Tips to help with “I doubt my idea” moments

We all have those moments. You’re steaming along, working hard on your start up or side hustle, getting ready to launch it and then a sudden feeling of dread washes over you. It could be triggered by the idea of your best friends seeing what you’ve created, or maybe triggered by the idea of finally telling your coworkers you’re quitting to focus on your business. But that little though makes you want to sink to the floor and throw in the towel.

But the most comforting thing is knowing that as an emerging entrepreneur, we all go through this moment. It’s part of the transition. Almost a rite of passage, because if you overcome this feeling and continue to work on your business, that’s the true measure of success. Your happiness and your goals are what matters, which is why we’ve written about a few key ways to help you through those moments when doubt clouds you’re mind in this blog.

Nobody’s?opinion matters but your own

It’s easier said than done, only worrying about your own opinion. And most people, when you ask, will tell you they don’t care about the critics. But most likely, they do and so do you. Disregarding the opinions of people that really don’t matter takes time and practice, but it can help a lot when it comes to doubt.

If your doubt is founded because of some’s opinion close to you, you should try and identify why their opinion (if it were to be negative) actually makes you second guess your business idea. Then follow up that thought by asking yourself if they have ever tried to do what you’re doing. Be logical about the feelings you’re experiencing, and take time to understand if it really matters to you. The likelihood is, you’re scared of putting yourself out there and that you won’t be supported by some people because what you’re doing is not “safe”. But risk is guaranteed as an entrepreneur, and once you’ve accepted that risk is seldom supported by people who aren’t risk takers, the doubt begins to fade.

?A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we?re defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you?re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I?m not interested in your feedback.?

Bren? Brown

Moving forward is still moving forward

Another cause of doubt, when it comes to business, is that you’re not doing enough and you’re not moving fast enough for the market. On one hand yes, if you’re sitting on the couch doing absolutely nothing, then you’re not doing enough. But if you’re taking small consistent steps, chugging away at the work, then you’ll be amazed by what you will achieve over the long term.

By reminding yourself that you’re the turtle not the hare in this race, this will help a lot with your doubt. You’re not in the race to be the quickest to the mark as an emerging entrepreneur; you’re just happy to be in the race! Don’t beat yourself up looking at what you haven’t done, instead look back and celebrate all the work you’ve done and are still doing.

?If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you?ll never get it done.?

Bruce Lee

Find inspiration

Another reason you may feel doubtful is that you’ve become a bit more removed from your why than normal. Spend some time to refocus on why you want to start the business in the first place, and reimmerse yourself in that original inspiration.

Or better yet, find new ways to inspire yourself and push past the self doubt. Cleanse your social media feed and make sure only inspiring, strong videos and images are appearing. Train your subconscious to be the badass business powerhouse you know you are. Get so inspired, that doubt doesn’t even threaten you or your mission again.

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.

Stephen Hawking

Lean on your mastermind

If you’re not in a mastermind, then join one! And if you’re in one, and you’re doubting your business idea, throw yourself in the middle of that circle and stay there. By getting around likeminded people, you will lift yourself to their level. And if you’re part of a mastermind, where everyone is dedicated not only to their own success, but the success of everyone in the group, you’re bound to succeed.

You are the average of the top five people you spend the most time with. So by manipulating this to your advantage, you can make sure that the people you spend the most time with are pushing you to be better, not doubting you and criticising you in any way. And if they are, then they aren’t the right people!

Your network is your net worth.

Porter Gale

Mindset and doubt is not easy. It’s part of the journey we’re all on, and it’s up to us all to help each other lift. If you have a tip or trick that helps you through the moments of doubt that we haven’t mentioned, drop a comment below. We’d love to hear it.