Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: success

Overcome the #1 Obstacle of Launching a Business
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur who hasn’t yet taken the first step toward launch, I’m going to take a guess that one of the things holding you back is a fear of failure. This is probably the #1 obstacle to overcome and it’s something that every founder faces.

No matter how great your idea the truth is, you have no way of knowing how things are going to turn out once you launch your business. And that, can be extremely scary.

The thing that sets successful people apart though is that they have found a way to get over their fear and embrace the uncertainty before them. If you think about it this way, that means there are many people who have gone before you who have figured out how to do this.

While there is no right or wrong answer, here are four tips shared with me by female founders on getting over your fear of failure.
1. Invest the time to become an expert
Do your research and become the most knowledgeable person you know on your topic. With the availability of information at our fingertips there is nothing holding you back from soaking up as much knowledge as possible. If you’re confident in what you’re talking about, you’ll feel more confident in sharing your ideas, and running 110% after your idea.
1. Financially Prepare
If you have an idea you want to run after or maybe just know that one day you want to run your own business, plan for that. Don’t up and leave your day job until you’re financially secure. Save. Create a budget and have a backup for making money if you need it. You’ll be able to focus better on your work if you’re not burdened by the “what-ifs” if things don’t work out.
1. Take it One Step at a Time
You don’t get from A to Z without a lot of letters in between. The thing goes for launching your business. You’re only going to make it from idea to ideal by taking things one step at a time. Set realistic expectations and goals for yourself that will keep you motivated and encouraged as you grow your business
1. Be Specific About Your Vision
Success may look very different for you than someone else. Your vision may be to build something that gives you the freedom to work when and wherever you want. Someone else’s vision may be to become the market leader in their industry. Hold yourself accountable to your personal vision and remember it’s not failure if it wasn’t your goal in the first place.

And one last thing, remember there is no end to building your business. It is a journey. Things may not always turn out as you’d planned but that doesn’t make those steps any less valuable. Hold yourself accountable for learning as you go not for knowing all the answers up front and you’ll start to see uncertainty as opportunity instead of something to be feared.

Now it’s your turn. What are your best tips for getting over the fear of failure?

Leave your answers in the comments below and keep the conversation going over at @toastmeetsjam.

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October 28, 2015
Using Social Media to Strengthen Your Personal Brand

5 Steps to bring your personal brand to life through social media

At the dawn of the era of social media there seemed to be a mixed reaction of excitement and fear over this uncharted territory. Excitement over the doors these new online outlets were providing for us to connect with each other to an extent yet unknown. Fear that this meant our personal lives were forever meant to be on display. For years it seemed that the only message circulated about the proper use of social media was a warning cry about the detrimental affects our profiles could have on our careers and professional lives. We’ve been warned to watch what we post in fear that our employers- current or hopeful- could be scanning our pages to uncover our faults.

I believe the tides are now turning in favor of social media. Time has brought a new understanding of how to leverage these powerful platform s and use them to our benefit. While it is important to monitor what parts of your lives you want publicly broadcast, your social profiles can also serve as the best way for you to show off the best parts of yourself. The message is no longer a warning about what not to do but rather a chorus of advice around what to do to leverage social media to your greatest favor.

In part 2 of our series on building your personal brand we’re taking a look at how you can use social media to most effectively- you guessed it- build your personal brand . With the right know-how you can turn your social presence into a machine that strengthens your personal brand and allows you to tell your story to the world. We’ve got 5 simple steps you can take today to get started.

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May 7, 2014
Single Girl Reads: Lean In

Catherine and Jacqueline discuss Sheryl Sandberg’s bestseller as it relates to generation Y, feminism, career decisions, and definitions of success

Catherine’s review: Well-written and well-researched. You may think that you get the gist from her TEDTalk, but there is so much more to Sandberg’s words. Thought-provoking and discussion inducing… A must-read for women as well as for men. I can’t wait to discuss with others who’ve read.

Jacqueline’s review: Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is kind of like a pep talk for women. She argues to believe in yourself, “lean in,” and trust you can have it all. I love how she asks, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” But sometimes it’s not that easy. However, we all could use a personal cheerleader every now and then. So that’s how I see the book, as a pick-me-up when you need a little push.

Jacqueline and I got together over Google Hangout for a two-person book club discussion about Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. Despite the limited scope of opinions, Sandberg’s content prompted some disagreement and controversy.

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November 29, 2013