m at a crossroads. It’s time to hire my second employee and I’m resisting it. All markers point to the fact that it’s time. My investment partner whom I rely on for business advice says it’s time. But I’m hesitant. Actually, I’m afraid. Afraid that the pullback period—the time of training where the person is not profitable—will not be sustainable. Afraid that I won’t be able to trust the new employee. Afraid that too much of my time will go into training this employee. As I investigate the reason for this fear, I realize that I’ve been here before. It’s the same feeling I had 11 years ago when I decided to be fully committed to starting a structural engineering business from scratch. And it’s the same feeling I had 2 ½ years ago when I hired our first employee.
I’ve come to the conclusion that all people running businesses probably have this same fear. I can’t help but think that leaders of large corporations have this exact same feeling when a merger or acquisition arises, when the IPO happens, or when pursuing a new market. I think these feelings are just always there. Perhaps we just grow in our tolerance of them.
What if we embrace this fear and begin to see it as a path to exhilaration? Fear frequently precludes exhilaration. Part of the reason why things feel exhilarating is that there is some sort of risk or fear involved. This is part of the human experience. I love the feeling of exhilaration—it embodies what it means to be truly alive and to be living. But I do think that exhilaration only exists in tandem with a healthy dose of fear. Similar to a roller coaster, it wouldn’t be as fun if it weren’t a little scary, too. Fear, exhilaration, and yet laughing through it all.
So what if we reframe these scary but healthy crossroads as opportunities to feel exhilaration? And trust that growth and feelings of being alive are right around the corner? As I challenge myself, I also challenge you to reframe your thoughts around these decisions. Step to the edge of your cliff, check your parachute, and then jump. And enjoy the exhilaration as you fly.