Why You May Be Suffering from Impostor Syndrome and How To Combat It

If you have met other entrepreneurs before, you might think that they are all happy and content, and full of confidence. However, you should never try to compare what you feel with what people show on the surface. Chances are that they are full of self-doubt, just like you, but they are better at covering it up than you. Every entrepreneur suffers from imposter syndrome every now and then, and it is important that you focus on improving your mindset if you would like to overcome these challenges.

Lack of Confidence

No matter how much you fake it till you make it, it is important that you build up your confidence. If you are worried about what others think about you, chances are that you will never make it in the big competitive world of business. Use positive affirmations and make sure that you are able to manage your thoughts and deal with negativity before it takes over.

Unrealistic Expectations

You might have unrealistic expectations toward your business, and this is not healthy if you are looking to build something from scratch. In fact, you will need to make the most out of your opportunities, and accept that you have limitations, but you are still enough. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you should ensure that you are sticking to a long term plan instead of looking for the easy button. You need to realize that it simply isn’t there.

Competition

You will also have to adopt a tunnel vision when it comes to building your business. The fact that there is a lot of competition only confirms that there is a profitable market out there. You might appeal to one type of customer, while another company will be perfect for another client. You might have a special certification or an executive online MBA, but others will have other competitive advantages like marketing experience.  You have to focus on what you want to do, instead of trying to copy other people’s success. Not to mention that whatever they are showing on the surface might actually be far from the truth.

Comparing Yourself with Others

Whatever doubt you might have in you about your business, chances are that even the most successful entrepreneurs will have it. They just know how to deal with it. They might appear full of confidence, but this might be just an act. Try to fake it till you make it, and pay attention to your body language. Even if you suffer from imposter syndrome, you might want to hide your doubts from your potential clients. You don’t want to give out the wrong image about your business.

Not Believing In Your Value

The main reason for being doubtful about your abilities is that you don’t believe that you are offering something valuable to your clients. Collecting testimonials and feedback can help, and it is crucial that you create case studies not only for your potential clients, but also yourself. You have to list the benefits of your product and service and focus on how you have improved people’s lives or businesses, so you can justify the cost for yourself and your prospects. This way, you can also avoid non-payment from clients, as you can argue for the value you are providing.

Looking At Your Service as a Cost Not an Investment

It is important that you shift your paradigm and look at  your fees and charges as an investment from your clients, instead of a cost. No matter what you do, you will enhance the lives of people by solving their problems. If you are an IT service provider, you might save hundreds of working hours for the business by making their systems more effective. If you are a business, coach, you might be the person who will help them double their profits.

Trying To Be Good at Everything

It is crucial that you accept your limitations, too. You might be good at some things, but absolutely slow and ineffective at things like admin or accounting. To make the most out of your earning potential, you should focus on the activities that take your business further, and generate the most results for your clients. For example, if you are a virtual assistant, but hate social media, you will need to outsource this work. You can find plenty of affordable social media management packages to choose from that will help you add value to your services without having to do the job yourself.

Paying Too Much Attention to Trolls

It is important that you keep your eye on the ball, and don’t allow other people to distract you in moving the right direction. You will have to make the most out of your business opportunities and learn to ignore the trolls. There will be some people who are jealous of you, even if you don’t know that it is their main motivation. You should know that most people are looking at the negatives and focus on them, because they have a problem with themselves. You have to take everything with a pinch of salt, and now where people are coming from when commenting on your posts.

Being Afraid of Success

Believe it or not; many people are afraid of success. They don’t visualize what will happen if everything goes according to their plans, and they will have all the customers they can wish for. You have to mentally prepare for success, and everything that comes with it. You will inevitably be able to earn more money per hour, and use other people’s time and other people’s money to take your business further. Once you are comfortable with this, you can make the most out of your mindset and follow your dream.

To make the most out of your business, you will need to get your mindset right and improve your confidence. After all, you are the driving force behind your venture, and you have to believe in your value before you can make your potential clients believe in it, too.