Fear is paralyzing. I have seen business people who were so afraid of what might happen that they refused to make a decision or take any action. Someone has created the acronym F.E.A.R. False Experiences Appear Real. When fear paralyzes us it is usually because we have allowed whatever it is that we are fearful of to become much larger than it really is.

Ask yourself this question: What if the thing that I fear actually happens? What would I do? How would I respond? What happens is we begin to solve the problem which, in turn, will help you face the fear instead of letting it control you.

I heard a business owner who was fearful of taking a particular action say, “If that happens (the thing he was fearful of), what will our customers think?”

So I asked the business owner, “Do you think anyone has ever made a mistake with that customer?”

To which he replied, “I am sure they have.”

Then I asked, “So what do you think they remember – that you never made a mistake or how you responded and made the situation right after you made the mistake?”

He knew the answer – of  course, they will remember how the mistake is made right. When we correct our mistakes, make things right and offer no excuses, it deepens the relationship that you have with the client and builds loyalty. That is what the customer remembers.

We forget that the very things we fear can be used to make us better and stronger. It can even strengthen the relationship we have with our customers – provided the thing we fear even comes to pass. Many times it never materializes anywhere except in that six-inch space between our ears.

But, when it does, face it head-on.