Entrepreneurship is something that is constantly testing your confidence. Are you confident in your choices and your skills? There is no way you can accurately predict your future. There is no certainty with anything you do in life, but building a business is especially harrowing because it is tied to our financial security. The prospect of not being able to provide for yourself or your family is frightening which is why the perception of security from a steady job is so alluring. You know you can do it. You know you’re capable of achieving your goals. Confidence brings clarity in other areas of your life.
If you have to wait until you are completely confident in everything you do, then you won’t ever start your business. No one can just sit back and wait for their sense of self to improve without doing anything. Activities that reinforce self-worth allow you to grow. This doesn’t mean doing things perfectly the first time, but also branching out and learning new things. If you are on shaky ground when making decisions, then the underlying cause is uncertainty with the information you have to make that decision. Constantly consuming information is one step to solidifying your confidence. Of course, you need to be selective about what information you consume.
Consumption is more passive than active for almost everyone. We don’t notice it because passive consumption is more connected to observations. We observe information and process it subconsciously, but we do not actively analyze it. Set aside some time to look at your weak areas. In business, you might not feel confident about financial decisions or creative decisions, so gather information about these areas. What do you need to know to make the best decisions possible after a thorough analysis?
However, putting yourself on a hamster wheel of consumption will burn you out. Take time to process information. Try to analyze the information you consume. When you look at an advertisement, pay attention to the copywriting and the imagery. What makes this ad effective or ineffective? Ask yourself questions and then seek the answers. Make it a habit to always find answers.
Decision paralysis can also stem from concentrating on an issue that isn’t as big as we think it is. These are snap decisions, but coming to a conclusion seems to be difficult. The frustrating part of this is the element of time: we spend an unnecessary amount of time dwelling on insignificant things. Indecisiveness comes from uncertainty. Uncertainty comes from insecurity. To understand and overcome insecurities, you must come to terms with the inability to reach perfection. While you must continue to practice something to become better at it, you cannot be 100% perfect at anything. No one can. Everyone around who has mastered something has spent a considerable amount of time practicing.
Those with successful businesses have worked tirelessly. Put your effort into yourself by concentrating on how you can improve your situation. To deal with indecisiveness, you need to understand that you won’t always make perfect decisions; you will make mistakes and that’s how you learn.
Now you understand how to consume and process information, and you also know the root of indecisiveness. How can you build your confidence? Put these two important things into action. When you grow as a person, your business will flourish with you. Entrepreneurs flourish when they invest time in themselves, not superficially, but in programs and activities that build their confidence. This comes from learning new skills, mastering the skills they have, and helping others when they can. These three things can help anyone build confidence.
