But I realized that it's been eight years since I wrote that piece. And in the era of the pandemic and all the ensuing turmoil, anger, and yes...even outright hate...our self-confidence may have plummeted. If you were one of the many who became unemployed or lost your business; if you're struggling to pay bills or provide for your family; your belief in yourself may be at an all-time low. Understandable.
So I wanted to share some thoughts on becoming confident again. Confident in your own abilities. Confident in your dreams and plans. Confident in your future.
To be truly confident, you have to let go of what other people think of you. And you have to let go of how others treat you.
Self-confidence is a state of mind. But it's a state of mind that you can manage. That doesn't mean you always have to explain yourself. You don't have always "stick up for yourself." When you are truly confident in your self, it just shows. You are who you are. It doesn't matter if your business failed this time. It doesn't matter if you are struggling to keep it going. It doesn't matter if you aren't where you thought you would be by now. And it definitely doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says about it. What does matter is that you are true to yourself and just keep moving forward as best you can. Stop wasting time on people who don't deserve it. You are YOU. And only the BEST people get to be around YOU!
Now is the time to figure out your next best move. Do you need to go back to work to get some income while you rebuild? So be it. There's nothing wrong with that.
Do you need to scale back a bit while you regain your footing? Okay. That's better than quitting.
Do you need to pivot to a different business model that's more feasible now? Not a problem. Adaptable businesses SURVIVE!
So whenever you are feeling a little down...
Whenever someone you know is giving you grief over a failed or struggling business...
Whenever you...or they...think it's time to give up on the life you want for yourself and your family...
Stand tall, put your shoulders back, pick your head up, and say "So what? I am going to keep living my life and building my dream."
(By the way...that's a classic power pose. Roll your shoulders back to straighten your spine. Widen your stance a bit. Lift your head and your eyes. This slight shift instantly gives you an air of confidence. Not only will you look more confident to those around you. You will FEEL more confident. Isn't it great how body language works?!)
Hope you found this useful. Don't forget to get on my mailing list! I promise I will keep you pumped up, up-to-date on all the latest tips, tricks, and trends, and be your biggest cheerleader...after yourself, of course!
