Written by: Beth Rohani, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Among the characteristics a successful entrepreneur must possess is confidence. It provides the foundation for building your venture and making critical decisions. You need to gain self-confidence to communicate your vision, lead your team, and make tough calls necessary to grow and succeed.
Launching a business is risky, and it takes guts. You need confidence in yourself, instill it in your team, and make your clients feel confident in purchasing your service or product.
The entrepreneurial journey is a challenging one. I speak from experience. There will be setbacks and failures along the way. However, self-confidence will help you move beyond those setbacks and not dwell on your mistakes.
Why women need to be confident
As a female leader, self-confidence is one of the keys to success. Unfortunately, women, in general, are faced with intense pressure and the need to conform to society's expectations of how we carry ourselves, what we say, and how we look.
When I was 18, I competed in the Miss Texas USA Pageant. The experience was pivotal in my growth and taught me why we need to be confident in ourselves – especially as women. For an entire year, I trained how to talk, how to walk, and how to best answer the judges’ questions.
Then, I was put on stage next to contestants bred to be pageant queens from infancy, and I felt way out of place. I could have easily run the other way and bailed. But instead, I held my head high and gathered the confidence to compete. And while I was not crowned the overall winner, I was given the title of Miss Congeniality, which was so much more meaningful, because this title was chosen by the delegates who got to see me and chose me for me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate and one I could have missed out on because I "thought I was not experienced enough" or "doubted myself."
Building self-confidence, especially as a female entrepreneur, will help you achieve what you never thought was possible. Believing in myself has catapulted me to success as president and CEO of Ameritex Movers, one of the top moving companies in Houston. But I wouldn't be where I am today without the various experiences that challenged me to have self-confidence.
Women, in particular, need to be confident because it can significantly impact not only their careers but their professional lives as well. Here are a few reasons why:
Self-acceptance: I can't emphasize this point enough. It's so important to accept yourself for who you are. Doing so can lead to better mental health and improved self-esteem.
Positive relationships: When you are confident, it's easier to build positive relationships, and you are more likely to attract people who respect you and value you for who you are.
Assertiveness: When you are confident in yourself, you might find it easier to stand up for yourself when necessary. This is equally important in the workplace and personal relationships.
Empowerment: Having confidence is empowering. It enables you to take control of your life and pursue your goals with passion and determination.
When you're not feeling confident
Inevitably, we won't feel confident all of the time. I know that I don't. We will be confronted with some challenging situation or person and question our abilities. It's OK not to feel confident 100% of the time. No matter how we appear on the outside or on our social media feeds, we all suffer from imposter syndrome at one time or another.
When you are not feeling confident, here are some suggestions that you might find helpful:
Pinpoint the reason: Try to figure out what triggered your feeling of self-doubt. Once you identify the cause, it may become easier to address and overcome.
Give yourself a pep talk: This is one way I overcome my insecurities – I look in the mirror and give myself a pep talk. I switch my mindset, look at the situation from a different perspective, and then am ready to face the challenge ahead of me.
Practice self-care: When you are constantly busy taking care of business or others, putting your needs on the back burner is easy. Eating well, exercising, getting plenty of exercise, and engaging in your favorite hobbies can improve your self-confidence.
Shut down negative talk: Negative self-talk can undermine your confidence. Reminding yourself of your strengths and all you have accomplished is the best way to counteract "Downer Debbie."
Learn a new skill: When you open your mind to learning a new skill or taking on a new challenge, it can boost your confidence and a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
Confidence doesn't happen overnight
Building self-confidence is not something you can necessarily do overnight. And once you have it, there will be moments of doubt and wondering if you have what it takes to achieve your dream or overcome an obstacle. When you are faced with these moments, take a moment and remind yourself how far you have come and regain the dominance.
As entrepreneurs, it's important to remember that confidence is contagious. When you are confident, it inspires others to become more confident, which leads to a better work environment, collaboration, and overall success through your life’s journeys.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info!
Beth Rohani, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Beth Rohani leads the 1 moving company serving the Houston Multi-Family Industry and her company is considered one of Top 3 Best Rated Moving Companies in Houston. As a first generation Iranian-American, former TV news assignments editor and CEO of a transportation and logistics based business in a male-dominated industry, Beth embraces the stereotypes while inspiring and mentoring others to build a successful business with a balance to live their best life.
