I’m reading two books that are inextricably linked: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie and Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson. While the former is about overcoming worry so that you can enjoy better health and make better decisions, the latter is about overcoming complacency and the adoption of the status quo in our businesses, in order to impact the world.
Carnegie gives very succinct points on overcoming worry centered around a very simple premise: do your homework. He describes the basic steps of problem analysis as:
- Get the facts.
- Analyze the facts.
- Arrive at a decision.
- Act on that decision.
Carnegie’s solution to overcoming worry is very similar to Branson’s advice for entrepreneurial success. Branson offers:
- Discuss your plans.
- Talk them through with a mentor.
- Achieve “something fairly substantial in the way of preparation.”
- Ignore the naysayers if your really feel you have something good to offer and have the financials worked out.
- Just do it.
Achieving success and overcoming worry or fear are built upon the same timeless advice: Get the facts, develop a plan, and do it. Extremely logical advice, but how does someone overcome strong emotions tied to failure and fear? Talk with mentors, friends, and advisers. This is what is called relational currency. Without it, you’ll go emotionally broke before you have a chance to bank your actual financials.
Taking this advice from Carnegie and Branson, enter into the logic of what you are trying to achieve or overcome, but don’t forget to build relationships because logic only goes so far.