You remember those scenes in the movies, right? The one where the main character is walking along a particularly rickety bridge or jagged mountainside, and someone says to them, “Whatever you do, don’t look down.”

And you know what happens next. They look. They always look. Then, they freeze in fear.

Cliché as it may be, I don’t think there’s anyone among us who hasn’t been in that exact same situation. Allow me to explain…

Sure, the rickety bridge scenario is a bit far-fetched, but let’s take a minute to break it down…

Let’s say you’re working on a new initiative at work – building a new strategic relationship, offering a new service, or beginning a completely new workflow. You start out confident, excited, focused. Then, something starts to change. You feel a little shift, a little uncertainty. The stakes become clearer, frightening even, and you know you SHOULDN’T focus on that, but you do anyway. Then, you freeze.

So, if the real question is, “When’s the last time you worried about what could go wrong when you should have been focused on the goal?” For most of us, the answer is: Probably not that long ago.

Something New

Business is an ever-evolving entity that shifts and changes as quickly and seamlessly as the seasons. Stubbornness to change is a stagnation that risks irrelevance. And irrelevance in business goes straight to the bottom line.

As frightening as it may seem in the beginning, new initiatives, fresh goals, and even some necessary ‘Hail Mary Passes’ have the ability to take your business up to a level you know you’re capable of.

This is especially true in the small business world. It takes work – very hard work – to keep all those wheels in motion for your business to function on a day to day basis. Of course it’s hard to imagine taking such leaps as to alter your business model or adopt a new way of being, but there will come a time when such decisions need to be made.

Face Your Fears

It’s inevitable, there will be ups and downs with new initiatives. There’s the initial fear of starting, the fear of the lull, the fear of success. And they’re all normal, as long as you don’t let the fear take over. It can be too easy to give up when things get complicated or don’t go your way. Even more counter-productive is that fear of the unknown before it’s even happened.

That’s what you need to ignore. That’s what we mean by “don’t look down” – keep your vision focused on the goal and forge onward, despite the possible pitfalls below. Danger will be there (it always is), but persistence and courage allow you to rise above – and stay above.

As a business owner, everything carries a level of risk. It’s just part of the job. But having confidence in yourself, surrounding yourself with a competent team, and continuing to learn and better yourself as a business owner ensures that your foundation is solid.

Keep Focus

We’ve just entered into a new year, and with that comes the magic of possibility. How can my business grow this year? What can I do differently? How can I better myself? The excitement of possibility is palpable, and the goal is to take that energy and use it.

At C3Workplace, it is at the core of our business to meet you where you are, and help you get where you want to go. That’s why we’re here, your success is our success, and that’s why we want to encourage everyone to try something new. Commit to a leap of faith and take that first step. Sure, the path may be hazardous, but with support services, educational programs, and over 25 years of experience, we can help solidify that pathway and give you the confidence to keep moving forward.

With twelve months ahead and the possibilities endless, we hope you’re forging ahead and looking to create new paths. And no matter what peril may present itself, we only ask one thing: “Whatever you do, don’t look down.”