Open up your planner right now. Is there a big goal or project on there you’ve been meaning to do for weeks, but keep putting off?
Sure, it’s easy to go along with business as usual, taking the same small steps and seeing the same amount of growth. But success happens when you step outside of your comfort zone and take those big leaps into the unknown.
If you’ve been putting off doing something because of that little voice in your head, read on for five ways to overcome your self-doubt and achieve your goals.
ANSWER THOSE WHAT IFS
As business owners (and regular ol’ people), we often get struck down with the ‘What Ifs’.
Things like: What if this doesn’t work? What if my guest post is rejected? What if no one shows up to my Webinar? You get the picture.
But often those ‘what ifs’ are much less scary than they seem. Try answering your own ‘what ifs’ and see if the possible outcomes are really as bad as you think:
What if my guest post is rejected? I’ll just write another one.
What if no one shows up to my Webinar? I’ll just have to market it better next time.
GIVE YOURSELF SOME ADVICE
We’re so much harder on ourselves than we are on others. We see all the faults in our own ideas. But when it comes to our business friends, all we can see is how awesomely talented they are.
So treat yourself like you would treat your friend. Think about what is worrying you the most, and then write down a response as if you were writing to them.
GET SOME OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE
Sometimes as business owners we get so caught up in the small details that we can’t see the big picture. When this happens, stepping back to get some help from an outsider is so important.
A business coach can help you develop a plan and focus on your goals. If it’s marketing specifically that’s worrying you, then seek out a marketing coach to get you over the hurdle of putting yourself out there. Or if money worries are holding you back, hire a money coach or financial counselor.
If a coach isn’t in the budget, gather together some similarly-minded business owners and form a mastermind group. You’ll be able to bounce ideas off each other, get feedback and provide support when things get rough.
REMEMBER YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Often we only focus on the things we haven’t achieved yet. Like, “I’m not making ten-figures a month,” or “I’ve only got 100 people on my email list.”
Spend some time remembering how much you’ve already accomplished in your business so that you can celebrate your wins. For example, starting your business in the first place and landing your first client.
Think about how scary those things seemed at the time, and how awesome you felt when you achieved them. Then channel those feelings of success into your latest goal.
ALLOW YOURSELF TO LET IT GO
Self-doubt is sometimes a result of not wanting to disappoint other people or wanting to avoid criticism. But we are our own worst critic and you’re much better at what you do than you give yourself credit for.
If you’ve done your very best and put all that you can into a project, then you can’t give any more. Allow yourself to press publish on your latest blog or send the piece to your client so that you can move onto the next project with a clear head and renewed focus.
NELL CASEY // Nell Casey Creative
Nell Casey is a copywriter for small businesses in Melbourne, Australia. She loves helping business owners get the attention they deserve through great content and marketing. For more copywriting and marketing tips head to her website, or just connect on Twitter.
