Creating a business with confidence – how to silence your inner critic

Confidence building as a creative entrepreneur is one of our biggest hurdles, so how do you overcome lack of confidence, silence your inner critic and become a successful business owner?

Well personally it’s an ongoing battle, that little inner voice that tells you you’re not good enough or you don’t know what you’re doing can always raise it’s ugly head, but how you deal with it will define how successful you can become.

15 Signs you need to boost your confidence

1.      You are always offering discounts on your work.

2.      You don’t charge enough to cover your time.

3.      You are constantly apologising.

4.      You take clients even though your gut says it’s not a good fit.

5.      You don’t seek help because it feels like admitting you are an imposter.

6.      You feel you always have to justify your pricing and often over-explain.

7.      You deal with rejection badly (ie feel like giving up if someone doesn’t buy or book you).

8.      You constantly change your business model or products without really giving it time.

9.      You procrastinate launching new products or services, even though you’ve spent a long time carefully creating them.

10.   You can’t take a compliment, it makes you feel like a fraud.

11.   You focus on your social media stats rather than your sales.

12.   You don’t make enough time for your creativity because it feels ‘indulgent’.

13.   You focus on your failures rather than your wins.

14.   You won’t invest in some areas of your business even though it’s not within your skillset.

15.   You don’t plan ahead or set goals because you don’t believe you can reach them.

So how can you overcome these negative reactions? Here are my top tips for moving forward despite feelings of self-doubt:

 Top 10 Tips for Building Confidence

1.      Keep an ongoing list of your wins each week. Write down all the great things that have happened, eg enquiries, bookings, sales, kind words about your work.

2.      Seek testimonials and reviews and print the best ones out and have them where you can read them every time you feel doubt creeping in.

3.      If you feel anxious or stressed make sure you schedule some creative time – remind yourself why you started your own business in the first place.

4.      Get outdoors – being physically apart from your work for a while and allowing yourself to be immersed in nature is one of the best things you can do when confidence issues arise. It supports gaining perspective and helps you to switch off your brain from the feelings of negativity.

5.      Remember and repeat to yourself WHY you do what you do – remind yourself of your passions and purpose. That you are unique and special and deserve success.

6.      Gather a fabulous support network of fellow entrepreneurs around you that understand what you’re going through – be a shoulder to lean on and receive it in return.

7.      Never stop learning – the more you learn the more you feel confident in your chosen path.

8.      Don’t compare the beginning of your journey to someone else’s who has being doing it for years or decades. You will find your own path and get to where you want and need to be – and it won’t look the same as your peers’ or your idols’.

9.      Don’t give up! Accept you will have good days and bad days – what will set you apart is resilience, the ability to keep going despite dark thoughts.

10.   Learn from your mistakes – put positive action in place in response.

Remember, you are not alone, every one of us of intrusive thoughts that knock our confidence at some time or another. But you can rise above it, you can plan for success and you can enjoy your entrepreneurial journey.

If you need help gaining clarity and support going forwards then I am here to help. Do book a free discovery call below and find out how my coaching services can help you find a path to greater happiness and success in your business.