The CHALLENGE and FEAR never goes away

Here’s something I notice about entrepreneurial creatives.  They LOVE to start new things, and the fear and challenge that comes with it NEVER goes away!

You would think that after the third or so it would, but no.  Not for me at least.  Every single business I have ever grown has felt the same.  Exhilarating, but uncertain.  Thrilled by each new prospect, dejected from each new rejection.
 

Bit by bit, I figured it out, learned the ropes of the new venture.  Learned the rhythm of the marketing and sales techniques, the shape of a new relationship conversation.  The profile of the team.  The feeling of the culture.  These things are all discovered as much as they are intentionally created by the entrepreneur.
 

Each new venture is a process of discovery, and also a work of art.  We know an artist by their style.  Your ventures have similar stylistic marks.
 

In college I studied music and spent much of my time and energy composing original works.  As I got better at it, I noticed that each new piece was not so much written as discovered, figured out, uncovered like a new place.  I started with a concept, an idea.  And I knew a lot about rhythm, notes, harmony, instrumentation.  But even with all that background knowledge it always felt like I was learning the distinctive gestures, colors, and shape of the piece, inventing a new language each time.  That was the REAL art of it.
 

And so it is with each new business and brand I start and grow.  I see the idea and have a dream.  And I expect the fear and challenge to go away.  But it NEVER does.  I have to go through the process over and over to discover the shape and texture of the new venture.
 

Now, in spite of the fear and uncertainty, the businesses still work.  They grow up, take on a life of their own, and become profitable.  They have all done this.  So don’t let the fear win.  But remember that it will always be there, and you will always have to do the work of discovering the new venture as you build it.  And with each new venture you are older, with more wisdom and experience.  This makes certain parts easier, but not all of it.  I don’t know why this is, but it’s what I have found.  And some of them would not have grown and reached that point of critical mass without the inspiration and guidance of good mentors at just the right time.
 

Entrepreneurial creatives…can you relate?  What is the biggest lesson you have learned from starting and growing multiple ventures?