Recently, one of my coaching gym members reported a paradox of sorts. She was experiencing dramatically increased profit AND — at the same time — what I call a “confidence lapse.” Not uncommon at all, by the way, as I’m sure you already know.
The same day, I got really frustrated with a friend who’s allowing a lack of confidence to repeatedly rob her of her potential. I wanted to reach through the phone to shake her AWAKE to her real, results-proven, battle-tested, widely acclaimed ability. And, this morning, I’m praying for my daughter to have the confidence to do what is right at lunch this afternoon. Confidence.
My Mom is the Confidence queen. (Meet her here.) She says she didn’t grow UP with much of it… but somehow managed to raise my brother and I with MORE than our fair share. I often (and only half-joking) say that my confidence FAR surpasses my actual abilities. =) BUT, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Because the opposite is usually the case. USUALLY, I meet women whose confidence PALES in comparison to their abilities, skills, and potential. And always to their detriment… and to the detriment of all those they could be serving if they were willing to dream, live and act BIG!! Who was it that said, “Who are YOU to live small??”
Anyway, Confidence is crucial to our success in small business. Yet, it is not typically available in high doses, not every day at least. We ALL have confidence lapses — from the most successful, to the least. So, how can we keep our confidence from robbing us of opportunities and C-A-S-H?
First, we can give confidence it’s due. We can acknowledge the power confidence has over our future and our actions! When we are in a confidence lapse, we typically withdraw, play small, and basically, do the OPPOSITE of what we’d have to do to reach out goals.
But — and this is the second point — we can realize that it doesn’t HAVE to be that way. Just because you are feeling a lack of confidence, more uncertainty than normal, a bit defeated (or even a LOT defeated) it doesn’t mean…. Well…. it doesn’t mean ANYTHING.
Certainly, it doesn’t mean that you’ll never “make it”. It most definitely isn’t a “sign” that your goals will never be reached, or that you don’t have what it takes. These are the self-imposed thoughts that we apply to a temporary or even recurring confidence lapse. And they are B.S. Even the most successful business owners and personalities in the world have to sell themselves ON themselves… at least occasionally. Some, admittedly, every day. So, PLEASE KNOW, your confidence lapse means NOTHING.
Furthermore, you can (and should) still take consistent, strategic action –– even when your confidence is LOW.. or DWINDLING. Don’t slow down or back off or pull back. This contributes to that “stop / start” process already slowing you down and robbing you of momentum. You don’t have to feel on top of the world, or ready to take flight in order to work your business plan. You can do it even when you’re feeling crummy.
As for that little confidence thing…. I have a three-pronged approach to deliberately keep mine in check. What do YOU do?
