Warning: Entrepreneurship is not for the fainthearted.

You’ve been warned and you’ve probably thought of stepping back after hearing it. When you enter the world of business, expect that challenges and uncertainties will welcome you along the way. And if you aren’t ready for that, you better think twice.

So we asked some UnionBank GlobalLinker members about the bravest thing they’ve done in their entrepreneurial journey. The following are their insights:

1. Taking the first step
You’ll never know unless you try.  “I can’t really pinpoint the bravest step I had taken because every first was scary. Launching my first e-book was scary; launching my first online course was scary. Having my first event was scary. You really don’t know what’s going to happen, but you’ve just got to take the first step and see it for yourself,” Viviene Bigornia, founder of The Fulfilled Women, shares.

The first step seems intimidating and scary, but once you get over it - whether you succeed or you fail - you will definitely learn and grow from it.

2. Letting go of ‘what ifs’
What if my idea will not work? What if I fail? What if I lose my money? And the list of ‘what ifs’ goes on. If you ponder over all the ‘what ifs’, it will certainly affect you and will cause anxiety. So why not just let it go? 

“The bravest thing I did is when I stopped thinking of 'what ifs' and started working on my ideas. If I didn’t start working on my ideas and didn’t have enough courage, for sure my business, Spoonful Desserts would still have one store as of now. (But because I let go of my what ifs and took the courage) We now have 18 distributors and growing,” John Lloyd Quiaonza, the man behind John's Gourmet Kitchen, narrates.

Likewise, Marie Joyce Mandilag, owner of Unlijoyce Creations, also believes that doing and investing in your business is about letting go of fears and doubts. “I just thought to myself that if I fail, I will learn; and if I succeed, I should continue and do greater things,” she adds.

3. Retrying after a failed venture
Whether we like the idea or not, truth be told, not all businesses succeed. Some studies even said that 9 out of 10 startups fail.

When it comes to doing business, failure is inevitable. Like what Lerma Ermitanio, owner of Belle Ame Essentials, has experienced.  “After going on a hiatus because of many failed business endeavors I had in the past, restarting a new one is what I consider the bravest part I’ve done in my entrepreneurial journey,” she shares.

“Prior to starting Belle Âme, I kept on questioning myself if I could pull it off, if I have enough courage to take the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship again and if my heart could take it should I fail once more. I’m glad that I took the leap,” she adds.

Hard work and persistence aren’t enough to make your business successful; you also need the courage to face all the unwanted circumstances that will test your entrepreneurial spirit. Your bravery will surely set you apart from the others.

How about you, what’s the bravest thing you’ve done in your entrepreneurial journey? Share your experience in the comment section below!