The Risk of Operating Out of Fear

Owning and operating your very own business comes with a lot of responsibility, which for some people, can mean a lot of worry.  While it can be easy to get caught up in the anxiety of failing or making mistakes, operating your c-store in a constant state of fear could be the reason your business is unsuccessful.  Of course, you should always be trying to protect your business and your livelihood, but be aware of the consequences when unhealthy fear begins to take over your mindset.

• You sell yourself short

When you are constantly making decisions by “playing it safe”, you risk always doing less than you could to make your store the best it can be.  Reality is; things won’t be perfect all the time and there’s no way to guarantee you are always making the right decision.  If you’re always avoiding decisions that involve taking a risk, you’re basically depriving yourself of the opportunity to really grow and evolve as a business owner.

• No one else will believe in you

If you aren’t confident in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to be confident in you?  Other people typically perceive a constant state of fear or worry as a lack of capability.  Whether it be family, colleagues, or friends, you have many people watching you, and your fear-based mentality will show.  If you have employees, spreading your fear could be dangerous.  Employees that notice you are unsure will be less likely to dedicate themselves to helping your c-store be successful.

• Customers won’t trust you

Customers can sense your fear also.  While you’re constantly worried about something bad happening to your convenience or grocery store, your customers are worried about why you’re so scared.  Again, fear is contagious, and the last thing you want to do is scare your customers away from your store.

• You can’t get ahead of the curve

When fear is the key factor in everything that you do, you risk ever getting ahead of your competitors.  Innovation is important to succeeding in the c-store industry, and when you’re always paralyzed by fear of the unknown, you’re fighting against innovation.  Consumers appreciate businesses that are willing to try new things and provide goods and services that other businesses might not. When you’re afraid to take a chance, whether it be stocking a new snack or trying a new store design, you could be left always playing catch up rather than leading the pack.

It’s normal to be concerned about the future and success of your c-store, but when fear is the primary force behind everything you do, you’re doing your business a disservice.  If your goal is to run a successful c-store, you should shift your focus to strategy and careful planning to help you make the best possible decisions.  While working into the future and continuing to build your business, you should avoid letting the fear of what "could" happen control you and embrace the potential of the unknown.