We entrepreneurs are heroes in many people's eyes--achieving
goals no matter the circumstances. They see us as fearless and
willing to take unusual and repeated actions to achieve our dreams.
People respect the drive, determination and personal power
necessary to turn our dreams into reality.
Successful entrepreneurs must combine two different drives: an
interactive, public one designed to draw people to our ideas, and
an equally powerful private one that keeps our dreams ignited.
Often, these drives are at odds with each other, causing us to be
critical of ourselves and lowering our self-esteem. They can create
a feeling that we shouldn't "sing our own praises,"
fearing that if we do, others may misinterpret it as boasting.
Feelings and actions are intertwined. To be fearless when
discussing your business with others, you need to spend time
internally embracing and congratulating yourself for what you have
already accomplished. Give your self-esteem a shot in the arm, and
increase your personal power with these tips:
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1. Be true to yourself. Passion and action have grounded
you, creating a solid foundation for all your business encounters.
Build your reputation and self-esteem by listing all your
accomplishments, large and small, and the obstacles you had to
overcome to reach them. Use this list to affirm your positive
qualities and acknowledge your success.
2. Identify possibility in every conversation.
Communication is the key to enabling people to connect with your
goals and, consequently, provide you with specific resources and
contacts. Instead of closing doors on amazing opportunities, gain
the confidence to tell others about your business by converting
your list of accomplishments into persuasive dialogue. Do not try
to convince others of your success; simply focus on how your
customers benefit from you. Speaking positively energizes your soul
and conquers self-doubt. It opens people's minds to
opportunities and gives them reasons to refer business to you.
3. Be specific when you answer questions. If you
don't speak about your goals, no one will help you achieve
success. Less is more--tell people what they need to know by only
answering the questions they ask. Embellishing on a topic can make
you seem nervous and needy. If anyone wants more information, they
will ask follow-up questions. Increase your "conversational
confidence" by developing specific answers to the questions
most frequently asked by your colleagues.
4. Trust your instincts. You make the best decisions you
can with the information you currently possess. Don't fall into
the trap of "I could have done that differently or
better." Gain personal power by acknowledging that you are
continually learning and moving forward toward your goals. You
don't need to immediately have all the answers--just have the
self-confidence to know you are capable of finding them.
At the end of each day, review your progress. Reflect on and
appraise your accomplishments; it helps you prepare for your next
endeavor. When you learn to speak self-assuredly about your
abilities and accomplishments, others will start to spread your
good news.
Speaker and consultant Romanus Wolter, aka "The Kick
Start Guy," is author of Kick Start Your Dream Business.