The Confidence Game

Are you working too hard for too little?

Have you fallen into the trap of thinking you need to work harder to make more money? Worse, have you invested time and money into so-called gurus, hoping they have the “right” answer, only to discover their cookie-cutter approaches simply don’t fit?

As women, we’ve been taught to suppress our powers of intuition and perception and turn to others for the “right” answer.

In reality, you can run your business with more profit – and far less stress – when you develop a confidence-building mindset.

The skills and techniques I taught to political candidates are the same skills I teach today to women business owners. But communicating effectively requires so much more than learning skills. This is where women can shine, using their intuition and powers of perception, but they frequently struggle to speak up and speak out.

In my view, women who are technical experts contend with three significant communication roadblocks: perceiving nuance, use of language, and lack of confidence.

Today’s Questions:

Are you working too hard for too little?

Have you fallen into the trap of thinking you need to work harder to make more money? Worse, have you invested time and money into so-called gurus, hoping they have the “right” answer, only to discover their cookie-cutter approaches simply don’t fit?

But Here’s the Twist . . .

Good Girls wonder if we are standing on solid ground. All. The. Time.

We know a strong foundation is required for us to achieve great things, and our worry shakes our confidence in subtle ways. The Ghost of the Good Girl pops up once again, asking:

• What am I doing wrong?
• Will someone pay me what I’m really worth?
• If I change my pricing, what happens if there’s pushback?
• What if I’m asked a question I can’t answer?
• What if people think I’m greedy?
• Can I really do this?
• How do I know I’m on the right path?
• I don’t know what I don’t know. How do I know what questions to ask?

Most people take comfort in structure, especially Good Girls. Where we stumble is in adding unnecessary complexity.

When you add structure – to your pricing, your messaging, your selling, your service – you will accept that you are on solid ground, and your confidence will naturally increase. Add structure that is simple and powerful.

Structure for your messaging is especially important. As women, we routinely struggle to talk about our accomplishments and the value we bring to our clients. Because we tend to operate in a reactive state, our stress and anxiety escalate, and we can feel like we’re walking into quicksand.

We may compare ourselves to others and feel insecure and unsure. While we feel confident about our expertise and services, we can doubt ourselves when it comes to communicating, pricing, selling, and running our business.

These negative feelings keep us from doing our best work or having effective sales conversations. We may feel like we are bragging, but we have a saying here in Texas: “It’s not bragging if it’s true!”

If you have built a career and business and achieved great results for clients, you have proven yourself a million times over. You don’t need to keep doing that. You have nothing to prove and a lot to say.

-- Excerpt from Patty’s book, Your Hidden Advantage: Unlock the Power to Attract Right-fit Clients and Boost Your Revenue

Now What?

Your ‘right’ answer can only be found by you. In the process, you can build your confidence and position your company to maximize its value.

In the case of your business exit, you're not just selling a company; you're transitioning a piece of your identity. Your business is an embodiment of your passion, hard work, and aspirations.

Have you built a profitable and valuable business but instead of feeling like there's something missing, you’re feeling like there's something more?

I specialize in helping women founders transition to their Third Act – when you’re ready to do the work you’ve always longed to do.

Work that lights you up. Work that is your purpose instead of just a paycheck.

In my experience, women don't retire; they transition into a new stage of purpose and impact. Whether you are 40 or 60, the idea of retirement may not appeal to you. Just because you can retire doesn’t mean you’ll want to.

We can redefine ‘retirement’ and think of your eventual business exit as a ‘purposeful transition’.

Are you ready to leap into your Third Act and grab the whole cookie?

That requires a new way of thinking, new skills, a simple and elegant design, and an advocate by your side. Contact me to learn more. 

 Discover your Exit Readiness Index™ with this assessment: http://she-exits.com/