Learn to be brave, small business owner. Easier said than done, right? How many times have you doubted yourself and your abilities? Struggled with Imposter Syndrome? Wondered why one of your competitors is, or appears to be, doing so much better than you? Or even let the fear of failure stop you from starting a business in the first place?
So why is it so important that small business owners learn to be brave? Well, because confidence is one of the most important factors influencing performance, and ultimately, success! But this blog isn’t intended to give you a definitive list of ‘how’ to be more confident, as everyone’s journey to achieving that is different. Instead, we wanted to leave you with some food for thought, and some suggestions to move forward.
Failure represents an opportunity to learn
There is no point us telling you that if you do X, Y and Z, you’ll be able to avoid failure. Because that’s simply not true. Instead, I would argue that ‘failure’ comes to us all in some form during our business journeys. Whether that be a product launch that just doesn’t take off, a decision that turns out to be wrong, a growth curve that doesn’t turn out according to forecast, or sadly, a business that just doesn’t survive.
Our natural reaction to these kinds of situations is a negative one. We dwell on what’s happened. Often we pick apart every detail of what’s happened and attribute them to our (perceived) weaknesses. We find fault and lay blame, But actually, while ‘failures’ are undoubtedly sad, especially when it represents the demise of a business, they are not all bad.
So next time something goes wrong, think about why it went wrong. Not just the fact that it did. And then most importantly, learn from it, then take what you learn, and move forward. Don’t see failure as a reason to give up. Instead, see it as an opportunity to learn. Then be brave, small business owner, and take the next step on your journey!
People buy from people
People buy from people. There is no denying that. And therefore people are a fundamental part of your business. You may have the most amazing product or service in the world, but if your customers don’t know who they are buying from, then they will probably look elsewhere. So it’s time to be brave, small business owner. It’s time to put yourself out there. Do those Facebook Lives. Talk to people. Make connections. Build relationships. You are your business. And if you as the owner hide away, then your business starts to fade, too.
I also want to add a note here about authenticity. We’ve all seen our fair share of ‘influencers’ with their perfect flat-lays and their countless followers. And without doubt, we can learn from them. But the point is that we shouldn’t try to be them. When we try to emulate someone else we lose a little of ourselves, and if you look at others, and then consider yourself inferior, remember this:
Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
Eleanor Roosevelt
So be brave, small business owner. Be yourself and be proud of who you are. And that passion and authenticity will shine through.
Surround yourself with people who have got your back
It doesn’t matter what’s in front of her, as long as she knows who’s behind her
True, don’t you think? In establishing Tabono, we created a community where every woman knows that she has a team of people behind her. It doesn’t matter whether you need someone to laugh or cry with. To seek help or ask questions. Or just to be with a group of women who know what you’re going through.
And having that safe space can be so important when your confidence that is waning. We encourage our members to come to us so that they don’t have to make difficult decisions on their own. We’re there to provide support when things aren’t going so well, or when that crucial presentation is coming up and it just *has* to go well. Or if the thought of hitting that ‘Go Live’ for the first time fills you with dread, come and practise with us first! Or even better, tell the community when your Live is, and we’ll be there to support you.
So be brave, small business owner. Find your tribe. And knowing that you have people behind you, every step of the way, will make it so much easier.
I hope that has given you a little food for thought on the subject of being brave, when you run a small business. But do know that we are here to support you. If confidence is something that you struggle with, we can work with you to find the techniques and coping mechanisms that can help you to move forward. If you would like to work as a group to build your business, consider joining a Mastermind. Or come and join us for a free trial of our community. We would love to have you as part of Tabono!