I’m afraid of failure and rejection. So coming up with a creative and smart startup idea for class was giving me major anxiety.nI didn’t feel like I had the next great idea that could change the world. I knew I wasn’t Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, or Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx.

So when we had to present our startup ideas at MSU’s Hatch in front of the whole class, I was really doubting myself.

I had a couple ideas, but none that I thought were anything extraordinary. It was between new makeup technology that could help find women’s perfect shade or something you put in a high heel to help ease high heel pain controlled by your iPhone. I went with makeup because that’s what I know best and you know what? It didn’t go as bad as I thought!

Something about being at The Hatch, MSU’s entrepreneurial-support space, and listening to creative people talk about their businesses inspired me and gave me confidence. I realized I don’t have to think of the best idea right now, but what I can do is use a creative space like the Hatch to brainstorm and get inspired.The Hatch is a creative outlet that student entrepreneurs can go to to turn their ideas into a business. They offer resources, events and workshops that provide students with the right leadership and tools to get a good idea on its feet. Everything from help with labeling the product to manufacturing and distributing.

Everyone in the class had really great ideas. I genuinely though a couple were good enough to really take off at a place like The Hatch, which gives students free resources to start companies! My favorite pitch was an app/website that offered people to trade skills. So let’s say I speak fluent Lithuanian, I could put that skill on the app and then trade with someone to learn something like salsa dancing. I would teach someone Lithuanian and in return I would get salsa lessons, for free! That’s something I would definitely love to be a part of.

The overall exercise of thinking of a startup idea and elevator pitching it to the class helped me get over my own personal fears of rejection and failure and made me loosen up a bit. I’ve never done anything like that before and it was really cool to stand there in front of everyone and tell them about a cool idea I had. It was nice to receive positive reactions and questions about my idea and how it would work – people were genuinely interested!

So if a scaredy cat like me can get up there and pitch my startup, then you definitely can too. I’ve learned that it’s all about having a good idea, having some confidence and running with it.