“Do It Scared – 25 Essential Business & Investment Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Welcome. If you’re reading this, you’re likely an entrepreneur, businessman or investor—or you aspire to be one—and you’re ready to transform fear, uncertainty and hesitation into momentum, growth and success. I’ve been in the trenches for over 20 years—building companies, making investments, navigating markets, and reading dozens of books on mindset, business and investing. One of the books that stood out for me was Do It Scared: Charge Forward With Confidence, Conquer Resistance, and Break Through Your Limitations by Scott Allan.

In this lesson I want to distil it into 25 practical and solid lessons that you, as a novice or intermediate entrepreneur/investor, can apply today. I’ll explain each one with analogies, step-by-step logic, simplifying the ideas so you can immediately connect them to your business/investment life.

Book Description

Genre: Personal-development / self-help with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, business mindset and personal leadership.

About the Author — Scott Allan: Scott Allan is an accomplished personal development author, success strategist, and transformational coach known for his empowering books on mindset mastery and overcoming fear. With a background in education, corporate leadership, and personal growth, Scott combines practical wisdom with actionable frameworks that inspire readers to break through self-doubt and build the confidence to take bold action.

He is the bestselling author of several life-changing titles including Do It Scared, Drive Your Destiny, Rejection Reset, and Empower Your Best Self. Through his writing, courses, and coaching, Scott Allan helps individuals take control of their lives, overcome limiting beliefs, and achieve meaningful success. His mission is simple yet powerful: to help you become unstoppable by facing fear head-on and turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

In “Do It Scared”, Allan argues that you don’t need to wait until you’re fearless to act — rather you should act despite fear, use fear as a signal, and build confidence through action.

For you: this means recognizing fear in business/investing not as a stop-sign but as a lamppost pointing you to valuable action.

25 Practical Lessons from the Book (and how you can use them)

Here are the 25 lessons I gleaned from the book—and how I, with 20 years of business/investment experience, interpret them for you.

1. Embrace fear as a catalyst

Lesson: When you feel fear about something—launching a product, investing in a new venture, hiring a big team—it’s not a sign to stop, it’s a sign to look closer.

Analogy: Think of fear like the GPS recalculating: when you feel the unease, the system is saying “Turn here” not “Stop driving.”

Step-by-step logic:

1. Identify the fear (e.g., “What if this product fails?”).
2. Ask: What is the worst realistic outcome if I act? If I don’t act?
3. Recognize that fear often comes because you’re stretching—i.e., growth zone.
4. Move forward anyway, using fear as a prompt, not a block.

Application for you: In your next business push or investment decision: when you feel fear, pause, evaluate the rationale, then act with conviction.

2. Confront reality rather than ignore it

Lesson: Avoid burying your head in the sand. Face the facts of your situation—even if they’re unpleasant.

Analogy: If your business is leaking money, ignoring it is like inflating a tyre until it blows rather than plugging the hole now.

Step-by-step:

1. Honestly assess where you are (financials, market, team).
2. Accept that you might be under-resourced or behind.
3. Choose a path of action given the reality—not wishful thinking.
4. Maintain optimism, but base it on facts.

You should: Regularly audit your business/investments—revenues, costs, competition—and build plans based on what you see, not what you wish.

3. Take the first leap from ground zero

Lesson: You don’t need every detail worked out to start. Starting is what builds momentum.

Analogy: Learning to ride a bicycle — you’re going to wobble, you might fall, but you start pedalling.

Logic:

1. Identify your goal.
2. Break it into the smallest possible first step.
3. Execute that first step.
4. Use the momentum from that step to build your next.

For you: Launch a minimum viable product or make a small investment rather than waiting for perfect conditions.

4. Build your support network

Lesson: Who you surround yourself with matters—mentors, peers, advisors—and will elevate or drag down your performance.

Analogy: If you plant grapes and bananas together, one wins, one loses; choose fertile ground.

Steps:

1. List the people you spend time with most.
2. Evaluate: do they push you forward or hold you back?
3. Proactively seek people who challenge you, support you, mentor you.
4. Limit time with chronic naysayers or energy-drainers.

You: Find at least one mentor in business/investing, join a peer group. Your mindset will shift.

5. Overcome self-doubt through action

Lesson: Doubt isn’t eliminated by waiting; it’s dissolved by doing. Confidence is built in the doing.

Analogy: Doubt is like rust — the longer you leave a tool unused, the more it corrodes. Use it to free it.

Steps:

1. When you feel “Can I really do this?” recognize the question.
2. Replace “I’m not ready” with “I will start and learn.”
3. Take one small action in spite of doubt.
4. Record the success (even if small). Use that as evidence next time.

You: When you’re hesitating on an investment or a business decision, pick a small action to test it rather than sitting frozen.

6. Replace limiting habits that keep you stuck

Lesson: Fear-based habits—procrastination, excessive planning, avoiding feedback—keep you from moving forward. You don’t just remove them; you replace them.

Analogy: You can’t just rip out weeds; you plant good crops so the weeds can’t regrow.

Steps:

1. Identify one habit that slows you (e.g., “I always plan two weeks before I act”).
2. Choose a positive replacement habit (“First thing each Monday I execute one task”).
3. Set triggers and rewards for the new habit.
4. Monitor and adjust.

You: Create a habit of “action within 24 hours” when you identify an opportunity or risk.

7. Tackle your most difficult tasks first (“eat your frog”)

Lesson: Do the hard, important stuff early rather than later. It reduces fear, builds confidence and clears the path.

Analogy: If you climb a mountain, you clear the steepest slope early when you have energy rather than dragging it into fatigue.

Steps:

1. Identify the task you’re avoiding that will move you forward.
2. Block time first thing to handle it.
3. Break it into bite-sized parts if it’s large.
4. Do it, then move to other tasks.

You: On Monday morning identify the one business decision or investment research you’ve been avoiding—and spend the first hour on it.

8. Develop a limitless mindset

Lesson: Many constraints are self-imposed. Your beliefs shape your results. Shift from “I can’t” to “How can I?”

Analogy: A bird in a cage thinks of the bars; take away the bars and the sky is available.

Steps:

1. Identify a belief you hold (“I’m not a good negotiator”).
2. Challenge it: What evidence supports/contradicts it?
3. Replace with a growth-oriented belief (“I can learn to negotiate”).
4. Act in line with the new belief.

You: Ask yourself monthly: what limiting belief is holding me back? Then pick one to shift and act.

9. Reject the life you don’t want

Lesson: You’re not forced into circumstances; you choose your responses and therefore shape your life.

Analogy: You may be dealt a hand of cards, but how you play them defines the outcome.

Steps:

1. Define what you don’t want (e.g., “I don’t want to always chase deals, burn out and miss family time”).
2. Define what you do want.
3. Align your actions to the desired life, not the default.
4. Make decisions (yes/no) based on your values.

You: Write down one “non-negotiable” value (e.g., “8 hours of sleep” or “family dinner weekly”) and use it as a filter for business decisions.

10. Build confidence brick by brick

Lesson: Congratulate small successes. Confidence isn’t binary; it accumulates like building blocks.

Analogy: You don’t erect a skyscraper in one night; you lay bricks day by day, mortar by mortar.

Steps:

1. Set small achievable goals (e.g., meet one investor this week).
2. When achieved, record and celebrate them.
3. Use the momentum to increase the scope slowly.
4. Reflect on how far you’ve come.

You: Keep a “confidence journal” listing things you acted on despite fear and what you learned.

11. Use fear as a guide to what matters

Lesson: The things that scare you are often the things you need to do—the growth edge.

Analogy: The vibration in your car might signal you need to check the tires; similarly fear signals something needs your attention.

Steps:

1. List what you feel scared about right now.
2. Ask: Why does this scare me? What’s at stake?
3. Determine if the fear is signal (go) or danger (stop).
4. If it’s a signal, plan an action.

You: Next time you feel strong resistance to a business move, pause and use it to uncover opportunity, rather than avoiding it.

12. Accept failure as a stepping-stone

Lesson: Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s often a prerequisite.

Analogy: Thomas Edison’s thousands of attempts before the light bulb. Each attempt wasn’t wasted—it taught him what didn’t work.

Steps:

1. Define what failure means for you (learning, not collapse).
2. After any setback ask: What did I learn? What will I change?
3. Keep moving forward with the new insight.
4. Normalize setbacks as part of the journey.

You: In your next investment mis-step, document the lessons: what assumptions were wrong, what you’ll adjust.

13. Cut the analysis paralysis

Lesson: Too much planning without action slows you down; imperfect action beats perfect inaction.

Analogy: If a sprinter waits for the perfect conditions, the race starts without them.

Steps:

1. Set a decision deadline (e.g., “By Friday I’ll pick one marketing channel and test it”).
2. Decide with the data you have, not waiting for “all” data.
3. Execute. Learn. Iterate.
4. Accept some risk.

You: For your next business launch or investment, give yourself a timeline and budget, then launch before you feel “completely ready”.

14. Build support systems and accountability

Lesson: You’re more likely to act if you’re accountable to someone or something.

Analogy: Two climbers tied with a rope support each other; one’s slip doesn’t mean both fall.

Steps:

1. Choose an accountability partner (mentor, peer, coach).
2. Set specific commitments (“This week I will contact 3 clients”).
3. Commit publicly if possible (makes you “on the hook”).
4. Review results together; adjust.
   You: Set up a monthly check-in with someone where you commit your next actions and report back.

15. Visualize your success—but anchor it in action

Lesson: Visualization is powerful but useless without real work behind it.

Analogy: You can draw a blueprint for a house but unless you start laying bricks, it stays a drawing.

Steps:

1. Spend time imagining the desired outcome (e.g., a thriving business, profitable investment).
2. Ask: What actions will lead to that outcome?
3. Create a plan and take the first action steps now.
4. Revisit the vision periodically to stay motivated.

You: Write a one-page vision of your business/investing success, then list the first three actions to make it real.

16. Be willing to pivot when needed

Lesson: Fear of change can keep you in a bad strategy. Recognize when something isn’t working and shift.

Analogy: A sailor who holds onto one tack despite changing wind won’t reach port efficiently.

Steps:

1. Set regular review intervals (monthly/quarterly).
2. Ask: What’s working? What’s not?
3. When evidence shows you’re off-course, decide whether to adjust or stay.
4. Move quickly on the pivot rather than staying paralyzed.

You: In your business/investment portfolio, identify one non-performing area this month and decide whether to fix, pivot or exit.

17. Make the scary decisions early

Lesson: Most fear comes from delaying the hard decisions—making them early reduces cumulative stress.

Analogy: Getting the flu shot early in flu season beats catching the flu in January.

Steps:

1. List decisions you’ve been avoiding.
2. For each, map the cost of postponement.
3. Set a date to decide.
4. Decide and act.

You: Schedule one decision this week that you’ve been postponing (e.g., hire/drop a vendor, invest/drop an asset).

18. Use small wins to build momentum

Lesson: Small victories feed forward, each one making the next one easier.

Analogy: Rolling a snowball down a hill: small at first, but as it moves it grows bigger and gains speed.

Steps:

1. Choose one “smallish” goal you can achieve this week.
2. Achieve it, capture it (write it down).
3. Leverage the confidence for the next goal (slightly bigger).
4. Stack wins.

You: In your business/investing, pick one immediate win (e.g., email five prospects, research one new asset) and build from there.

19. Know your “why” deeply

Lesson: When fear arises, a strong “why” anchors you—without it you’re more likely to back down.

Analogy: A ship without a compass drifts; your “why” is your compass.

Steps:

1. Ask: Why am I doing this business/investment? What ultimate impact?
2. Write it down in one sentence.
3. Revisit it when you feel fear or hesitation.
4. Let it drive your decisions.

You: Write your “why” for your business or investment mission then place it somewhere prominent.

20. Keep your values at the centre

Lesson: When you align decisions with core values, you reduce internal friction, fear and regret.

Analogy: A tree with deep roots weathers storms; shallow-rooted trees break.

Steps:

1. Define 2-3 non-negotiable values (e.g., integrity, family balance, innovation).
2. For each business/investment decision ask: Does this align?
3. If it conflicts, either adjust the decision or consciously accept trade-offs.
4. Use values as filters for opportunities.

You: Create a “values checklist” you run any new opportunity through before committing.

21. Embrace continuous learning

Lesson: The fear of being found out (impostor fear) often comes from feeling you don’t know enough. Make learning a habit.

Analogy: A software requires regular updates; you need regular upgrades too.

Steps:

1. Allocate time weekly for reading/training in your field.
2. After each learning session, apply one insight.
3. Track how much your competence and confidence grow.
4. Use new competence to reduce fear.

You: Commit to reading one business/investment book per quarter (you’re starting with this one!).

22. Own your mistakes and move on

Lesson: Hiding mistakes wastes energy and creates fear; owning them frees you to act again.

Analogy: If you drop a plate, hide the pieces you’ll be stuck. Clean it up, own it, and reuse the space.

Steps:

1. When something goes wrong, admit it internally and externally (to your team/partner).
2. Review what happened honestly.
3. Correct the course.
4. Release emotional baggage.

You: After a failed project or bad investment, host a “lessons learned” meeting or journal the take‐aways.

23. Cultivate patience and long-term thinking

Lesson: Fear often comes from wanting instant results; shift to the mindset of long game.

Analogy: Trees planted now don’t bear fruit tomorrow; but they will yield decades of harvest.

Steps:

1. Set long-term goals (3-5 years).
2. Map what consistent monthly/quarterly actions feed those goals.
3. Avoid chasing only short term wins that undermine the long term.
4. When impatience comes, remind yourself of the long game.

You: Write a 3-year vision, then back-plan yearly and monthly. Use that plan to anchor your daily actions.

24. Measure progress not perfection

Lesson: Waiting for perfect is the enemy of good; track progress, iterate, improve.

Analogy: A marathon runner tracks splits, not just final time—they adjust pace based on progress.

Steps:

1. Define key metrics for your business/investment (e.g., ROI, churn, lead conversion).
2. Monitor regularly.
3. When results are less than ideal, ask: what move can I make this week?
4. Focus on improvement, not flawless.

You: Choose one key metric to track weekly and commit to one action if it’s below target.

25. Celebrate the courage to act

Lesson: Acting despite fear is itself worthy of recognition. Celebrate your courage and the fact you moved.

Analogy: In a factory, the first piece off the line is celebrated because it signals production is happening.

Steps:

1. When you take a big step—even if imperfect—acknowledge it.
2. Share your win with your support network.
3. Reflect on how you felt before and after.
4. Use the feeling to motivate the next action.

You: After you make a “scary” decision (launch, invest, hire), write a short note: “Today I acted despite my fear. I’m proud.” Keep those notes in a folder.

Practical Quizzes (open-ended questions)

Here are 25 questions—one for each lesson—to check your understanding and prompt deeper reflection:

1. What fear are you currently avoiding in your business or investment life, and how could embracing that fear point you to growth?
2. What unpleasant truth in your current situation have you ignored, and how could confronting it change your trajectory?
3. What is the smallest “first leap” you could take right now toward your next big goal?
4. Who in your network genuinely supports and challenges you, and who might you need to let go of (or limit time with)?
5. What self-doubt is showing up right now, and what map of action could you use to overcome it?
6. What one habit do you have that holds you back, and what positive replacement could you adopt?
7. What is your most difficult task right now, and how will you tackle it first?
8. What limiting belief do you hold about your business or investing ability, and how could you challenge it?
9. What is one part of your current life that you implicitly accepted but don’t want anymore, and how will you reject it?
10. What small “brick” of confidence will you build this week (i.e., what manageable goal will you achieve)?
11. When did fear guide you away from something you should have done, and how could you reinterpret it next time?
12. What recent failure (business or investment) did you experience, what did you learn, and how will you apply it?
13. What decision are you postponing because of over-analysis, and what’s a deadline you could set to act?
14. When was the last time you made a commitment to someone and followed through, and how did it affect your momentum?
15. What vision of success do you hold, and what are the first three concrete steps you’ll take to bring it into reality?
16. What strategy or opportunity looks like it’s not working anymore, and how will you decide whether to pivot or stay the course?
17. What one “scary decision” are you avoiding right now, and when will you decide it?
18. What small win can you aim for this week that will build momentum for next month?
19. What is your “why” for your business or investment career, and how will you remind yourself of it when things get tough?
20. What are your core values, and how will you apply them today in a decision you’re about to make?
21. What are you planning to learn this month that will level up your business or investing ability?
22. What mistake did you recently make, how will you own it, and what’s the corrective action you’ll take?
23. Where do you need to be patient and play the long game rather than chase an instant outcome?
24. What is the key metric you will track this week to measure progress (not perfection), and what action will you take if it’s off?
25. What courageous action did you take recently (or will you take soon), and how will you celebrate that act of bravery?

FAQs & Answers

Q1. Isn’t fear always bad for business/ investing?
A1. No — fear in itself is a signal. It becomes bad when you let it shut you down. In “Do It Scared”, Allan shows fear can guide you to growth if you act despite it.

Q2. Does this book give detailed business/investment strategies (e.g., how to pick stocks or build a startup)?
A2. Not in the sense of “pick this stock” or “launch this exact business”. It’s more about mindset, habits and personal leadership. You’ll need to apply the lessons to your specific business or investment context.

Q3. How different is this book from other “self-help” or “entrepreneur mindset” books?
A3. Its strength lies in simplicity, directness and action-orientation around the theme of fear. Many books talk about creating vision or strategy; this one focuses on doing despite fear.

Q4. Can I apply these lessons if I’m an investor rather than an entrepreneur?
A4. Absolutely. Fear shows up in investing (risk, loss, timing, market shifts). The same mindset principles—take action, deal with fear, learn from failure, build confidence—apply very well to investing.

Q5. How long is the book, and how quickly can I apply its ideas?
A5. The book is relatively short (around 150-160 pages) and many lessons can be applied immediately. You don’t need to wait for some big milestone; you can start with the “first leap” today.

Q6. Are there specific case-studies or real business/investment examples in the book?
A6. The book uses anecdotes and examples of individuals overcoming fear. It’s not heavy on detailed financial case-studies, so you’ll need to translate the lessons into your context.

Q7. Will applying these lessons guarantee success?
A7. No book can guarantee success. But applying these lessons will improve your odds, reduce paralysis, increase your action rate and build your confidence—key ingredients for success in business and investing.

Q8. How should I use the book for maximum benefit?
A8. Read a lesson, reflect on how it applies to your current situation, pick one action step, execute it, review the result, and repeat. Use the quizzes above to reinforce understanding.

Q9. Can I share these lessons with my team or co-founder?
A9. Yes — these lessons work well for small teams or investment partners. Pick a few lessons each month, discuss them in a meeting, commit to action, and review progress together.

Q10. How does this book compare to other mindset/business books I should read?
A10. It complements them. For example, if you read strategic books (market analysis, business models) or investment-specific books (valuation, asset allocation), “Do It Scared” addresses the internal barrier: fear and action. Use it alongside.

Review & Rating

Review:
“Do It Scared” is a sharp, actionable guide for entrepreneurs, business-people and investors who recognize that fear is holding them back but don’t know how to move past it. It isn’t heavy on formulas or granular investment tactics, but its strength lies in shifting your mindset, habits and action orientation. For novices especially, it’s a wake-up call: you don’t have to feel ready. You have to act.
It blends motivational tone with practical steps, making it both inspiring and usable. For seasoned professionals, it serves as a reminder and re-calibration more than new theory.

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 — strong value for mindset transformation, slightly less focused on technical business/investment tactics.

See Also:

• 25 Life-Changing Lessons from Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup
• 25 Business & Investment Lessons from “Making It Big” by Femi Otedola