Finding Confidence as a Creative Entrepreneur

“Is my work good enough?”
“Why would someone buy from me?”
“There are so many people already doing what I do.”
“There’s no room for me at the table.”
“I’m not qualified to do this.”

 

Raise your hand if one or all of these limiting beliefs have gone through your mind at one point or another ‍♀️

If your hand is raised, don’t worry, because mine is, too! Even after running my calligraphy business for 5 years, I still struggle with being confident in myself and my work.

Not having confidence in ourselves and what we offer is usually what holds us back from taking action and pursuing our dreams. And finding the confidence you need to sell your products or services and put yourself out there can be hard, especially when you’re first starting out.

I believe that finding and building your confidence is a constant practice, but I’ve found a few simple strategies over the years that have helped me push aside those limiting beliefs and pursue my dreams with confidence!

Be you

Whatever that dream is that’s inside of you, trust that it’s for you. You have something unique to offer the world! Push the doubts aside and know that even if there are other people out there doing what you do, you are the only YOU there is. Being your authentic and true self is what will set you apart from others.

Shift your mindset

Choose to operate from an abundance mindset instead of a scarcity mindset. Let go of the limiting beliefs that hold you back and start to open yourself up to infinite possibilities. Part of this is truly understanding that there is an abundance of work to go around. There is plenty of room for you at the table and the world wants what you have to offer!

Take action

Your dreams don’t work unless you do. It’s great to have a dream, but if you aren’t putting in the work to achieve that dream, it isn’t going to happen.

Start taking small steps in the direction you want to go. Maybe it’s putting up a website with a few images of your work. Maybe it’s making your Instagram public. Or maybe it’s getting an Etsy shop off the ground, even if you only have one product listed.

You might not feel totally confident when you first start, but I’ve learned that things get easier the more you do them, which helps build your confidence over time.

Put up blinders

Stop comparing yourself to others and don’t pay attention to what other people are doing or thinking about you. If someone isn’t paying your bills, they don’t get to occupy any of your mental space. Only you have the power to focus on your business and your dreams and not on what other people are thinking or doing, so put up the blinders and tune out the unwanted noise.

Find your community

Surround yourself with like-minded people who are there to offer you support and advice, raise you up, encourage you to take risks, and cheer you on every step of the way. Find a community that looks at you and says, “Yes, do it! I know you can! You’ve got this!” When the people around you are supportive and encouraging and confident in you, it’s a lot easier to find that confidence within yourself!

I’ll leave you with a snippet from one of my favorite books You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

 

“You are the only you there is and ever will be. I repeat, you are the only you there is and ever will be. Do not deny the world its one and only chance to bask in your brilliance.”

 

So get out there and show the world your brilliance, babe!