We want you to reach your goals and love what you do because, let’s face it, we love this industry. It’s the greatest industry in the world. As beauty professionals, we get to make people look and feel great every day. As a result, people look forward to seeing us. There is so much potential for success. But getting started is the hardest part. In this series, “Business Advice from Eric Fisher,” we tap into Eric’s wealth of knowledge and share advice that will help you reach your goals. Without further ado, here’s the latest business tip.

Overcome Obstacles

In your career, there will be different obstacles that you’ll have to overcome in order to achieve greatness. Some obstacles others will put in your way, but others you will place in your own way, even if unintentionally. Here are five obstacles that can keep you from achieving greatness, and how to overcome them.

1. PROCRASTINATION

When I was young, I read a great book called “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. My biggest takeaway was to act now. Call that person back, work that person in and do that chore now. I know this sounds pedestrian, but don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Resist the internal voice telling you, “I’ll do that tomorrow.”

2. FEAR

F.E.A.R. is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. Most things we fear never really happen, but fear can be paralyzing. Knowledge and skill will destroy fear. Conquer your fears with knowledge and passion. Take classes. Find a mentor. Spend time practicing. If something scares you, meet it head-on.

3. REJECTION

It’s important to have a healthy ego. Let’s face it; not everyone is going to love you! Some people won’t like you. Others won’t like the service you give them. And then there will be people who write bad reviews about you. So what do you do? When it comes to business, remember Q-TIP. Quit taking it personally; it’s just business. Don’t stress out about it. Don’t let negative people, past negative experiences, or the fear of future rejection define your future success.

4. LAZINESS

I know some extremely bright people: people who had perfect ACT/SAT scores with amazingly high IQs. I have friends who are so smart but so lazy that they’ll never reach their full potential. The world is littered with people who never measure up or accomplish anything because they don’t have the intrinsic motivation to be more, do more and have more. Don’t let it be your downfall. Think about the possibilities. Write down your goals. Come up with a strategy. Stop waiting and get going!

5. PRESSURE

You feel pressure when you’re out of your comfort zone. Learning, growth and other great things happen under pressure – not when you’re in your comfort zone. Be brave. Life is about movement and change and not about stagnation and stillness. Get out of your box. Don’t let others determine who you should be. Take charge of your goals with confidence.

the challenge

Do a self-evaluation and determine which of these five obstacles are keeping you from achieving greatness. Come up with a plan and a strategy to overcome it and start taking control of your future!

For more great business tips, click here.