Business – Beating self-doubt

Every business owner deals with self-doubt. Doing the actual work might be easy, but running the business is the hard part. It’s like raising a baby and worrying about the kind of teenager they will become, when you really need to focus on getting through the baby stage first. Most of the time, I feel like I’m living in the hope that we are making good decisions and we are heading in the right direction.

I think I’m addicted to being busy, wearing it like a badge of honour as a way of proving my worth. I chew through the never-ending workload to strike out all possible paths to failure. Everything sits in the blur of priority and productivity.

There’s an adage about looking after yourself so you can look after others. Running a business is no different. You have to look after number one, yourself, both mentally and physically before looking after the business.

I am by no means good at this; I absolutely tax my body and get caught in mental vortexes. If I am not careful, I hit autopilot, lose motivation, discipline and accountability, and close down, becoming pessimistic. We overthink, overanalyse, and avoid tough truths, trying to make sense of everything.

I have bad days where I feel anxious, other people’s opinions cut deep, and I’m terrified of letting others down. Everything feels chaotic and disorganised. But when I let go of that fear, things change. I accept that I might disappoint some people and that failure is okay. This helps me regain control, stick to my plan, and find time for the fun parts of running a business.

Recently, I listened to a podcast featuring Dave Wood, a specialist in stress mitigation, recovery, and mental preparedness for athletes. He asked what percentage of mental or physical effort is required to achieve goals. While most people debated around 70/30, he answered with 100 percent mental and 100 percent physical.

Some of my tools include getting outside, running, throwing a ball for the dog, and riding a bike with my boys. I also stand in front of a mirror and tell myself I’m doing a good job. I ensure the person in the mirror has integrity and honesty. I remind myself that things could be worse, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, and I’m not alone in this journey. Believe in yourself and what we are building.

Practising the above helps lift the fog. Ultimately, overcoming self-doubt is about keeping things simple, disciplined, and accountable. Understand that fear is part of the journey, but it doesn’t have to control you.