More than any other generation, Millennials have a huge opportunity for entrepreneurship. Seriously, it’s easy to start a business and actually make money. Technology has done away with the need for business loans, expensive office spaces, or even large inventories.
It’s also opened the opportunity for non-traditional companies: blogs, Instagram celebrity-ship, consulting, online life coaching, apps… There are so many great ideas that haven’t even been touched yet. So if you’re even remotely tech savvy, you can create a successful company.
But I’ve seen a few fears that keep this generation from being able to tap into these opportunities. These are the things I’ve seen in people my age and younger.
1. Fear of asking for help.
Either there’s the assumption that someone’s too busy to help or that they’re unwilling to. But Millennials are often afraid of asking for help from those who have gone before and been successful.
Most people, when you’re willing ask, are eager to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask.
2. Fear of following through on advice.
Sometimes that advice, finally given, is tough to act upon. Either it requires hard work or it just isn’t the advice they were hoping for.
If you ask for advice, be willing to do something in response to it. Otherwise there’s no benefit, and that actually does make the advice giver less likely to offer their wisdom to those who ask in the future.
3. Fear of doing something different.
Just because nobody’s ever done it before doesn’t mean it won’t work. Again, there are thousands of ideas that haven’t even been touched yet, because nobody’s dreamt them up yet. If you have a unique idea, don’t be afraid to act on it. Even if other people can’t really see what you’re talking about.
(People still don’t really know how I get paid to do what I do. Frankly, I’m still confused at times. But it works.)
4. Fear of what people will think.
This isn’t just a problem for Millennials. But many times, because Millennials rely on social media for their success, their entrepreneurship is more public. Any time you’re public, you’ll hear lots of opinions. And if you let them, they can discourage you from moving forward.
Take good advice, but don’t let what other people think keep you from acting. Move forward with your idea.
5. Fear of work.
I don’t believe Millennials are lazy like some might lead you to believe. However, technology has made things especially easy compared to what previous generations had to endure. But in entrepreneurship, there will be some seriously tough work that can’t be accomplished quite as quickly as posting something on Snapchat.
Don’t be afraid to work hard, and don’t be afraid when things are harder than they previously were. That’s just normal entrepreneurial resistance.
I love seeing what us Millennials can accomplish in this brave new world of technology. I think it’s one of the most exciting times in history. We just can’t be afraid to act. The opportunity is there; it’s up to us to seize it.
What fears have you seen hold Millennials back in their entrepreneurship? Share in a comment below and let’s discuss.
Fear of Failing and Fear of Judgment. These two have held me back for a long time. I have always feared people’s comment of “You’re too young to do that.” It was frustrating to me. But what was even more maddening was that for far too long, I didn’t take a chance for Fear of Failing and proving those people right. I finally decided it was time to stop being fearful about age and judgement from others and that’s when I started StrategicShepherding.com. We’re only in the infancy stage, but I’m excited about the possibilities!
Site looks great! It can especially be scary to speak from a place of authority. That was a huge source of fear of judgment for a while for me. 🙂
I would love to be a “professional” blogger. I’ve blogged in the past- some were successful and some weren’t. I give up too easily and.. #2 hit hard. I ask for advice and I want to be perfect at everything then constructive feedback is.. well… Hard. Amen to that though! I also don’t have a computer and writing on your iPhone isn’t always ideal. God will provide a computer, hopefully sooner than later! Thanks for the pep talk. I guess I should go write something… 🙂
Indeed!