Starting Your Own Business? Worried About Failure?

When I started TraumaFX, I think allot of people laughed inside.

There were times when I wondered if this was just a stupid dream and I was the only one believing in it.

For the first year or so I told a number of people what I planned on doing and 95% of their reactions weren't making me feel any better about my plan. I suppose it was my fear of people thinking I would fail (my products are very specialized, not mainstream, but much needed).

There were many who said, "you want to sell what?". And the half-smile on their face I interpreted as feeling sorry me and my misguided venture that they believed was doomed to failure, but they were too polite to say it.

That's when I quit talking about it.

So I concentrated on success. I read everything I could on motivation, inspiration, marketing, attitude and faith. I sought out and talked to successful business owners. I listened and learned. I read books, I signed up for newsletters from motivation, inspirational and financial leaders.

All the while I kept planning and building - I did not give up because of other people's opinions.

Finally, a year ago, I launched my website - www.traumafx.com. I have received nothing but positive comments and incredible encouragement. Website visitors are up an average of nearly 1200% each day. Sales are beginning to follow this trend. It has been a very successful year at TraumaFX.

For those of you who have ever had the dream of starting your own business - whether it be a brick and mortar store or online, here's a quick bit of inspiration that kept me going through it all. I have it hanging (along with many others) in my office where I can look at it during those times of doubt. It was from a speech by President Theodore Roosevelt, at the Sorbonne in 1910.

Here it is:

"It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
No, the credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and blood and sweat, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause. Who at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat because they have never even tried."

Here's the question you need to ask yourself:

"If you knew you couldn't fail, and you could do whatever you wanted to do, what would that look like?"

If you can answer that question, then THAT'S what you need to do in your life. Take the leap of faith.

All the Best,

Bob