I’m celebrating my fourth business anniversary this week! Launching my business on April 1, 2020, might have seemed like a cruel April Fool’s joke, given the onset of a global pandemic. As it turns out, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. So, I thought I would share some of the insights I’ve gained along the way.
Mindset Matters
I planned my business launch for over a year and had already resigned from my job when the pandemic hit. My initial reaction was sheer panic! My inner voice was screaming, “Amy, what have you done? This is the worst time to start a business!”
I knew these thoughts were not helpful, so I reframed them. My new mantra became, “This is the best time to start a business.” Instead of worrying about failing, I envisioned my future success. This mindset propelled me to take strategic and thoughtful action, laying the foundation for a thriving business.
Fail Fast and Learn
If you’re a perfectionist, this one is for you! I needed to tame my perfectionist tendencies to ensure I focused my time on the right things.
I use a “rapid prototyping” approach to doing my work. This is a concept from software development where the developers will write small sections of code, test it out, and learn from the test results. If the code completely fails, they learn what doesn’t work without too much time invested in creating it.
The interesting thing about this approach is that it has helped me deepen trust with my clients. I understand the big-picture goal and approach it one step at a time. I seek their feedback frequently to ensure their needs are being met, and I’m not overly invested in any of my “prototypes,” so it’s easy for me to flex to the needs of my clients.
The Confidence Switch
I wish I could tell you I’m confident 100% of the time, but that would be a huge lie! I’ve adopted a few techniques to “flip that switch” in my head when I’m not feeling confident.
- Shift to Outward Focus: As soon as I notice that I’m focused on inner thoughts that are sabotaging my confidence, I switch to an outward focus. For example, if I’m facilitating a training program and worried about my performance, I shift to curiosity about the people in the room. I wonder what they need to learn, and I pay closer attention to their needs. Before I know it, I’ve completely forgotten about my nerves and I’m in the zone!
- Recall Past Success: When I face new challenges or feel like an imposter, I take a trip down memory lane and remind myself that I’ve successfully overcome challenges. Those positive memories give me the confidence boost to move forward.
- Lean into Strengths: When I’m using my strengths, I don’t have any issues with confidence. So, sometimes, I need to remind myself of my strengths and look for ways to apply them when my confidence is low.
I enjoy writing my weekly “Amy’s Insights” and sharing tips and tricks with you. And sometimes I wonder if anyone needs additional support.
In celebration of my anniversary, I am offering a complimentary coaching session to the first three people who comment below or email me. So, just comment or shoot me an email if you would like to take me up on this offer!
Wishing you the best!
Congratulations on celebrating your four years in business! What an accomplishment! This article has so many valid points I don’t know where to start. Thank you for posting! When it comes to some things I can be quite the protectionist. #sadface