Being an entrepreneur is hard, and you’ll often have times when you doubt your abilities. When you feel down in this way, what’s one way you pick yourself back up?
These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.
1. Look at How Far You’ve Come
When in doubt, simply look at how far you’ve come. Look at the past mistakes you’ve made and how you managed to overcome them. This way, you can prove to yourself that you can overcome any situation. You simply have to keep moving forward. It also helps to watch motivational and inspirational videos. YouTube and Instagram have tons of motivational videos that’ll get you amped up!
2. Recognize That Being Uncomfortable Means You’re Growing
Remember, most everybody else is faking it. If it’s not uncomfortable, you’re not growing. If it’s too easy, then you are missing an opportunity. If you do have doubts about your abilities, that’s OK. Recognize that, as you grow your company, you’ll be able to delegate the stuff you aren’t good at and focus on your strengths.
– Dan Golden, BFO (Be Found Online)
3. Complete a Task You Excel At
When self-doubt hits, I focus on a task I excel at and complete it. This quick win boosts my confidence, reminding me of my skills. I also reflect on past successes and engage with my support network for encouragement. These steps reignite my drive and shift the mental tides in a positive direction.
– Shay Berman, Digital Resource
4. Lean on Your Support Network
In moments of self-doubt, I lean on my support network. Surround yourself with positivity and like-minded individuals who believe in your vision. Their encouragement and insights can reignite your motivation and remind you that you’re not alone on this challenging, yet rewarding, entrepreneurial path. Keep pushing forward, and your determination will lead you to success!
– Michelle Aran, Velvet Caviar
5. Find a Mentor Who Can Provide Perspective
In the echo chambers of our own businesses, unbiased opinions are rare. A mentor provides this crucial perspective, unafraid to challenge and critique, yet always with the aim of nurturing and supporting the entrepreneur’s growth.
6. Think About Your ‘Why’
When I’m feeling down, I remind myself of why I started this journey. I think about the dream that got me going and how far I’ve come. It’s not just about the hurdles; it’s about the bigger goal. You have to understand that every challenge is just a part of the game.
7. Reflect on Your Past Accomplishments
When doubt creeps in, I remind myself of my past accomplishments and the challenges I’ve overcome. This reflection helps me regain confidence and reminds me that I have the resilience and determination to overcome any obstacles that come my way.
– Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
8. Give Meditation a Try
I have faced similar challenges in the past, and meditation helped me overcome them. When you start doubting your abilities, there’s chaos in your mind, and you can’t think clearly. Meditation helps you calm yourself and improves your focus. You become able to eliminate the noise in your head — or all doubts — and focus on what’s important, which is to keep moving forward.
9. Consume Positive Content
Reading motivational content has always helped me clear the fog in my head and refocus when I feel down. Negative self-talk can make it very hard to grapple with reality. Consuming positive and inspiring content, especially from thought leaders who have walked that path before and been successful, such as Tony Robbins and Richard Branson, has helped me shift perspective and find positive clarity.
– Brian David Crane, Spread Great Ideas
10. Allow Yourself Time Away From Work
Sometimes, the best way to pick yourself back up and feel motivated again is to just take a step back and allow yourself to take a breather. As an entrepreneur, you may be spending a lot of time behind your desk to keep the needle moving. So, just take a break and go somewhere on vacation. Just have fun and rejuvenate. This will allow you to start fresh and feel motivated again when you’re back.
– Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
11. Replace Negative Self-Talk With Positive Affirmations
One effective way to pick yourself back up when facing doubt and challenges as an entrepreneur is to focus on the mindset of growth and resilience. Engage in positive self-talk to counteract self-doubt. When facing challenges, it’s easy to fall into negative thinking patterns. Challenge those negative thoughts by consciously replacing them with positive and affirming statements.
– Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite
12. Reconnect With Your Core Purpose
When feeling doubt as an entrepreneur, reconnect with your core purpose. Reflect on your motivations for starting your journey and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This helps reignite passion and provides perspective, boosting confidence and motivation.
– Nic DeAngelo, Saint Investment – Real Estate Funds
13. Reflect on the True State of Your Business
If you are doubting your abilities, you may have imposter syndrome. Virtually every business owner experiences this once in their career. My advice is to sit back and reflect. Is your company making money? Are your employees happy? Are projects on the right track? If so, you’re doing fine! On the other hand, if something is wrong, identifying the problem is the first step to fixing it.
14. Start a Gratitude Practice
When faced with any challenge, I simply stop and think about everything in my life that I am grateful for. If I am feeling less confident than I would like, then I recall all of the achievements I have made that brought me to where I am. This gratitude practice gives me perspective on my purpose, and acknowledging my successes gives me the confidence I seek to move forward.
15. Try to Trust the Process
I remind myself to trust the process and the system. You cannot rely on your emotional state alone to keep you going through the hard times as an entrepreneur. This is why it’s critical to have a plan, a guard rail, a support system, and to follow the process or plan. When you’re following a structured process, you’ll lean on it to push through when you feel self-doubt or face setbacks.
Bonus: Play a Game
Playing a game can serve as an invaluable tool for entrepreneurs facing doubt, providing a necessary distraction that allows the mind to reset and gain new perspectives. Engaging in gameplay stimulates creativity, problem-solving skills, and can even lead to unexpected insights relevant to your business challenges. It can also act as a great stress reliever, giving you a break and the ability to return to your business with clear focus.
– Neal Taparia, Hearts.co