How to Overcome Doubt When Building a Business
As an entrepreneur it's normal to experience cycles of doubt. Especially in the beginning, you can often find yourself wondering if this business is really going to work out. It's totally ok to feel this way but it's important that you don't let fear stand in your way of pursuing your dream business. The world needs what you have to offer. Here are three simple, but practical tips for showing doubt the door.
Identify when your doubt shows up
Take note of when doubt shows up for you. Is it always after hanging out with certain people? Is it when you’ve been scrolling through Instagram and feel like other people are having more success than you? Over the next two weeks, write down what is going on every time you feel doubtful. At the end of the two weeks, circle the common themes and there you go, those are your triggers. Now that you are aware of them, you can take steps to overcome them. For example, if a certain friend is always putting you down about your business and filling your head with doubt, maybe its time to end that friendship or set some boundaries.
Keep a record of your progress
As entrepreneurs, we tend to set these huge goals for ourselves and we don’t allow ourselves to be happy until we achieve them. The problem with that is, big goals take time and if we wait months or even years in between celebrations, we are going to get discouraged and maybe even give up. So make sure to celebrate the small wins too. Did you wake up an hour early to work on your side hustle before going to your 9-5? That’s a win. Did you receive a thoughtful, kind comment on your most recent Instagram post? That’s a win too. Wins do not always have to be tied to money. A fun way to add these little celebrations into your routine is to start a gratitude journal. Write down 1 small win at the end of each day and when you’re starting to feel doubtful, open up your journal and remind yourself of all the amazing things you’ve achieved so far.
Seek Support
Sometimes we just need to talk to someone about how we are feeling. Depending on your situation, this could be a therapist, mentor, or coach. Another idea is to join a networking group. It can be so helpful to talk to other entrepreneurs that are going through the same things as you. You can encourage each other and swap strategies. A few networking groups I like are Fem City and The Rising Tide Society. Both have online resources and local chapters throughout the country.