What Does it Mean to be C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T and What Does it Have to do With Being a Successful Entrepreneur?
Thinking as an entrepreneur is exciting, fun, daring and overall pretty easy for those of us who are always thinking of “what could be” instead of just “what is.”
And actually being a highly functioning and successful entrepreneur takes a lot of courage, dedication and tenacity – and is sometimes plain scary and depressing when things don’t go as you think they should.
That’s where confidence plays a major role.
When we know that we have what it takes to figure things out and we know that we are smart in the ways that are important to our goals – we flourish.
Confidence comes from feelings of well-being, acceptance of your body and mind (self-esteem), and belief in your own ability, skills and experience. People who are confident share these important characteristics:
C – CAPABLE
Confident people are capable. They know they are good enough, competent, and can handle life’s situations.
Admitting you are capable also means knowing that if you cannot handle a situation completely on your own, you can find out where to get the necessary help, information, or skill.
Knowing you are your greatest resource protects you from stress. Believing you are capable means that whatever the task, you will handle it. By believing in yourself, you can face life with complete assurance.
O – OWN IT
Confident people own their opinions, emotions, feelings, words, and even choice of dessert.
You’re you, you want what you want, and you do what you do. You recognize that everyone is unique. No apologies. No explanation.
N – NURTURE THEMSELVES
Confident people believe in their value and worth. They feel they are worth the time, money and energy required to nurture and support themselves in their fulfillment and growth.
This could be things like taking a class to learn something new, taking time out to exercise, having quiet time to re-energize and rejuvenate, or pampering themselves with a massage or manicure.
F – FULLY PRESENT
Confident people engage in the present moment when they are with others. They are not concerned about how they look, sound, feel or smell.
Constantly thinking about what you feel or look like takes you out of the moment. Practice not thinking about the past or the future. Concentrate on what’s in front of you — there’s probably something exciting about it. And if there’s not – then do something else.
I – INTEGRITY
Confident people are true to themselves. They honor who they really are and will do things that honor their true selves, despite what others may say or think. When people are true to themselves they feel more comfortable, and that produces confidence.
D – DEMEANOR
People with confidence have a physical presence. It shows in their posture, body language, eye contact, and dress.
If you look like a confident, capable person, people will treat you accordingly, and eventually you will start to feel it too.
E – ENDURE
Confident people don’t give up. They take risks, know they will make mistakes, and that sometimes they will fail.
Everyone makes mistakes and fails. If you don’t, you’re not trying hard enough. Don’t think of these as mistakes and failures as negatives, but rather as learning opportunities. Because confident people remember that beneath their failures, mistakes and missteps, they are capable.
Taking time to look at successes and identify “why” they were successful is just as important as looking at the failures because you want to be able to replicate that success.
N – NOT ARROGANT
Confident people are not arrogant. Arrogance is detrimental to interpersonal relationships. For people who are confident it’s not about getting the praise, attention, or being better than others.
Confident people lift others up. They give others credit for their work, encourage progress, and offer compliments and sincere praise.
If they are leading teams, they don’t throw people under the bus when something doesn’t go perfectly. Instead, they accept responsibility for the results and help the team understand what could have been done better to assure a better outcome.
T – TAKE ACTION
Confident people take action. We all want to do or try certain things but fear we may fail. These feelings are normal.
Feel the fear in your body and accept it. What you resist, persists – so admit that you are afraid, accept your feeling as real and then let them go – they no longer serve you.
The difference is that a confident person will act on their ambitions and desires and will not let the fear of failure stop them.
The more we take action, the more our confidence grows. We try something and are successful, and the next time around it feels easier to do it again. Below is an activity for you that I find to be helpful with myself and with my clients.
Confidence Activity: “Who Am I?”
Just as every snowflake is one-of-a-kind, so are you. There is no one else like you. Of all the 7 billion people in the world, there is none just like you. No one else feels completely the way you do.
No one else sees things exactly as you. No one has had the same experiences as you. You are extraordinarily unique.
To further explore and discover your true self, answer the following statements:
- I am…
- I am at my best when…
- The best thing that could happen to me is…
- People notice that…
- When I am proud of myself, I…
- I am very happy that…
- I get lost in time when…
- I look forward to…
- I am passionate about…
- I am good at…
- I wish others knew…
- I am happiest when…
- I am proud that…
- I would like to…
- Five adjectives that describe me are…
Until next time – Let People Share in Your Light!
What about you? Are you CONFIDENT in your business and take the confidence test above?
About the Author, Katherine Hartvickson
Katherine Hartvickson is the founder of Quantum Ascendance HR Consulting. She is an experienced business consultant and success coach. Since leaving the corporate world in 2009, her clients include business owners and other seriously committed professionals and entrepreneurs who want to gain the confidence and skills to break through the barriers of success and achieve their ideal life.
What separates her service from others is her experience in leading large teams and developing top performers in corporate environments and because of this, clients achieve individual & financial rewards and the recognition they earned without sacrificing their personal life. If you are interested in knowing more, she can be reached at www.QuantumAscendance.com.
