Got a Home Based Business? Then Get Business Confident

Article by Karen Skidmore

Got a Home Based Business? Then Get Business Confident

Confidence is a funny thing isn’t? We can’t touch it. We can’t buy it. We can’t really give a universal definition of the word that everyone agrees on. And yet, if we don’t have confidence, it seems that we can’t do the things that we want to.

Most women who I come into contact with have told me that the one thing that holds them back from creating their business and career the way they REALLY want to create it is because of their perceived lack of confidence.

Yes really! These intelligent, highly creative, courageous women that I connect with, network with and work with, seem to share this common obstacle. They have the skills, they have the ability and they have the talent to make their business happen and yet their confidence holds them back.

Actually, time to tell my secret. I know what they mean. I can suffer from a severe lack of confidence. If I let myself over think and worry about the tremendous tasks ahead that I have set myself, I do feel that horrible sick feeling (in fact I just got it, right then, as I type these words!!). I allow myself to feel that a duvet-day is far better than having to face my aspirations and my dreams.

However, I know these feelings can be made to feel short lived. I have learned different techniques and approaches and worked out how I can self-manage myself through these terrible low confidence days (my duvet days!).

Let me share with you some of the “secrets” that I have learnt. Not all of them will work for you, but hopefully you can identify one thing that you can action today to make a difference to your confidence levels tomorrow.

Take one baby step at a time. Know where you are headed and then focus on getting there one step at a time. What is the first thing that you need to do to get to where you want to be going? Answer this question, follow through with what you have answered and then ask that question again to take you on the next step. As you realise what you can achieve, your confidence will build and you will take bigger steps and get there quicker.

What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of failing? Are you afraid of being successful? Are you afraid of how you are going to change and what is going to happen to your family while you start your new business? Whatever it is that is holding you back, you need to be honest with yourself and admit your fears. By admitting your fears and writing them down, you will be better equipped to deal with them.

Dress for confidence. It is too easy to throw on the baggies, tie up your hair and slob around the house when you are feeling low in confidence. Stop this right now! Remember how good it feels to put on an outfit that you know you look good in? If you can’t remember, then shame on you  Go out there and buy something that you know you feel good in.

Our confidence is made up of two parts. Our inner confidence and our outer confidence. There is a strong synergy between the two. If your inner confidence needs a boost, then turn up the volume on your outer confidence and this will have a positive impact on how you feel on the inside. What have you got in your wardrobe that makes you feel confident?

Try something wild. One of our regular women networkers bravely volunteered for our recent fashion show. She was amazing and showed the dresses off beautifully. When I spoke to her afterwards and complimented her on how confident she looked out on the floor, she admitted she was very nervous. She had wanted to do this show to prove to herself that she could do anything. Presenting to her next client was going to be a breeze after parading in front of 40 women in stunning, slinky dresses.

Remind yourself how brilliant you are. Keeping a daily success diary is a great habit. Not only does it create a daily focus on your ability to succeed but it also provides an essential reference point in coming months if your confidence starts to wobble.

JFDI: Just Do It! (Sorry, I didn’t want to offend anyone with the full phrase!) Doing something for the first time, whether it is riding a bike, walking in to a room full of strangers or starting a business, is scary. But you most probably know how to ride a bike, you should have walked into a room of strangers at some point by now, so starting and growing a new business will become more familiar as you do something about it._______________________________________________________________

Would you like to share this top tips sheet with others?

Please do. All I ask is that you give credit where credit is due. Please always include my web address when you reproduce this information: http://www.CanDoCanBe.com

Tags: Based, Business, Confident, Home