Everyday journalists deliver fear. Their favorite chant is, “It’s going to get worse, before it gets better.” Brilliant. Obama’s favorite word before the election was CHANGE – after the election – it’s CRISIS. It doesn’t take much effort to state the obvious. Both the president and the media’s opinion directly affect the market place. It is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Naomi Klein’s, Shock Doctrine touches on this phenomenon. It suggests, that institutions of influence can put forward agendas when their constituency are in fear, as opposed to being secure. The power brokers are embracing fear and using it as the motivator. Media are looking for viewership and politicians want buy-in.

Embracing fear is an intriguing motivator.

When you’re a business in fear, your first inclination is to turtle up and pull in all extremities and knuckle down. This only results in the worst kind of “shrinkage.” You leave yourself with nothing to work with. Sure you have a sense of security, but is it really? In the wild, once the turtle is flipped over and exposed – death is certain. Business is no different.

I say you should grab fear head-on and embrace its power. If this is to be a long haul as the geniuses predict, then it is to your advantage to sell and service with great old fashioned gusto. One thing that you can count on, is all your competition are in fear also and I’ll bet that you’re witnessing them pull in and hunkering down. You could follow them into the abyss, OR… you could be the one who sees fear as the ally NOT the enemy.

I’m seeing fear in my circle of influence as the motivator. And that motivation is producing results. As a business owner- you put it all on the line anyway. What’s really changed? Even if you experience shrinkage – it’s not what you have that counts it how you use it right?! Embrace channels of promotion you have thus far ignored. Come out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.

There’s great business to be had. Are you scared enough to grasp it?