In the human world we tend to shy away from the unknown. If we perceive something as scary, we usually run away and hide from it.
In the animal world, it is the most fearful who are the most curious. This seems completely counter-intuitive doesn’t it? After all, in our minds, surely the most timid animal would be the last to approach something unknown/scary?
But it is in fact not the ape, but the lowly antelope who goes to investigate the monolith. The more timid the animal is, the more likely it is to investigate. This is all about need-to-know. The lower you are on the feeding chain, the more things are liable to eat you, and therefore the more you need to know if you’re gonna survive. Fear and curiosity go together.
[Exerpted and adapted from Temple Grandin’s Animals in Translation].
I think running your own business involves a heck of a lot of courage. Are you the kind of entrepreneurial animal who feels the fear and does it anyway?
How brave are you?
P.S. I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge this month – a blog a day if I can. 
That’s my current focus — feel the fear and do it anyway. I don’t want ME to stand in my way. 🙂
Interesting info about animals…..
Cindy
Thanks Cindy!
Yes, I think that I’m built that way. But, I’m sometimes slow to take action until I feel ready. It’s that incubation period bit. I find that by taking baby steps, I get out of my comfort zone, which makes me ready to take the bigger steps. I was scared out of my mind to do things like me on radio shows. I wanted to do it, so I made myself do it. I then started my own show. Now, I’m not as scared even about public speaking. It’s fun once I get it dialed it in the first few minutes of the event. I notice that at times, I procrastinate when I don’t know how to do something. So, I’ve recognized that and get the support from experts when needed, and then, I take off. Do-It-Yourself can be so limiting, I’ve discovered. Sometimes, you have to pay someone to get the help.
My new area of fear is making a YouTube channel. I don’t like how I look on camera, but I so want to do this. So, I’m prepping myself to do it 🙂
Thanks for this post, it’s very thought-provoking.
Hi Lisa – thanks for your great response. I’m actually a rule-follower and I have come to understand the psychology behind that, e.g., knowing what you’re “supposed” to do and doing it is the safe place. On the other hand, people who know me might think I’m a risk taker, and perhaps I am, but believe me those “risks” are very calculated. What I am prepared to do is take that first step and I guess that’s the biggest hurdle for most.
Good luck with your YouTube channel – I think I look and sound weird too. Focus on what you’re saying/doing and trust me you’ll be awesome!
Yup.. I left a fairly well paying job to start my theater company. Took quite a hit money wise, but…best thing I ever did. It ran it’s course by the twelfth year, but worth all the time and effort.
🙂