The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

Paralysed by Fear and Doubt - New Business Launch

Anything related to matters of the mind

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
Over the last year, I've been working to set up an online store (full story here). I've had many ups and downs along the way and felt like giving up (I even stopped for a few months), but I've kept working and pushed through the problems. I've tested the market and done as much as I can to check assumptions and give this project a fighting chance.

I've finally got to the point where I have a contract to sign with my fulfilment company at which point, I can get my website integrated with their systems, then order my stock. And then I can launch and start selling. i.e. achieve what all this hard work has been for and take the first step towards my dream of being unscripted .

You'd have thought I'd rush into signing that contract the second I got it. Instead, I've found excuses not to sign it for a week now.

Why? Because suddenly this all feels real and I'm full of doubt. What if I have another failure? What if I lose a load more money again? (this isn't my first attempt - I had an Amazon store). What if I'm not cut-out to be an entrepreneur? What if the script is there for people like me?

Logically, I keep telling myself that:
  • I've tested the market
  • I've learned so much siince my Amazon store
  • I want to live Unscripted , so I need to make the jump
All this makes sense, yet I'm paralysed with fear and doubt.

How did you guys make that first leap? What did you tell yourself to convince yourself to commit to going all in? How did you bounce back from a failure?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

GSF

Silver Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
278%
Aug 25, 2012
339
941
Over the last year, I've been working to set up an online store (full story here). I've had many ups and downs along the way and felt like giving up (I even stopped for a few months), but I've kept working and pushed through the problems. I've tested the market and done as much as I can to check assumptions and give this project a fighting chance.

I've finally got to the point where I have a contract to sign with my fulfilment company at which point, I can get my website integrated with their systems, then order my stock. And then I can launch and start selling. i.e. achieve what all this hard work has been for and take the first step towards my dream of being unscripted .

You'd have thought I'd rush into signing that contract the second I got it. Instead, I've found excuses not to sign it for a week now.

Why? Because suddenly this all feels real and I'm full of doubt. What if I have another failure? What if I lose a load more money again? (this isn't my first attempt - I had an Amazon store). What if I'm not cut-out to be an entrepreneur? What if the script is there for people like me?

Logically, I keep telling myself that:
  • I've tested the market
  • I've learned so much siince my Amazon store
  • I want to live Unscripted , so I need to make the jump
All this makes sense, yet I'm paralysed with fear and doubt.

How did you guys make that first leap? What did you tell yourself to convince yourself to commit to going all in? How did you bounce back from a failure?
Just wondering Is the fulfilment contract essential right now?
 

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
Just wondering Is the fulfilment contract essential right now?

Yes. It's the last thing I need to go live. Once this is signed, I can order stock form my suppliers and start selling.
 

Mr. Roboto

Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
338%
Mar 13, 2019
13
44

You've been kicking the tree (the script) and now you are scared of possible negative scenarios.

You don't want to live unscripted live enough.

Do you keep kicking the tree?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited:

GSF

Silver Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
278%
Aug 25, 2012
339
941
How well have you tested the idea? Have you made sales? Have you proven a system of getting sales consistently?

If you have confidence in your ability to get sales, the numbers work, and the fulfilment is necessary and an obstacle for you to move forward, then go for it.
 

Xeon

All Cars Kneel Before Pagani.
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
191%
Sep 3, 2017
2,427
4,628
Singapore
I've finally got to the point where I have a contract to sign with my fulfilment company at which point, I can get my website integrated with their systems, then order my stock. And then I can launch and start selling
You'd have thought I'd rush into signing that contract the second I got it. Instead, I've found excuses not to sign it for a week now.
Why? Because suddenly this all feels real and I'm full of doubt....

Can relate 101%, because early last year, I was in EXACTLY the same boat as you, right down to the fulfilment contract. They sent me the contract, I read it, gave myself a few days to think about it, because like you said, when you start to really sign things, wow....the whole SHIT suddenly BECOMES SO REAL.

In the end, I signed it, and the good thing is : I found myself even more committed than ever to make this see the light of the day. As long as the fulfilment fees aren't crazy, it should be good.
Some fulfilment centres have a monthly minimum order of $250 - $500, and if you can't meet those numbers, you'll need to pay for the shortfall (meaning in your first 2 months if you've 0 sales, you gotta pay those hefty fees.....so I avoid all those fulfilment companies that impose monthly minimum amounts).

In fact, I used to be worse off than you. Every single time when I need to spend $, I would wait, and wait and wait....for weeks and months, before I finally parted with my beloved $$$....

How did you guys make that first leap?

By thinking about the FTE.

What did you tell yourself to convince yourself to commit to going all in?

By thinking about the FTE again. By looking at the shambles of my current life and acknowledging that this can't go on. By looking at other guys driving supercars who can pull any chicks into their car/pools/homes/bed while I stand there looking like a beta, wimpy, CASHLESS cuck.

How did you bounce back from a failure?

Failures are good. Each time something goes wrong, it actually turns out to be a blessing in disguise ALMOST everytime after that (provided you don't give up and continue finding better ideas/solutions/workarounds)....

Also, one thing regarding "launch day" which I've been thinking about recently.....

Most people regard "launch day" as some kind of Event (yes, like the Events MJ mentioned in Unscripted ). They seem to see it as some kind of gigantic, red carpet red ribbon-cutting formal ceremony in their mind.....you know, that this is the "Be-All-&-End-All", "The Final Moment of Truth" and "Make-Or-Break" imaginary event.

The kind of event whereby after they click that button to make their website go Live, sales should come in after a while, and if it doesn't, they start getting disappointed and get sucked into the desert of desertion even deeper,....

It helps to regard "launch day" as an ongoing marathon. After the website goes live, it's all about optimising, studying, understanding, learning from the data and customers' feedback......and prepare for the next set of strategy, and so on....

As one guy here used to say (forgot his user name).....the FACT that you've READ MJ's books, YOU MADE IT TO THIS FORUM, you even managed to find a fulfilment centre and sign the contract, ship the inventory etc.....already means that you're AHEAD OF 99% of the human population.

What are your other friends and colleagues doing? Working hard as ever in their 8-to-6 jobs while drinking beer and playing PS4 in their free time, with no further visions for the rest of their life?

You're already on the right track, my fellow driver.....don't brake, and DON'T DRIVE IN REVERSE!!!!!
 

NMdad

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
224%
Aug 6, 2017
612
1,370
New Mexico
It helps to regard "launch day" as an ongoing marathon. After the website goes live, it's all about optimising, studying, understanding, learning from the data and customers' feedback......and prepare for the next set of strategy, and so on....
Great analogy. Launch day is just the start of the marathon. You've done a bunch of training to get ready for the marathon, and once the starting gun goes off, you're on your way.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

ZCP

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
336%
Oct 22, 2010
3,952
13,267
Woodstock, GA
What's the worst possible scenario if you are wrong and F*ck this up?
If that isn't so bad and something you can recover from, take the step and jump in.
 

Fastlane Liam

Silver Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
148%
Feb 10, 2018
407
604
27
United Kingdom
Whats your alternative? Back to working 9-5? What have you got to lose really? I feel you on this one, but when you think about it your life probably sucks right now. Potentially maybe possibly failing is a small fee to pay for the chance of making your money situation right. You even said you worked an entire year to make sure its right, you also have experience selling on amazon. Our egos are little bastards, don't give in to it. You got this.
 

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
How well have you tested the idea? Have you made sales? Have you proven a system of getting sales consistently?

If you have confidence in your ability to get sales, the numbers work, and the fulfilment is necessary and an obstacle for you to move forward, then go for it.

I've set up a dummy website and run traffic to it for nearly a month. The "profit" exceeded the costs of running the ads, and that was without anything done to improve conversion, no reviews, social media etc. So I have confidence in my numbers
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
Can relate 101%, because early last year, I was in EXACTLY the same boat as you, right down to the fulfilment contract. They sent me the contract, I read it, gave myself a few days to think about it, because like you said, when you start to really sign things, wow....the whole SHIT suddenly BECOMES SO REAL.

In the end, I signed it, and the good thing is : I found myself even more committed than ever to make this see the light of the day. As long as the fulfilment fees aren't crazy, it should be good.
Some fulfilment centres have a monthly minimum order of $250 - $500, and if you can't meet those numbers, you'll need to pay for the shortfall (meaning in your first 2 months if you've 0 sales, you gotta pay those hefty fees.....so I avoid all those fulfilment companies that impose monthly minimum amounts).

In fact, I used to be worse off than you. Every single time when I need to spend $, I would wait, and wait and wait....for weeks and months, before I finally parted with my beloved $$$....

Thanks for a great post.

As i happens, I do have a minimum monthly storage charge for my fulfilment, but I went with them anyway because they were the only company that were willing to adjust their pricing model to fit my product (i.e. small, many SKU's per order, low cost and heavy). Everyone else had pick and pack costs that made it impossible to make a profit per unit. At least with the storage charge, they generate some revenue and I am profitable per unit sold, so I just have to increase my sales to cover the fee.

By thinking about the FTE.

By thinking about the FTE again. By looking at the shambles of my current life and acknowledging that this can't go on. By looking at other guys driving supercars who can pull any chicks into their car/pools/homes/bed while I stand there looking like a beta, wimpy, CASHLESS cuck.

I think this is part of my problem. I don't have a specific FTE, just the knowledge I don't want another 30 years doing what I'm doing.

Failures are good. Each time something goes wrong, it actually turns out to be a blessing in disguise ALMOST everytime after that (provided you don't give up and continue finding better ideas/solutions/workarounds)....

I keep telling myself this and trying to push through my fear of failure, but it keeps coming back to haunt me.

I read the book Mindset a few years back and realised I had a Fixed Mindset . One of the main problems was my attitude to failure and it needed to change as it keeps holding me back. I've done a lot of work over the years to develop a Growth Mindset, but this is a shadow of my old mindset I'm struggling to shake.

Also, one thing regarding "launch day" which I've been thinking about recently.....

Most people regard "launch day" as some kind of Event (yes, like the Events MJ mentioned in Unscripted ). They seem to see it as some kind of gigantic, red carpet red ribbon-cutting formal ceremony in their mind.....you know, that this is the "Be-All-&-End-All", "The Final Moment of Truth" and "Make-Or-Break" imaginary event.

The kind of event whereby after they click that button to make their website go Live, sales should come in after a while, and if it doesn't, they start getting disappointed and get sucked into the desert of desertion even deeper,....

It helps to regard "launch day" as an ongoing marathon. After the website goes live, it's all about optimising, studying, understanding, learning from the data and customers' feedback......and prepare for the next set of strategy, and so on....

As one guy here used to say (forgot his user name).....the FACT that you've READ MJ's books, YOU MADE IT TO THIS FORUM, you even managed to find a fulfilment centre and sign the contract, ship the inventory etc.....already means that you're AHEAD OF 99% of the human population.

What are your other friends and colleagues doing? Working hard as ever in their 8-to-6 jobs while drinking beer and playing PS4 in their free time, with no further visions for the rest of their life?

You're already on the right track, my fellow driver.....don't brake, and DON'T DRIVE IN REVERSE!!!!!

Funnily enough, I think this is another reason I've got doubt. I know from my past experiences and reading this forum that the Launch Day is just the beginning, not the end of the hard work. When I do this, things are going to get crazy around here with the work I have to do.

Right now I feel like I'm holding Aladdins Lamp getting ready to rub and let the genie out. I know there's a chance for great magic, but also a whole load of trouble.

Either way, I suppose it's going to be an adventure and a load fun one way or another.
 

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
What's the worst possible scenario if you are wrong and F*ck this up?
If that isn't so bad and something you can recover from, take the step and jump in.

Whats your alternative? Back to working 9-5? What have you got to lose really? I feel you on this one, but when you think about it your life probably sucks right now. Potentially maybe possibly failing is a small fee to pay for the chance of making your money situation right. You even said you worked an entire year to make sure its right, you also have experience selling on amazon. Our egos are little bastards, don't give in to it. You got this.

I everything goes wrong, I stay in my 9-5 and lose a chunk of my savings. Not great, but not the end of the world. Definitely, not enough of a reason not to go for it.
 

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
This time yesterday, I was full of doubt and I almost didn't write the post above. Reading through these replies has given me the kick up the backside I needed and the confidence to get on with it. This really is an incredible forum. Thanks
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Xeon

All Cars Kneel Before Pagani.
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
191%
Sep 3, 2017
2,427
4,628
Singapore
I feel like I'm holding Aladdins Lamp getting ready to rub and let the genie out. Either way, I suppose it's going to be an adventure and a load fun one way or another.

That's a funny way of putting it, I mean rubbing the lamp :rofl:

Well, I hope you feel that your hustle is meaningful, because if it's not, maybe it's time to work harder at your day job (I assume you've one) so that you can progress up the corporate ladder faster, get a fixed salary while answering to your superiors daily.

Hope that thought will spur you on!

Have you read the Eric Cheesecake thread yet? You need to, if you haven't!
 

ZCP

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
336%
Oct 22, 2010
3,952
13,267
Woodstock, GA
This time yesterday, I was full of doubt and I almost didn't write the post above. Reading through these replies has given me the kick up the backside I needed and the confidence to get on with it. This really is an incredible forum. Thanks
Get to it! Make a plan. Work the plan.
 

InspireHD

Gold Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
243%
Dec 9, 2014
516
1,254
Seeing this post made me think of something I heard while watching a Jordan Peterson video:

"You aren't going to hit something unless you aim at it. That's for sure. And lots of times people won't aim at what they want because they are afraid. The reason they're afraid is because if you specify what you want, you've specified your conditions of failure. You know when you fail. And it's better just to keep it foggy. It's like, 'Well, I don't know if I'm succeeding or failing, but, you know, I can't really tell.' Well, great! Except, you can't hit anything you don't aim at."
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
That's a funny way of putting it, I mean rubbing the lamp :rofl:

Well, I hope you feel that your hustle is meaningful, because if it's not, maybe it's time to work harder at your day job (I assume you've one) so that you can progress up the corporate ladder faster, get a fixed salary while answering to your superiors daily.

Hope that thought will spur you on!

Have you read the Eric Cheesecake thread yet? You need to, if you haven't!

Don't worry, my hustle is back. Things are going to start happening around here! :cool:
 

Laughingman21

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
214%
Sep 7, 2015
175
374
Seeing this post made me think of something I heard while watching a Jordan Peterson video:

"You aren't going to hit something unless you aim at it. That's for sure. And lots of times people won't aim at what they want because they are afraid. The reason they're afraid is because if you specify what you want, you've specified your conditions of failure. You know when you fail. And it's better just to keep it foggy. It's like, 'Well, I don't know if I'm succeeding or failing, but, you know, I can't really tell.' Well, great! Except, you can't hit anything you don't aim at."

That's a really interesting way of looking at setting targets. There's no doubt that I set specific targets, but this has made me think that I'm being too specific and making it too hard for me to win.

I think it's time for me to start relaxing, having a go, working my nuts off and see what happens. You never know it may work. Either way, I'll learn and have fun along the way.
 

Frank H.

Contributor
Read Fastlane!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
89%
Dec 22, 2018
90
80
I think you need to have a deep trust in the flow of life and that the right people will show up at the right time. Godspeed!
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

Latest Posts

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top