Don't Give Up

Sometimes it’s hard for me to keep going and I ask myself if I am really cut out to be a solopreneur. Maybe it would be much easier to join a team or a corporate environment where history, culture and shared goals create enough momentum to get through the rough patches.

I am lucky enough to have great colleagues who are willing to listen, coach or empathize. But ultimately, it usually comes down to me and my business. And no matter how certain I am of what I am taking on; no matter how passionate I believe in my own brand of genius; no matter how committed I am to putting in long hours; being mostly alone on the job can lead to lots of self-doubt.

When I push past my limits to dive into new territory I find myself battling with the voice inside that echoes from my past: “Who do you think you are?” I am disappointed that it still has power over me and can stop me in my tracks. As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I crumble and begin to question my every move.

And sometimes I just keep going. I take a deep breath, and even when I don’t feel the same excitement and resonance that sparked my new adventure, I take baby steps towards what I dream of. The ‘Who do you think you are?’ voice can elicit lots of self-diminishment and yet it can also prompt me to reflect on the proof that I am doing very good work and have lots of evidence that I’m on target.

It occurs to me that many of us are hard-wired to keep going; to not give up. How else could we overcome some of the challenges that block our path at every turn? Tune in next time for some proven tips on facing down the inner critic.

Ms. Daryl Wood, CPCC is a fearless champion of No-Drama Living for Women in Leadership.