6 unusual fears of founders – how to overcome them

Founders face a number of challenges and fears. Many of these are known. But some are rarely talked about. In this article, I would therefore like to describe six of these practical founder fears and offer advice on how to overcome them.

Six unusual fears of founders

1. The fear of making decisions

One fear that founders face is the fear of having to make a decision. Also called decidophobia, it describes the inability to make decisions quickly and confidently.

This can be due to a variety of factors, for example a concern about making the wrong choice when faced with multiple alternatives, a lack of information or data and the resulting concern of not considering all factors, or a desire to be safe wanting to rely on the opinion of others, but which cannot be obtained.

A client of mine experienced this, for example, when he and his team had to make the difficult decision as to whether their company’s business model should be realigned. He was aware that this would require a significant investment of time and resources.

In order to overcome the fear of making decisions, founders should develop their decision-making skills, but at the same time learn to deal with information deficits and seek the opinion of trustworthy advisors and mentors.

2. The fear of failure

Another common fear is the fear of failure. This can result from the concern of not being able to make the business profitable or not being able to secure the financing, but also from losing the support of friends and family in the event of failure. In order to overcome the fear of failure, it is important for founders to learn how to deal with failure personally and to focus on learning and progress rather than perfection.

3. Fear of not being good enough

Many founders also suffer from self-doubt or the feeling that they are not up to the challenges of starting and running a company. This can be due to a lack of experience, a fear of not having the right skills or knowledge, or simply the overwhelming responsibility.

A client of mine, who had just turned 18 when he started his business, was self-doubting because his friends and family didn’t support his business idea. As a result, he began to doubt the quality of his business idea and his abilities as an entrepreneur.

He was eventually able to overcome his worries by finding the right mentors, building a strong network of supportive peers – including making new friends along the way – and focusing on his personal growth as a person and as an entrepreneur.

4. The fear of burnout

Many founders are also afraid of burnout, i.e. the risk of being physically and mentally exhausted by the demands of corporate management. This can be due to long working hours, high levels of stress and an inability to make time for yourself.

In order to avoid burnout, it is important for founders to prioritize self-care, create a healthy work-life balance and learn why and how to delegate responsibilities in a meaningful way and how to deal with the consequences of delegation.

5. Fear of losing control

Many founders fear losing control of their business, whether through a lack of financial control or being forced to make compromises to secure funding or business partnerships or customers.

In order to overcome the fear of losing control, it is important for founders to have a clear vision and values ​​for themselves and the company, to communicate transparently with investors and partners, to maintain accountability and, in addition, to have a solid understanding of the finances and financial goals of their company.

6. Fear of repercussions on personal relationships

Running a business can take a lot of time and energy and put a strain on personal relationships and friendships. The fear of these stresses can express itself in different ways. For example, founders often work long hours and concentrate very much on their company.

As a result, they neglect their personal relationships. This can lead to disappointment among family and friends, but also a feeling of isolation and loneliness for the founder(s).

Other priorities and goals: About the fears of founders

Furthermore, founders may have different priorities and goals than their partners, friends or family members, for example placing their business over time with their partners and friends, which can lead to feelings of annoyance and frustration in them.

Founders should therefore prioritize communication with partners and friends, especially regarding their motivations, and seek support by involving partners, friends and family members in the process of starting and growing their business.

They should also set clear boundaries in their work and personal lives to ensure their relationships are not neglected. They should also not neglect their personal mental and emotional well-being.

Fears of Founders: Final Words

In summary, starting and growing a business can be a source of significant worry and anxiety for founders. The solutions and assistance I mentioned above are certainly very general and lack details.

This is clear to me, but of course it is due to the length of this article. From my experience, however, I can at least say that it is a good starting point for founders to become aware of these fears and concerns and to take proactive and conscious steps to address and overcome them.

The concrete measures to minimize or eliminate specific worries and fears are then always due to the respective individual case. Are there challenges and fears that you have experienced that are not often talked about? Then write me in the comments and let’s discuss.

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