Ask Diane: How do I learn to "Be Brave?"

Q:

I read your post about your decision to be brave last year. You’ve inspired me to make that same decision for my coming year. Any suggestions to help me along the way?

A:

Being brave is a mindset. It is a challenge. A willingness to be uncomfortable. It is doing things each day that might scare you. I am getting quite used to this feeling and am thrilled you are venturing out on your own path to BE BRAVE, whether it’s in your business or in your personal life. Because being brave affects both on an hourly basis.

First, let’s consider what B.R.A.V.E. stands for….here is one of my definitions:

B= Bold
R= Risky
A= Adventurous
V= Visionary
E= Entrepreneur *

*Being an entrepreneur really comes down to your thinking process. The Oxford Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “a person who undertakes or controls a business or enterprise and bears the risk of profit or loss.” Bobbi Brown, of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, says it is “someone who has the vision to create something that others want.”

Are you an entrepreneur? You might be, or you might want to be. We love you either way.…..you are here and we all need to Be B.RA.V.E.!

Now that it’s done, I boil my ‘Be Brave’ experience down to five key ingredients:

1. Build your brand.
2. Create lifelong connections.
3. Capture the vision.
4. Take action.
5. Embrace the entrepreneur mindset.

To get started, I recommend you consider what decisions you need to make that are bold, risky, adventurous, or visionary for 2011. And decide what actions you need to take so you won’t back down from those this year. Be Brave.

Need help surviving in the business world? Submit your entrepreneurial questions to Diane at diane@dianecunningham.com. Please note that all questions selected for public display may be edited for clarity and privacy and become the property of NACWE.