Meet Ali, a data scientist in Dallas, Texas, who’s been dreaming of starting his own business for over a decade. At a family dinner, Ali listens to his brother-in-law, Samir, proudly share the success of his digital marketing agency. Though Ali smiles, doubt gnaws at him as he wonders, "Will I ever build a business of my own?" Ali has explored various business ideas—from opening a coffee shop to starting a dropshipping venture—but each time, doubt and fear have held him back. Tonight, after hearing about Samir’s success, Ali feels particularly discouraged. In this episode of Unstuck, host Jay Abbasi explores Ali's journey, diving into the fears and self-doubt that have kept him from pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams. Jay uncovers the reasons behind Ali's hesitation and provides actionable advice on overcoming these mental barriers, recognizing strengths, and taking practical steps toward building a successful business. Whether you're facing similar challenges or simply need a push to pursue your dreams, this episode is designed to help you confront your own entrepreneurial obstacles and move forward with confidence. In This Episode: (00:01) Ali's story (01:22) Ali's business ideas (02:39) Mindset challenges (03:52) Fear as an obstacle (06:01) Understanding fear of the unknown (09:05) Perception of control (11:06) Gradual vs. all-in approach (11:59) Identifying strengths and passions (13:54) Solving problems in business (15:52) Motion vs. action items (18:14) Key takeaways for Ali (20:12) Next episode preview Notable Quotes [00:05:05] “If you're going to continue to use excuses, you're lying to yourself and you're not even noticing that you're lying to yourself.” — Jay Abbasi [00:06:53] “What you're really saying is not that you have fear of the unknown; what you're saying is you're afraid of losing the known.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast