Entrepreneurship is a difficult job. You spend 24/7 working to stay one step ahead of the competition. The problem is that often we should be more worried about competition from within, not just our competitors.
Self-doubt is the most prominent cause of why entrepreneurs turn away from following their dreams. Whether it’s your inner critic questioning every move or event in the market that makes you reconsider if it was a good idea to start your company, many elements can slow you down on your journey to success.
“With realization of one’s potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” - Dalai Lama. If you learn how to not let self-doubt get in your way, it will be much easier to succeed. Here are some ways to overcome self-doubt as an entrepreneur to build a business.
1. Remember why you are in the business
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without humble but reasonable confidence in your powers you cannot be successful or happy.” - Norman Vincent Peale.
You started your business for a reason. You may have even taken a giant leap of faith, such as quitting your job or taking out a big loan, to make your dream a reality. After making all those sacrifices, it would be tough to go back to the life you left behind.
Even though you may not be changing your life or that of others, there is still what you want to accomplish- whether it was for yourself or someone else.
Now that you’ve set up your dream, don’t quit. If you go back to your old life, you will only face reality and prevent others from getting happier. So, if you don’t want to do it for yourself, at least think about the other people who need you and do it for them.
2. Use the power of positive thinking to succeed
“Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.” - Richard Kline.
When you start a business, you should think about what your intentions are. The future might not be as clear, so it is important to imagine both scenarios. This can help with decision-making.
You can change the world, and if you go towards that goal and work hard, it will happen. If you head in the opposite direction, the world will stay unhappy and you won’t reach towards the goal.
3. Focus on what matters
We often think about the things which frustrate us, but they’re typically trivial. We usually imagine the worst-case scenarios, which is improbable. But our nature is to address depression and dwell negative thoughts.
Positivity is more than just keeping an optimistic outlook. It is about doing things that matter the most. In contrast, focusing on unimportant matters can take you one step backward. So focus on what matters most, and this will help you progress ten steps ahead at the same time and still stay ahead of your competition.
When you want to live a happier life, it’s important to know what matters the most and put your focus on that one goal.
4. Stop comparing yourself to others
“Once you become self-conscious, there is no end to it; once you start to doubt, there is no room for anything else”. - Mignon McLaughlin.
Sometimes your doubts prevent you from seeing somebody as a competitor. You usually don't know their true journey and they're a public figure, which only reflects some reality.
No one has the same experiences as you do and when you look at them, think about them being on their journey, with many people looking up to them for that very reason.
It doesn't matter where you are on your journey to success, as long as you know in your mind that it will happen. Instead of comparing yourself to others and feeling discouraged, find out what they're doing that you don't do to bridge the gap.
5. Appreciate yourself
Embracing who you are is the best way to get the most out of your life because no one experiences anything similar. You should know that there's nothing weird about being different or struggling in some way because everyone has their journey and struggles.
Change is inevitable, but it's only within your control to decide how long it will take. Your mindset and perspective of the world will determine how things change for you. Only then will you be able to notice what you already have in your life that can propel things in another direction.
To make sure your efforts always lead to the desired outcome, always take care of the foundations and boost your confidence. Without them, your future may be uncertainy.
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Shellye Archambeau is determined to help you with all possible strategies to climb the ladder of success. She values your feedback. Do mention them in the comment section below.