How is your confidence holding up?
If you were to say that it's a little bit shaky at times, I wouldn't be surprised. The course of entrepreneurship is a bumpy one, filled with speed bumps and potholes that can make the most confident among us question our abilities.
A better question might be, how are you going to avert your next confidence crisis?A "confidence crisis" is when a sudden lack of confidence creeps into your business and you lose your momentum and focus. It might keep you from taking an important step. You could start second-guessing yourself, even if you know your first instincts are usually right. Even if the crisis lasts for just a short time, that's time you could have been moving forward instead of standing still, wondering if you really have what it takes.
You probably already have myriad achievements and accomplishments to prove, even to yourself (because we're usually our harshest critics), that you truly are successful. But they're easy to forget, especially when you're under a cloud of self-doubt.
The next time self-doubt looms, take action by creating a board that records all your achievements and successes. Much like a vision board or gratitude board, an achievement board is a reminder of your successes to keep you positively focused. A folder, box, or a file on your computer can serve this purpose too. I like the idea of a board because I can hang it on my wall so it's always within view when I need a confidence boost.
Here are some of the things you can include on your achievement board to remind yourself of your successes, your talents, and your creativity:
Positive customer comments and testimonials. Look through your email for all the positive things people have said about you. If you haven't been in business long enough to have a collection of these, it's never to early to start building it. Ask your favorite customers or colleagues if they could write a testimonial for you.
Pictures of your favorite projects. Do you remember how inspired you felt while you working on them? How much pride you felt in your work when they were finally completed?
Awards you've won and positive reviews you've received. If you've been featured in a magazine, the article should go on the board too.
The profit statement from your best day, month, or year in business. That's a tangible reminder of your success and an encouragement to make it happen again.
It’s natural that there will be times when we question ourselves and our abilities. The key to averting a confidence crisis is to take steps, like creating an achievement board, to remind yourself of everything you've accomplished so far and to keep yourself positively focused in your business. It's time to be your one woman/man cheer-leading squad.
Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink
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