FEAR OF FAILURE
I don't know of anything that cripples our dreams faster than the fear of failure. You have tried out that business venture twice, thrice, even ten times and it always ends up falling apart and you begin to wonder maybe it is not for you. Should I try it again or should I not? Will it even be worth the stress?
As a certified Zumba fitness instructor, I have tried running Saturday morning classes at two locations in the past two years. The first one was off Toyin street, Allen-Avenue and the second was at an estate in Alausa, Ikeja. They both started out okay (not quite as great as I would have expected) and then they both ended. The details of how those years went are just too much for a post, but somewhere along the line, I got very discouraged. Most times, what we call 'failure' is not really failure if we change our perspective. My classes were an hour long and at the first venue it was a thousand naira per class per person, while at the second venue (because I had to share a percentage with the studio owner) we charged two thousand naira. At both locations, the highest number of attendees I ever got for a class (on a super-great day) was probably about 15. It would usually range between 4 - 5 people. I don't know about you, but if you are seeking to make profit from your business, those numbers are not great. I also faced the challenge of having a standby instructor to run my class when I was unavailable. It all frustrated my efforts and there were days I just felt maybe it wasn't worth it after-all.
My first fear was that maybe I wasn't good enough. Then my second fear was that maybe it was not meant to be. Fear sha! Looking back now I see things differently. Those early days were days to help me build experience and confidence. Was I very good then? Nope. Am I very good now? Yes, you better believe so! I have been working hard to master my craft and I am on a determined journey to becoming the best version of me. Fear number two doesn't hit me because I know without a doubt that I am in the right line/path of my purpose, and when my season comes, my crowd would be beyond numbers I can count. My purpose is beyond just teaching dance, it is affecting lives for better so I refuse to dwell on just the numbers that show up for a fitness session. Through those two years, I have had the opportunity to teach bigger numbers at various venues. It was in those moments I appreciated the small weekly classes I had been running, because they served as learning points for me. Failure really is misunderstood! Will I refer to those classes as failed projects? Not anymore.
Do you feel like you keep 'failing' in your field? Maybe indeed you need to improve your skills, research, study and train harder, or maybe you need to re-evaluate your plans and make new strategies to reaching your audience. But don't give up and throw all your efforts down the drain. If you remain consistent, your time to shine will SURELY come.
Here is a video of one of my Zumba classes at venue number two.
And here is a video of me teaching Zumba fitness at Reckitt Benckiser and a school in Magodo. The days of teaching just five people helped me to gain confidence when I got to teach groups of about 20 and above. I am very grateful now. No regrets.
As a certified Zumba fitness instructor, I have tried running Saturday morning classes at two locations in the past two years. The first one was off Toyin street, Allen-Avenue and the second was at an estate in Alausa, Ikeja. They both started out okay (not quite as great as I would have expected) and then they both ended. The details of how those years went are just too much for a post, but somewhere along the line, I got very discouraged. Most times, what we call 'failure' is not really failure if we change our perspective. My classes were an hour long and at the first venue it was a thousand naira per class per person, while at the second venue (because I had to share a percentage with the studio owner) we charged two thousand naira. At both locations, the highest number of attendees I ever got for a class (on a super-great day) was probably about 15. It would usually range between 4 - 5 people. I don't know about you, but if you are seeking to make profit from your business, those numbers are not great. I also faced the challenge of having a standby instructor to run my class when I was unavailable. It all frustrated my efforts and there were days I just felt maybe it wasn't worth it after-all.
My first fear was that maybe I wasn't good enough. Then my second fear was that maybe it was not meant to be. Fear sha! Looking back now I see things differently. Those early days were days to help me build experience and confidence. Was I very good then? Nope. Am I very good now? Yes, you better believe so! I have been working hard to master my craft and I am on a determined journey to becoming the best version of me. Fear number two doesn't hit me because I know without a doubt that I am in the right line/path of my purpose, and when my season comes, my crowd would be beyond numbers I can count. My purpose is beyond just teaching dance, it is affecting lives for better so I refuse to dwell on just the numbers that show up for a fitness session. Through those two years, I have had the opportunity to teach bigger numbers at various venues. It was in those moments I appreciated the small weekly classes I had been running, because they served as learning points for me. Failure really is misunderstood! Will I refer to those classes as failed projects? Not anymore.
Do you feel like you keep 'failing' in your field? Maybe indeed you need to improve your skills, research, study and train harder, or maybe you need to re-evaluate your plans and make new strategies to reaching your audience. But don't give up and throw all your efforts down the drain. If you remain consistent, your time to shine will SURELY come.
Here is a video of one of my Zumba classes at venue number two.
And here is a video of me teaching Zumba fitness at Reckitt Benckiser and a school in Magodo. The days of teaching just five people helped me to gain confidence when I got to teach groups of about 20 and above. I am very grateful now. No regrets.
Tamara Ajasa,
DanceMusicologyConcepts, 2018.
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