I know I don’t need to tell you – but it takes real strength to be an entrepreneur. To commit to showing up in your business on a daily basis, to push yourself forward towards your goal of running a successful business… to put yourself out there for the world to see who you are and what you do.
But when you step up and own who you are and what you do, you often feel vulnerable; worried that others may not understand you or your products and services. You open yourself to potential criticism and rejection.
You strive to appear skilled, polished and perfect and want to hide your imperfections… from others and from yourself.
If you’re an emotional person, this can be considered both a strength and a weakness. Being emotional can be a good thing; as it allows you to trust your instincts… but not so great if you allow only your emotions to drive your decision making.
Your ego may end up getting in the way, ensuring your business stays small, as you take advice and criticism to heart. If you’re emotional, learn to use your instincts in harmony with your logical thought patterns to ensure a better business decision.
Being a team player is another area that has both strength and weakness behind it. It’s great to be part of a team – they feel like family – however, are you so eager to keep everyone happy or please others that you end up letting good opportunities pass you by?
Learn to make decisions that are right for your business and remind yourself there will be times when you are going to have to fly solo.
You may be the type of person who’s totally organised. Your business runs almost perfectly and you know where everything is and what everyone is doing at any given time.
Being organised is certainly a strength but it can lead into a weakness if you get so preoccupied with everything that you can’t let go and switch off. This can lead to uncertainty, as you fear passing projects and control to another person.
Remind yourself – having a weakness doesn’t make you imperfect, it just means you’re human! Rather than hiding your imperfections, you need to face them, in order to allow your business to move forward.
Fully owning, not only what you do but who you are too,allows you to be honest
with both yourself and others… and, quite often you will find weakness can also become strength, if you’re given the chance to examine and develop it.
When was the last time you stopped to examine your weaknesses? Have you discovered a hidden strength that helped you move your business forward? What one step will you take today to change your weakness into your strength? Use the comment box below to share your thoughts or declare your action step.
Public speaking. If I could move forward with learning how to speak without feeling anxious, I’d be unstoppable. I can do everything else, but it’s this that halts me in my tracks to fully commit to my online business. Silly thing is, I’ve learned to be o.k on video and that’s given me a first taste of thinking my debilitating weakness could become a strength (as I even enjoy it on camera!)…but how to really break through the barrier?…can I make this a strength when I’ve been the worst ever at it – was worst at school at presentations, mind you school was on a topics I hated…just want to get my message out there and not be selfish.
Hey Beckster
I love how you’re taking yourself on like this. Sounds to me if you had a system for speaking, like you do with video- your confidence would soar. Can I recommend you have a read of my book on the subject. It may just help!
http://www.presentationprofitsblueprint.com
Enjoy!
Jo
Dear Joanna,
You hit the nail on the head and your post comes ‘in good timing’.
I’ve ‘suffered’ most of my life from the fear of being ‘vulnerable’, being ‘judged’ and ‘rejected’.
Worked intensively on the ‘fruitsalad’, to touch the core of who I am.
Having that as a foundation and focus point now, ‘other people’s opinions’ become like ‘water drops’ on a ducks back. ‘Vulnerability’, has become my strength and ‘rejection’ the opposite wind which enables the mission – I’ve come here for to accomplish – to take off.
Thank you for your post.
Christiaan.