Do it scared.

Early on in my business, I remember a fellow business friend telling me that she thought that I did things that to her would feel scary, but that I seemed fine with it.

Fine? 

Are you scared in your business? Me too!

I was scared all the time. Picking a new show, launching each new collection, spending any amount of money, posting my own images on social media that I never felt were decent, running a business with a suite of imperfections.

I did it all scared. I was never not worrying. I’m still worrying, it’s just that I do everything scared. Sometimes, that even means I feel scared when sending this newsletter.

How performing prepared me for business

I used to think about this when I’d be getting ready to go out and perform* in front of people – the butterflies in the stomach, the anxiety, the terror, and then I’d still have to go out and do the thing – act in the play, sing the song, give the soliloquy. I never stopped feeling that nervous rush, that desire to close my eyes while getting up in front of hundreds of people. It stayed with me the entire time I would perform. And then would dissipate in a rush as soon as it was over.

It is the strangest feeling of euphoria, and one I lived with constantly from the age of 14 to about the age of 24 when I decided to go another direction with my life. But that training never left. That ability to “do it scared”.

Making art for a living means you take risks

I say all of this because many of us who go into the arts – performing or visual – who choose to open a business, who practice art and post our results to the public (whether on a website or social media) are freaked out about it, but we don’t always talk about the feelings of insecurity, of cringe, of fear.

We take risks, we question ourselves, and we are freaked out when heading to a new show, when confronting a weakness in our business skills, or when releasing something new out into the world.

Almost all of us are doing it scared. You are probably doing something while scared right now.

What does it mean to “do it scared” in your jewelry business?

Please note – I am not saying “do it perfect” or “grind harder” or “YOLO it’s only money”. I am suggesting that being scared doesn’t mean “don’t do the thing”. I am suggesting that there is work you can do to help dissipate the fear.

I am also suggesting that it is OK to be anxious when taking a risk. I’d  argue that it would be more concerning if you felt nothing when taking a risk. That feeling, that buzz can also run alongside excitement, or the rush of new possibilities.

This is also where growth can happen in your business

That twinge of nerves can signal that what you are doing matters to you. That this work you are doing is important, and that it is worth the time and attention that you give it.

Doing it scared means that you don’t skip opportunities to grow, or level up your skills. So join me, won’t you? Let’s all do it scared.

*Newsflash – I have a background in the performing arts. If you’ve met me in real life, you are 0% surprised.