Thursday, March 3, 2011

Don't let the fact that you're self-taught dictate your self-worth.

This is something I struggle with daily in my new field.  Over the last 4-5 years I have learned a lot and taught myself a lot whether through watching tutorials, googling solutions to problems, a few college courses, trial and error and a TON of hands on experience.  However, with no paper to prove my qualifications I struggle with finding the confidence to stand behind my services and prices.   I am forever doubting myself.

What if I say I can do something and then it turns out I can't?  What if they don't like what I do? What if...Seriously the list of "what ifs" I can come up with are seriously crazy.

Do you struggle with confidence in your line of work?  Whether your a blogger unsure of your writing skills, a crafter who's taught herself how to sew, a consultant or something else completely.  I'd love to know I'm not the only one feeling this way.

I've heard that the best way to act is like you can take on the world, surely that's easier said than done.  Confident people get noticed, I've definitely seen them.  They command your attention, come across as knowledgeable and reliable, and are downright admirable.  And I'm not talking about overly confident a.k.a. cocky people.  I'm referring to those who you just know that they know what they're talking about!

It's getting a little late for new years resolutions but I'm going to give this a shot regardless.  I'll consider, whether anyone is actually reading this or not, to be my own little personal pep-talk to myself.

I am confident, I am knowledgeable, my work has value!  Roarrr!

2 comments:

Casey said...

Best advice I have ever received as a small business owner ... FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT =D

gbb said...

Yes, fake it til you make it is my mantra of late.

I suffer from low "business self esteem" I guess, so I just pretend. Even if you do 99% of it all right, it is so easy to focus on the 1% you screwed up!