Anxiety comes from outside of our comfort zone. The problem is, if we don’t get out of that zone, we’re not going to go anywhere. By knowing our stride we can continue to grow without leaping to a breaking point. Getting too far ahead of ourselves damages our credibility and confidence.

Below are 5 guides to staying in check while continuing to move forward:

1.    Mass production doesn’t mean you’re a success. It may be a huge sales motivator, if only for the feng shui of it, but it can sink you first. Instead, start small, even one-of-a-kind, to test the waters. When Nirvana came out with Smells Like Teen Spirit, they first produced 50,000 copies. Little did they know they’d need another 10 million copies.
2.    Know your elevator pitch, but be sure to have one to the 5th floor, one to the rooftop and one if you get stuck between floors indefinitely.
3.    Be in tune with your comfort level and aim just outside it. Each time you shoot, stretch that much further. Remember success takes balls but they don’t necessarily need to clank.
4.    Seek a mentor and consult with them on your upcoming risks.  There is no point in going it alone.
5.    Ideas are best seen and not so much verbalized. Save your breath and confused expressions and start every presentation with a visual aid or prototype.

As Warren Buffet just said, “It’s 50 years preparation and 5 minutes decision making.”