There are many reasons that you don’t believe in yourself. Certainly we all have doubts, but many of us have experienced traumatic events in our lives that undermine our ability to believe in ourselves. Loveless upbringing. Bullying in school. Business failures. Marriage infidelity. Loss of a significant mentor. Discrimination. Learning disabilities. Rejection. And at the same time the world is becoming more competitive.

The generations have sure evolved through the ages. Gone are the days when parents endlessly coax adults to study and perform well. Gone is the era where competition was simple and generic. Less frequent are the times when you had teachers saying you can do better.

Today’s world is cut-throat. The only one pushing you, the only one motivating you, and the only one who believes in your capabilities, is You.

Everyone is busy running in the rat race, competing for first place. You can’t rely on others for direction. It is time to become self-sufficient and self-actualized. You don’t have to give up hope just because others don’t believe you can achieve it. You only have to believe in yourself.

This simple mantra has taken those who were absolutely nobody and made them into not just somebody but prominent figures who made history.

I’ll share….

Do you know that when Christiano Ronaldo, one of the best footballers of this generation, was a young boy, he told his father that they’d be rich and have a big home? To this, his father said it wasn’t possible. He wasn’t discouraging his son, but he simply didn’t believe that their hard time would change.

However, Christiano believed, not just for himself but his parents too. And today, he is one of the most regarded sportspeople in the world.

Personally, I was raised in a family with strife. My father was an abusive alcoholic and my mother died at my father’s hands when I was five. I pretty much raised myself and was faced with just about every obstacle you can imagine. But as a teen I began to get a glimpse of possibilities for my life. I started to get self development. I surrounded myself with positive people and over time was lifted from negative influences. I worked hard and grew my business and it was acquired by a publicly-held company. Then I became a business coach and have the best job in the world, coaching an amazing group of business owners!

Similarly, our esteemed tech geniuses and entrepreneurs such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and our personal favorite, Steve Jobs, had people doubting their capabilities from an early age. But that did not stop them. If anything, it motivated them to believe in themselves and try harder every day.

The problem is….

We all try on a daily basis. We fight for everything (No, not with our fists). We fight to survive, we fight for a better future, and we fight for our dreams. But too often, we hit a wall. Failure rears its ugly head, and we stop believing in our capabilities and become disheartened by the non-results.

However, this is the time when you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and hustle even harder. As I said, if no one else believes in you, you have to believe in yourself. This is not the time to give up. It is time to find a new way to achieve your dreams. You cannot stop till you reach your destination.

If you find it too difficult to contemplate a rational method to reach your goals, let us help you. There are a few things you can instill in yourself no matter your age, your annual income, or your life stage. Start now and watch as your life transforms into what you know you truly deserve.

Proven methods to learn how to believe in yourself and achieve success

1. Start by internalizing the mantra – I believe I can

 It all starts with you.

In order to achieve your goals, find success, and live the lifestyle you know deep inside that you truly deserve, the first step is to believe in yourself.

There is no abundance of naysayers in this world. Everyone wants success, but they don’t want to see other people succeed, making them your worst critics. But it is up to you to internalize self-confidence and believe in yourself. It is the only way you will achieve what you set your mind to accomplish.

 Do you think success stories are made with ease? No.

Everyone wants success, but not everyone can have it. But the ones who did, must have tried at least a little harder than the rest, don’t you think?

If you fall prey to everyone’s expert opinion, it won’t yield results. J.K. Rowling got rejected multiple times before she published Harry Potter. Had she listened to the cynics, today, we wouldn’t have such an extraordinary tale of a child wizard.

If you have an idea or simply want to achieve something big, then you need to become your own cheerleader. Start by standing in front of a mirror and telling yourself, ‘I can do it. It is all up to me.’ Which really is the truth about achieving anything in this world. It’s not just about working hard but working smart.

When you are self-actualized and believe in yourself, no amount of critics, cynics, and pessimists can change your mind. Your drive and your motivation come from within you; therefore, no one can deter you from the path of success.

2. Make a defined list of your goals.

Now, to believe in yourself doesn’t mean that things will just fall into your lap. You have to believe in yourself that you can do it and then put in the work as well.

That’s step two.

Start by analyzing your ultimate goal. Then identify the things that you need to do in order to achieve those goals. Don’t try to set high goals at the initial stages. Remember, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ Neither will be your life.

Here’s a suggestion. Set smaller goals.

 For instance, if you wish to have a million dollars in your bank account by the end of ten years, then perhaps you need to focus on how you can achieve that. Break down the time period into smaller frames. Set short-term goals such as saving at least ten thousand dollars for the first year. Maybe you need to pick up some extra shifts or take up additional freelance work, cut down your expenses, and perhaps tighten your belt a little.

You must realize that short-term sacrifices result in long-term gains. You might feel that this is impossible, but that is why you need to believe in yourself. Believe that you can make these sacrifices and yield the long-term payout.

This concept is transferable no matter what your goals are. If your goal is to be entrepreneurial, then make a list of short-term and long-term challenges and take them one step at a time. If your goal is to become physically fit, then make a list of what sacrifices and challenges you need to overcome on a daily basis.

There is a trick that all successful people use. Write down your short-term goals and paste them either in front of your bed to remind you of your objectives every morning or the place where you spend time working on your goals. Tell others (not the naysayers), tell successful people about your goals. This will motivate you to keep trying harder, and eventually, you will learn to believe in yourself that you can do it.

3. Identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Everyone has a specific set of strengths and weaknesses. No two people are built the same; therefore, what works for your friend need not necessarily work for you. You need to identify your own strengths and weaknesses and work on yourself.

Most people tend to get disheartened because they identify their weaknesses as something that they cannot overcome. Although this might be a valid concern in several cases, it is still not a reason to give up.

Instead of focusing on your weakness, try to concentrate on your strengths and how you can capitalize on them. It is human nature to lose perspective when passion and devotion are challenging each other.

 To understand this, let us demonstrate with an example.

 Let’s say you studied engineering for years because you identified it as one of the best career options. You may be working really hard at it too, but success always seems just out of your arm’s reach because you are not good at programming.

The sky doesn’t necessarily need to fall. You see, the problem is you are trying to dedicate your life to something that you don’t enjoy, nor does it drive you. Your weakness in the field is making you feel small and incompetent, thereby causing you to ignore your strengths.

It is our society that declared Engineering as the best profession. But aren’t there successful people around the world pursuing other fields?

You need to identify your strengths and develop them. Maybe you are good at organizing and strategizing business plans. You need to believe in yourself that you can do it. Start your own company. Formal education doesn’t account for developing certain life skills. Your innate talents are what needs your attention, and developing your strengths will not only help you believe in yourself and your abilities but also bring you the success you crave.

4. Improve your skillset

Your skills, much like that of technology and world education, know no bounds. In order to know that you can be the best, to believe in yourself, you need to always keep learning.

You may have the best body of work, or maybe you are a high-functioning programmer, or perhaps your real estate constructions have been featured in Architectural Digest. That doesn’t mean you can stop learning.

When you want to believe in yourself that you can achieve your goals because you are the best at something, you have to be the best at it. Not saying that you need to enroll back in college or spend hours reading new books on the subject but consider taking a little time to learn about new developments with respect to the skills.

The internet is a cornucopia of information. Take the time to enroll in an online class that you can engage in as per your schedule. Or read the numerous articles on the topic and practice implementing them by yourself.

The more you develop your skillset, the more you believe in yourself. Your self-confidence will improve exponentially, and you will find success no matter what.

5. No matter who challenges you, just do what you think is right

Remember what I said about naysayers?

People will always tell you what is wrong with your plans and your abilities. But if you believe in yourself and in what you know is right, then stand by your conviction.

A lot of people told Jack Ma that he would amount to nothing. They told Jeff Bezos that his idea is stupid. But these legends did not give up. They believed in their plans and went forward with it anyway. Now, not only are they multibillionaires, but they have also given us innovative solutions to our shopping needs during the pandemic or when we are tired and injured. They solved a problem that no one wanted to believe existed.

You need to believe in yourself and resolve to follow through with your plans no matter the consequences. Whether you want to develop a new cellphone, or start a janitorial service, or give a moving speech at the next UN assembly, it does not matter. All you need is to believe in yourself and your inner strength and meet the problem head-on.

If you believe it is right and serves a purpose for the betterment of yourself or society, then fight for what you believe in.

6. Coach and mentor yourself

 As mentioned earlier, there are no limits to naysayers in this world. However, when you believe in yourself and inspire and motivate yourself, nothing will dare stand in your way.

Successful people seek out coaches and mentors because they recognize the extra help they need. You will find Derek Moneyberg preaching about seeking help all the time. Many successful people have sought his financial guidance through the years.

If you cannot or do not want to approach an established coach or mentor, then you simply have to guide and inspire yourself. If you are reading this article, then you definitely have strong goals, a will to improve, and learn how to believe in yourself. You’ve already taken the first step.

Now you need to start coaching yourself too.

Tell yourself that you can do it. Read success stories and try to identify the points they all have in common. Develop your own plans accordingly, and never stop working on your progress.

Find motivation wherever you can. You need to know precisely what you want and create realistic long-term and short-term goals to achieve the ultimate one. When there is no one around to inspire you to believe in yourself, you have to do it yourself.

7. Implement health habits along with your wealth habits

In order to believe in yourself and find success in your personal and career challenges, you need to find a balance between health and wealth.

If you are determined to achieve your goals, then you are already on the right path. However, health plays an important role in achieving success too. When you neglect your health habits, they can fester into unnecessary and undulated physical anomalies.

It may start as a little excess or loss of weight, lethargy, pain. Then it develops into more severe health issues that result in depression, fatigue, etc. The problem is, when these health issues start to build, your body is unable to deal with the physical and mental acuity required for high performance. As your body and mind tire, so do your inner belief system.

At times like this, a simple failure or a little nudge can destroy your self-confidence and drive.

This is what we need to avoid. Therefore, to believe in yourself mentally, you need to maintain your physical and mental health habits.

Incorporate exercising the body and the mind in your daily routine. You don’t need to do it for hours, but a simple 20-minute meditation or 45-minute yoga or workout session can do wonders for your body and amplify the agility of your mind. Pay attention to your eating habits as well. A well-balanced nutritious meal helps keep your body and mind active.

These simple techniques will help stabilize your lifestyle and help you believe in yourself with fervor.

8. Fuel your willpower

As you know, willpower comes from within. It is the drive that helps you recognize what you want and pushes you to keep going in the face of pessimists and failures. You need to nourish this extremely useful means of resolve.

When you believe in yourself, your willpower grows stronger. Your level of determination is high because you know you can do it. There is a very simple way to fuel your willpower. All you need to do is keep your eyes on your ultimate goal and tell yourself that no matter what obstacles stand in your path, you will not stop.

Think of it as a hurdle race. You may trip once in a while, but you still need to focus on your goal and keep going. Believe in yourself that your success is quite literally in your hands.

9. Circumvent your fear of failure

Failure tends to suppress the ambitions and goals of many. However, failure does not mean the end of the world. If you have a dream, then you need to believe in yourself and your capabilities.

You’ve heard, ‘Failure is the stepping stone to success.’ But no one tells us what that really implies. It doesn’t just mean failing in school or college. It is a life lesson that needs to be implemented every single day.

For instance, let’s say you started a new skincare manufacturing business. But you can’t find investors because they are not impressed with your presentation. Don’t give up. Instead, identify the problem.

What is it about your presentation that does not connect with your audience? Or what is the problem that is keeping people from purchasing your products?

Once you identify the problems, work on development around them. Create a better presentation with more psychological cues that connect with your investors. Take the time to understand their personal struggles and demonstrate how your products can solve the problem. Recognize the issues in your niche market and develop subsequent adverts that highlight and provides a solution.

Failure has to be circumvented in order to find success. You need to believe in yourself, your abilities, your products and services, your skills. It is you who has to live your life and you who has to believe in yourself. Don’t let failure push you down. Instead, rise above and find a way to evade it in the future.

10. Develop a winner’s mindset

Winners take years to develop a mindset that disregards all manners of pessimism. If you want to find success, then you need to build a winner’s mindset.

This is the last and most important step of all because it the most challenging but fruitful stage.

Start by limiting your circle of friends. If your friends and family keep demotivating you and challenging your self-esteem, then perhaps they are not the best company to keep.

It is hard to let go; that is understandable. However, you need to believe in yourself, and having constant degradation and defamation will never help you build yourself up. Some people challenge you by telling you what you’re doing wrong. But they also take the time to appreciate you when you do it right. They are building you up. These are people you need to keep.

However, some keep demotivating you no matter what you do. They are just negative people who discuss other people’s failures with you and yours with others. These are the people you need to shed immediately.

In order to develop a winner’s mindset and believe in yourself, you must surround yourself with those who raise your standards and inspire you to do better.

Another critical thing winners keep in mind is to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. It is crucial to prioritize your goals and always keep improving yourself. Let the negativity roll off your back, focus on the positive, work smarter each day, and attend to your own convictions. And voila! No one can stop you from believing in your dreams and achieving whatever you set your mind to.

Conclusion

Now that you know what steps you need to take to believe in yourself and achieve your dreams, there is no time to waste. Set your goals and focus on the finish line. Always believe in yourself and your capabilities, and you will soon see how quickly your life and lifestyle changes.

Your success and your future are entirely in your hands. All you have to do is believe in yourself. Here’s a great article about the keys to business success.

The post How to Believe in Yourself appeared first on Small Business Coach.

My Personal Growth Story

One of the businesses I started had grown to about $1 million in sales, and it was growing beyond my ability to effectively lead it. I felt like I needed to grow personally in order to lead the business to more growth. Over the next few years I took action on my personal growth in a number of ways and my business grew to $8.5 million in annual sales prior to selling it to a publicly held company. Personal growth helped to pull me out of burnout and prepared me for rapid business growth.

Jim Rohn, one of my favorite motivational speakers said this, “A formal education will get you a job, but personal development will get you a fortune.” There is something powerful about choosing areas that you want to see personal growth!

10 Ways You Can Grow Yourself

Over the years I have coached hundreds of business owners in the area of leadership. Here are some ways I share with my clients to begin to grow yourself. Following these 10 ways you can grow yourself to change your life and business:

1. Make a List of Your Personal Growth Goals.

Decide where you want to improve. Some areas could include leadership, sales, marketing, reading financial statements, time management, process management, public speaking, etc. It has been said that “variety is the spice of life.” As you begin learning about new areas in business and learn more about areas that you have some knowledge, you become energized!  Use some of the following tools to begin growing. Write down at least one new task each day as you use the tools below:

2. Become a Reader.

You have likely heard the saying “Leaders are readers.” There are many successful business owners who don’t have a degree, but few leaders who don’t read. You can read eBooks, traditional books or even articles.

3. Listen to Books on Audible.

Zig Ziglar, the famous motivational speaker taught business owners to attend “Automobile University”. He recommended that while driving down to road you can listen to audio recordings of motivational speakers and other business training speakers to get an education. You can also listen while at the gym or waiting in lines, etc. Doing so will inject ideas and enthusiasm into your life.

4. Listen to Podcasts.

There are countless podcasts available on every topic imaginable for you to watch or listen to. Take advantage of these free resources.

5. Hire a Business Coach.

Without a doubt the biggest impact on myself and my business came from my decision to hire a business coach. Within just a few months of working with a coach my salary doubled and my work hours were cut in half! Since that time, I have always had a business coach.

A good business coach will teach you about many aspects of business (we have 36 coaching areas of business and will have 30 in by the 1^st Quarter of 2020. A good business coach will hold you accountable to the areas you want to improve. Finally, a good business coach will give you an amazing return on investment. It is not unusual to see 1000% ROI.

6. Watch Business Related TV Shows.

There are many TV shows that teach in the area of business. You can watch Shark Tank, The Profit, The Apprentice, Restaurant Impossible, etc.

7. Attend Industry Association Conferences.

Attend your industry association meetings and go to the workshop offerings. You will learn about elements of success in your industry.

8. Attend Webinars.

You can get education from the comfort of your home by attending webinars. With a free webinar you usually have to sit through a sales pitch. But you also can attend a paid seminar and get training on most any topic.

9. Attend Local Workshops/Seminars.

You can find all kinds of workshops on Facebook, Event Brite, and Meetup groups. Or search your community calendar for upcoming events

10. Get a Degree Online.

Do you regret not getting your degree? It’s never too late! You can get a fully-accredited degree by studying from anywhere you wish. There are many e-learning companies that offer online degrees and courses so you can learn almost any skill from home.  Through the CLEP and Dantes programs you can earn courses that apply to virtually all colleges and universities. And you can prepare for the exams by using tools such as instantcert.com . Many students have earned their bachelors degree in as little as 6 months.

Ray Kroc, creator of the franchising model for McDonalds said, “If you’re green you’re growing, if you’re ripe you rot.” Begin to grow yourself and your business will grow. It will change your life!

Summary

Has your business growth leveled off? Are you feeling stuck and burned out? Grow yourself! This is a very common position that business owners find themselves. Sometimes their business grows beyond their ability to effectively move forward to the next level. Follow these 10 ways to grow yourself and it will surely help you grow your business too.

The post 10 Ways to Grow Yourself So You Can Grow Your Business appeared first on Small Business Coach.