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"Regain Your Confidence, Reclaim Your Life">
7 "Be's" of Building Confidence in Your Business
April 1, 2010
To succeed in any business you need to infuse it with confidence. Here are the 7 "Be's" of building confidence into your business.
1. Be Bold
Many people never get a new business off the ground, or grown to any real extent, because of insecurity or a lack of self-confidence. If you have been given a dream that compels you to put out the effort to begin a business, then believe that you have been given the skills you need to do it, and do it full-out. Approaching any endeavour with insecurity, or a lack of belief, guarantees failure. Attack it big & bold and you will succeed in ways you never imagined.
2. Be Your Brand
Brand yourself. We all know how important it is to brand your business - creating a recognizable identity that will attract clients or customers, and keep them coming back again and again, should be one of your first concentrations. But what many entrepreneurs don't realize is that they need to brand themselves as well. If your business is a casual one, for example Pumpkin World: The Counties Biggest Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze than showing up to work in pigtails and denim overalls, as long as you are well groomed, is perfectly acceptable. If however, you are starting Cleveland's largest Women Entrepreneur's Networking Group you are going to want to present yourself in a professional manner complete with business suit and up-to-date hair and makeup. You are your business. Make sure you represent it in an appropriate manner.
3. Be Fearless
Or at least feel the fear & do it anyway. We all experience fear at some point in our business venture, but the definition of courage is to feel the fear but do what you need to do anyway. If you can do it while standing tall and with a big smile on your face all the better, because everyone will think you're fearless even when you're not. If you find yourself stagnating, unable to move forward, because of fear then seek out a professional business coach to assist you in getting started again. That is what they do for a living, assist people in moving from a stuck place to a place where they are equipped to move forward and achieve their goals. You can reap great benefits from employing a coach.
4. Be Action Oriented
Nothing speaks confidence more than action. Be the kind of person who goes places and gets things done and it will afford you so many opportunities. People will want to work with you. If you're out in the world taking action you will find people and new experiences are naturally drawn to you. Another benefit is that each time you take action and accomplish a goal it raises your energy to take the next step and hit the next target.
5. Be a Promoter
Too many people, especially women, are afraid of self-promotion. But if you don't promote yourself, who will? And without promotion where is your business going? Nowhere. Businesses need promoting and you are your business so who better to promote it. Start by knowing what you do and be able to easily communicate that message to others. Write out a brief 30 second answer to the question "What do you do?" Then practice that answer until you can recite it with confidence and professionalism. Now you're prepared whenever the subject comes up - whether during a networking event or a business dinner for your husbands firm.
6. Be Connected
Know your target market, the kind of client you want to attract, and then surround yourself with people who match that description. Find and join clubs and networking organizations that are a good fit for your business. To really grow your business you need to attend at least one networking event each week. Take every opportunity you can get to meet new people and talk about what you do. If your business is online Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are a must, along with any social network 2.0 sites that focus on your business niche in particular. Just be sure you are working to devellop relationships before and during your promotions. Build relationships and your business will grow naturally as a result. The more people you connect with the more opportunities you have to increase your clientele.
7. Be Real
Most importantly be you. Be genuine. Be real. People can smell a phony a mile away. The only way to attract clients that are inline with you and your service vibrationally is to be who you really are. This is the way to build a clientele and a business you love and look forward to working with.
This article written by:
Viki Stanley-Hutchison
Professional Life & Business Coach
Owner of Life Transitions for Women in Cambridge, Ohio
MomTV.com Talk Show Host of A. M. Coffee Break
Creator of Our Transformation ning site
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