Ever wonder why heart disease is called the silent killer? It’s because from all outside appearances everything looks fine, but under the hood things are all jammed up. There is a potentially deadly disease lurking under the hood of many entrepreneurs as well and it’s name is self-doubt.
Self-doubt leaves a sticky residue which builds up over time. In order to keep the cash flowing into your business, it’s essential to find ways to clear it out. Of course, that’s sometimes easier said than done. Let’s face it, if it were easy to give up junk food, Mars Incorporated would not be a multi-billion dollar company.
Self-doubt is an insidious little bug that gnaws at your entrepreneurial health. And contrary to what you might think, it is not something that only afflicts newbies. Even seasoned entrepreneurs struggle with it. That’s because beyond every success achieved lies a new level of development and a new set of challenges. You go from feeling like a big fish in a little pond to feeling like a minnow in the ocean.
So how do we remedy self-doubt so it won’t be a buzz kill in our business?
1. Do a pantry detox. Thank you to all my wonderful health coach friends and clients for this tip:) If you want to eat healthy, you have to keep the crap out of the kitchen. And if you want to keep a positive mindset, you have to purge your life of negative influences. You must avoid nay-sayers like the plague. Stay away from whiners. Run from other entrepreneurs who complain about how hard it is to run a successful business. While it’s true there are challenges, you will never be successful if you have zero confidence.
2. Celebrate small victories. Developing confidence is like building a muscle. The more chances you give yourself to experience success, the more your confidence will grow. Maybe you are not ready yet to charge $10,000 for a VIP Day, but you nailed your last workshop. You gave your client some coaching advice that helped them stay on their diet, snag a new client, or look great for their next date. Take time to recognize and celebrate what you can and have already done for yourself and for others.
3. Get your homies in place. Everyone needs support. Sometimes support comes in the form of a massive kick in the pants to stop your pity party and get you back on track. Sometimes that support is your cheerleading team telling you how awesome you are and that will totally rock your next big gig. Sometimes they simply offer hug therapy. But these people need to have your back and believe in the best version of who you are and what your business can become.
4. Learn what you need to learn. Sometimes self-doubt is a good thing. It comes from either not knowing if you can do something or not knowing how to do something. If it’s the latter, then work it out. Get the extra training. Take a class, hire a coach, heck, read a book. The other way to learn is by doing. Sometimes you just have to take the plunge. The time for preparation ends and you gotta dig in and see what happens. Even if you perceive the result as a failure, you will have learned what you need to improve which itself is empowering.
The one thing you can’t do is let self-doubt stop you. If you are waiting for perfection or absolute clarity before executing, you are going to be waiting a l-o-n-g time. And while you are standing there waiting Helen-The-Hustler is going to whiz by you and crack the 7-figure mark in her business. Now I really doubt that’s what you want!
Your feedback is music to my ears!
When do you notice self-doubt creeping into your business? What strategies do you use to boost your confidence?
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Heather Poduska is a brand strategist, business coach and opera singer who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners create client attractive brands, polished brand images and brand communication strategies to increase their visibility and impact in the marketplace and grow their businesses.
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