I’m often asked how a business owner can create more confidence. 
For you as a biz owner, feeling confident about what you do is vital.
Here’s the secret. When you are feeling a lack of confidence about your work, your life, or your relationships there is one main reason 90% of the time. Here it is — You have gotten stuck because you have put off taking an action you know you need to take. It really is as simple as that! To create more confidence for yourself take an action!
When we don’t do what we need to do to move forward in business or in life we get stuck. Our energy can’t release into action. The more we spend our time and energy questioning ourselves instead of moving on, the more we start to feel ill at ease and unconfident. And, of course, once we feel ill at ease and unconfident we are less likely to take action. It’s a vicious cycle.
I call this the “circle of despair” because the longer we go round and round in it, the more doubt and despair we feel. Instead of creating more confidence for ourselves we curl up and feel worse.There are many reasons we don’t take action, and most of them require some help to get past. Here are some common ones:
- Fear of raising your prices
- Doubts about finishing up a website or a brochure because you’re not quite sure what to put in it
- Indecision over letting staff or contract workers go even though you know they aren’t helping your business
- Unwillingness to stand firm with a family member who doesn’t offer support or sabotages your work.
Taking action (despite lack of perfection) is one sure-fire way to create more confidence, so much that others around you feel it and respond to you – they want what you’ve got! Building your confidence = building your business. And taking action = building your confidence.
My advise? Don’t get stuck in the endless question “what should i do?” Set a time limit for yourself, take a deep breath, and take action. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Action will help build your confidence more than anything else you do. Action is the opposite of procrastination. As T Harv Eker pointed out when he shared Robert Ringer’s quote, “The cost of procrastination is generally far greater than the cost of making mistakes.”
Rosella Young says
August 21, 2011 at 11:15 amHello, Sue. Thank you for giving us the option to take action now to get unstuck and not just only take your program. Even though your program sounds wonderful, I’m unable to afford it right now, even with your payment plans. So I’m opting to practice taking action now.
My problem lies in the last reason of being stuck to taking action. Until I read it, I wasn’t aware of it. This proves that it’s not always related to business. Sometimes personal issues get in the way. Believe it or not, I cannot pack up and mail my Christmas gifts to family members out of state, from last year. Isn’t that sick? Every time I look at the items I tend to get depressed and just can’t sit down to wrap them up, put them in a box and mail them. Even now talking about it makes my body cringe. But, thanks to you, I now know why. I didn’t realize someone not supporting you can cause this type of reaction. I think now I can do one step at a time to get one gift wrapped and move forward until all are ready to mail. Then the next step is to actually take them to the post office to mail them. That last one will take more energy to do, but I think the best thing to do right now is to only focus on step one. Because I’m already feeling overwhelmed just by thinking of the end result. Isn’t that the most silly thing you’ve ever heard? Well, at least I’m laughing at myself, now that I see how silly it really is. Okay, now that I’ve said this out loud and to you, I feel a load off my shoulders. Wow, what a relief. I know other people are going to read this and think how silly I am or something, Being a business owner I should have it more together. Well, it just shows how human we really are, regardless of what our status in life is. I bet this inaction has permeated into my business in one form or another. I just wasn’t aware of it. Okay, I’m doing this action to get better results in my business. My parent company’s mission statement is “Stimulate a better life style.” I would say you did just that.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I appreciate your time in reading this message. Take care. Rosella Young, AA-1 Designs, American Made All in One, Invest in yourself
Sue says
August 21, 2011 at 12:02 pmThe last part of your own tag line says it all, Rosella – invest in yourself. 🙂
Tiffany deSilva says
July 19, 2011 at 12:28 pmWell put, Sue. Indecison and inaction keep so many people from so many great things.
Jenny Fenig says
July 11, 2011 at 6:32 amLove this, Sue. Yes, taking action is crucial to getting unstuck and getting the energy flowing. I also find it so important to be unattached to the exact results of your actions. The Universe tends to give you what you need … even if looks different than you thought it would.
Sue says
July 11, 2011 at 8:17 amNon attachment is a great practice, Jenny….hard to get there for us entrepreneurial types sometimes, ha!
Mitch Tublin says
July 10, 2011 at 9:47 pmSue,
Points will be recognized immediately by those who see themselves. Great tip.
Mitch
Sue says
July 11, 2011 at 8:18 amThanks, Mitch.
Rosa Lokaisingh says
July 10, 2011 at 1:36 pmThat’s so true what you said, putting off things until they are perfect. Hesitation is a sign of doubting oneself, and taking some kind of action usually clears things up enough to create a space to move forward one more step. Great reminder tips!
Rosa
Sue says
July 10, 2011 at 1:41 pmThanks for your comment, Rosa. I’m glad the reminder was a good one for you.
Sue
Carolyn says
July 7, 2011 at 12:44 pmGreat point, Sue.
I’m a big fan of taking action to build success…and therefore confidence.
And I’m cracking up because the video Kristina is referring to is the one I put out last Friday (http://thebiztruth.com/blog).
Sue says
July 7, 2011 at 2:39 pmToo funny about the video that is yours – small world, for sure.
Linda Pucci says
July 7, 2011 at 7:35 amWhat a great post, Sue. And SO true! While I hadn’t thought about it, I’m going to take a closer look at how much this applies to me right now. Thanks for the invitation to open my eyes about my own “waiting”.
Sue says
July 7, 2011 at 8:09 amYou’re welcome, Linda. I know you! You are a fierce seer of your own stuck places – which makes you good at seeing other’s too!
Mary Ellen Miller says
July 7, 2011 at 5:03 amSo true Sue. As my father always taught me, “the journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step.”
Sue says
July 7, 2011 at 8:09 amI’ve heard that a few times, too! 🙂
Heidi Alexandra Pollard says
July 6, 2011 at 7:55 pmGreat post Sue – what a wake up call it is to read “You have gotten stuck because you have put off taking an action you know you need to take.”
Just selected 4 priorities on my to do list and am now off to take action!
Sue says
July 6, 2011 at 8:41 pmGood for you, Heidi. Thanks for your comment.
Renee says
July 6, 2011 at 5:07 pmSue, Thanks for the great article. Recognizing the fear is always the biggest hurdle to taking action. For me, when I acknowledge fear, know it and see it, many new doors start opening up. Thanks!!
Sue says
July 6, 2011 at 8:42 pmRenee,
I’ve seen you be fearless and I so admire your courage in stepping out in your business.
Sue
Kristina Shands says
July 5, 2011 at 3:19 pmI just watched a video that reinforced your message- that success (taking action) breeds confidence (which brings more success). By focusing on the action (something I can control), it makes me feel more empowered and confident. What a great post, Sue.
Sue says
July 6, 2011 at 8:43 pmThanks, Kristina!
Jennifer Bourn says
July 5, 2011 at 12:48 pmSue – It’s amazing how much doesn’t get done due to fear. And sometimes we keep putting it off, and putting it off, until all of a sudden weeks, months, or even years have gone by and we still haven’t taken the action!
Your Get it Done in 90-Days Deal sounds like a great gift for those who are stuck!
Jennifer Bourn, Bourn Creative
Sue says
July 6, 2011 at 8:43 pmYes, it IS a good deal, thanks, Jennifer.