What stops us?
Over the month of February, I ran a series of 7 presentations on Small Business Marketing for the Sunshine Coast Libraries, it was a great success. I have been in front of 74 separate companies over the course of the month. The feedback received so far has all said that the presentation was great, that they were grateful for the easy to understand marketing help and loved that I tailored the talk to them off the cuff. It is good feedback, it makes me feel all warm and happy inside because it meets my purpose – to help business owners to start, scale and love their business. That’s part of my path, I know it and I’ve known it for many years.
But it has taken me so long to believe that I could do this, that I am good enough to get out there, speak and make a difference. Even though 5 of those companies have already booked mentoring sessions with me.
See imposter syndrome is what stops me. I have always felt that perhaps Im not good enough, that the other marketers out there deserved to speak more, they knew more than me, they delivered their message in a better way, that maybe I just didn’t belong in this space. Well, I just went and proved my own theory wrong, because I received nothing but thanks, praise and gratitude for the content I delivered and have converted some of those companies to mentoring clients.
Fact is – I feel alive on the stage, holding the room and delivering thought-provoking content and somehow intertwining it with conversation and audience relevant content – is something I proud to say that I do well. Im not particularly shy in coming forward but even bubbly people harbour seeds of self-doubt.
So why, even though I know I can do this and really well, do I still feel like perhaps I don’t deserve this? It has a lot to do with the judgement of other people and self-belief. I think in some way, shape or form we all have this debilitating issue.
Why do we do this, as humans we judge ourselves so poorly. It’s crazy! We compare ourselves up against other people when they are on completely different trajectories. What a daft thing to do…
You know a lot of the companies that came along to the sessions were either in fairly new businesses or were just starting their journey of being a business owner and its a big step to take a leap of faith and start something totally theirs, I know I did it some 14 years ago. The path is daunting and confusing. There are so many options these days, so much to do, so many messages you have to decipher, which ones are best for you, which ones will work and then there are those damn opinions? Ahhhhh – no wonder so many small business owners give up on their dreams.
What is interesting is that across the 7 rooms, there were a similar set of core problems that almost everyone shared
- Self-belief topped the chart
- Procrastination came in a close 2nd – they admitted to faffing around
- Not knowing what to do next cropped up constantly – mostly because the path is unclear and we are not all born planners and so they fail to make progress.
- Then along came other people’s judgement of the fact that they wanted to start a small business. What would their families think? Would it allow them to support their family, what if it didn’t? What if it does!!
None of the people showed signs of lack of skills. They all felt they had the skills to run their chosen business.
So what is stopping us, what is the barrier to success?
We are each other’s barriers. Judgement kills productivity.
If we were full of encouragement and offered help instead of being negative and jealous beings perhaps more small businesses would survive. As consumers and users of other businesses, if we gave the new business a go, gave them a chance to prove themselves then maybe it’d be easier to get ahead.
Buy from the new business, like them on social media, give them a chance, tell them how to improve from a place of nurture opposed to criticism. If it was easier for commercial businesses to enter the sphere and work alongside and learn from the larger companies we would all be so much better off, but it is currently a barrier, its an old boys club, you have to have connections, experience, case study – but how do you get those things without someone giving you a go??
Perhaps all new business owners should receive an email from ASIC when they register a new business name:
How to get ahead in small business
Congratulations you have set up your business name – we can tell you are serious about making your dreams a reality!
Step 1: Now you have your Business name – secure your domain name and email address – it is much more professional
Step 2: Decide EXACTLY who it is that you are going to be targeting – really niche it down
Step 3: Define exactly what problem you are solving with the product or service you are selling
Step 4: Explain how you are going to help that exact person in words – this is useful for your marketing – define it
Step 5: Set up your systems to deliver amazing customer service to those people – automate where possible – it’ll free up your time and mean you wear fewer hats (you are going to have a few to wear)
Step 6: Set up a decent bookkeeping system and make sure you understand it – use it to quote and invoice
Step 7: If you don’t understand Tax and your obligations either learn or engage someone who does
Step 8: Then think about how you might tell your prospects you exist and what your brand looks like – does it attract your targets? Are you saying what you do on the tin?
Step 9: Make sure your product or service works, is cost-effective and turns a profit
Step 10: If you have staff make sure they understand your vision (even if they are a family member)
Step 11: Unless you are related to a rich business tycoon forget everything that anyone in your family has ever said to you about what you should do, how you should do it and what to expect. Every journey is different and unless you are doing exactly what they do – their advice is just that – advice (not a set of instructions) – this is your path!
Step 12: When it gets hard (and it will) remember WHY you bothered registering your business name and dig out the passion you have buried under your self-doubt, other people’s opinions and poor planning skills.
Small Business is hard but rewarding – Australia is the land of Small Business, you are now part of the biggest sector of our economy – go forth and conquer.
So ask yourself – what is stopping you?
If you have self-belief issues – stop thinking so poorly of yourself – I have finally realised that Im pretty bloody awesome at what I do, if I can come to this realisation – so can you.
If your problem is procrastination – turn your phone off, research what you need to do, make a list, stick to it and have someone hold you accountable
If you don’t know what to do next – follow the 12 steps above as a starting point, research and just start. There is no perfect formula, don’t wait until its all perfect – chances are your product or service will either be irrelevant or the market will be oversaturated by the time you get your tail into gear if you do this.
If you are worried about everyone else bloody opinions you need to eradicate this feeling – it will get you precisely nowhere fast. You are in charge of your own destiny and you are you – not anyone else. Everyone will always have an opinion – you don’t have to listen to it. If someone is giving you good pointers – listen, thank them and get on with following your dreams.
Remember – If you have the skillset and passion to deliver your offering – all the rest are learned skills or completely outsourceable.
Believe in yourselves. You have a dream and only you can make your dreams come true. No one is interested in you enough to make your dreams come true, that’s up to you. So if you have enough gumption to register a business name and work out what you want to deliver then it is up to you to make it happen.
Let me tell you – you are good enough and it is only you who is stopping you.
No more excuses – make it happen, I am.
Watch this space…
#Unpacking
