Written by Kelsey Bornyk, Beautifully Broken Transformations
Kelsey Bornyk is an esteemed artist, creator and coach, pioneering in therapeutic art and mindfulness to empower busy entrepreneur women to flourish, transform their challenges, break through barriers and step back into their power. Founder of Beautifully Broken Transformations, she leverages her experiences to help guide others on their journey.
Are you a female entrepreneur struggling with self-doubt, feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of running your business? Discover powerful strategies to build unshakeable confidence, conquer self-sabotage, and unlock your full potential. In this article, we will offer practical steps for combining mental fitness techniques, therapeutic art, and business wisdom to transform your entrepreneurial journey.
Understanding the roots of self-doubt in female entrepreneurship
Before we jump into solutions, it's essential to understand where self-doubt often stems from:
Societal expectations and historical underrepresentation in business
As women, we've long faced unique challenges in the business world. Historically, entrepreneurship has been male-dominated, leaving us with fewer role models and mentors. Society often expects us to juggle multiple roles flawlessly – be a successful entrepreneur, a nurturing mother, a supportive partner, and so much more. These expectations can create extreme pressure and stress, which will feed into your self-doubt.
These expectations might have you questioning whether you can compete in male-dominated industries, or you may feel pressured to prove yourself constantly. But at the end of the day, it's important to remember that these barriers are societal constructs and not reflections of your capabilities.
Psychological phenomena like imposter syndrome
Let's talk about imposter syndrome, particularly among high-achieving women. It's that nagging feeling that you don't deserve your success or that you'll be "found out" as a fraud. As female entrepreneurs, we often downplay our achievements, attributing them to luck rather than skill and hard work.
You might experience these feelings when pitching to investors, networking with peers, or celebrating your wins. It's important to recognize these feelings for what they are – unfounded doubts, not reality. They are created through our negative thought patterns, which is good news because we can re-train our brain to utilize our positive thought patterns more often, quieting our feelings of imposter syndrome.
Balancing multiple roles and responsibilities
As female entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves wearing many hats – business owners, partners, mothers, friends, and more. This constant juggling act can lead to feelings of overwhelm and self-doubt. You might question whether you're doing enough in any one area, leading to guilt and stress.
For example, you might feel torn between attending an important business meeting and being present for a family event. Or you might struggle with setting boundaries between work and personal life, especially if you're like so many of us working from home nowadays.
Finding and understanding the roots of your self-doubt is the first step in overcoming them and remembering that these challenges are everyday experiences shared by many successful female entrepreneurs. In the following sections, we'll explore practical strategies to build confidence and thrive despite our challenges as female entrepreneurs.
These factors don't define you—they're challenges to overcome, not insurmountable obstacles.
6 powerful steps to build confidence as a female entrepreneur
1. Conduct a thorough self-assessment
First, take a deep, honest look at yourself. What are your strengths? Where do you shine? And what areas need improvement.
Action step: Conduct a personal SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). This will give you a clear picture of where you are and where you can grow.
2. Invest in skill-building and education
Next is building your skills because knowledge is power; in the business world, it's also confidence. Continuous learning and updating or upgrading your skills is crucial for success and staying on top of your game.
Action step: Identify a skill you'd like to improve and find a course or workshop to help you master it. Remember, no prior experience is needed to start this growth journey, and don't forget to have fun with it!
3. Leverage mentorship and networking
Now, this next step is so essential: surround yourself with supportive, like-minded women who understand your journey. A strong network can provide advice, support, and inspiration when you need it most. Find your Tribe!
Action step: Join our Creative Mindset Mastery & Productivity Lab for Women in Business. This community is designed to nurture your mind and inspire your soul while connecting you with other ambitious female entrepreneurs.
4. Set realistic and achievable goals
Our next step is to break down your big dreams into manageable, achievable goals. This approach helps build confidence as you consistently make progress.
Action step: Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to set one personal and one business goal for the next month. Try my SMART Goals worksheet!
5. Develop resilience through positive intelligence
Resilience is key in entrepreneurship, and keep in mind that setbacks are not failures; they're opportunities for growth. Developing resilience through mental fitness is vital to maintaining confidence in the face of challenges. Therefore, developing a positive mindset is crucial to success as a business owner.
Action step: Try a daily PQ rep (Positive Intelligence exercise). Take a few deep breaths and focus on a physical sensation for 10 seconds. This simple practice can help build your self-command muscle and quiet your inner critic.
6. Embrace creativity and therapeutic art
Let's remember ART! Art isn't just a hobby; it's a powerful tool for self-discovery, stress reduction, and building confidence. You don't need to be a professional artist to benefit from creative expression.
Action step:
Set aside 15 minutes for a simple art journaling session.
Express your feelings, goals, or challenges through colors, shapes, or words.
Remember, there's no right or wrong in art – it's all about the process!
Leveraging technology to boost confidence
Let's get a bit technical; technology can be a powerful ally in your confidence-building journey in today's digital age. Here are some tools that can help streamline your operations and boost your confidence:
1. Project management tools like Notion or Asana
2. Time-tracking apps like RescueTime
3. Social media scheduling tools like Metricool or Later
4. Financial management software like QuickBooks or Wise
By mastering these tools, you can feel more in control of your business operations, leading to increased confidence in your abilities as an entrepreneur.
The power of role models and mindfulness
Now, let's circle back to the ever-important impact of having strong female role models in your entrepreneurial journey, seeking out successful women in your industry, and learning from their experiences. Collecting their stories of overcoming challenges can be incredibly inspiring and confidence-boosting, and trading experiences can make you feel less alone in the process. I said it before and will repeat it: Find your tribe... it will make all the difference in your journey.
Additionally, incorporating mindfulness practices into your daily routine can significantly improve your mental well-being and, consequently, your confidence. Consider starting your day with a short meditation or gratitude practice to set a positive tone for the day ahead.
Your beautifully broken journey awaits
Remember, my dear friends, you are beautifully broken – and that's your superpower. Your challenges, your doubts, your setbacks – they're all part of your unique story. They don't diminish your worth; they enhance it.
As you navigate this journey of self-discovery and confidence-building, know that you're not alone. We're here to support you every step of the way, whether through our one-on-one coaching, our 8-week Positive Intelligence Training program, or our supportive Facebook community in Creative Mindset Mastery & Productivity Lab for Women in Business.
Your confidence is waiting to be unleashed. Are you ready to embrace it? Let's start this transformative journey together. Because when you believe in yourself, there's no limit to what you can achieve.
Ready to start your confidence-building journey? Join our Creative Mindset Mastery & Productivity Lab for Women in Business today and connect with a community of supportive, like-minded female entrepreneurs!
Read more from Kelsey Bornyk
Kelsey Bornyk, Beautifully Broken Transformations
Kelsey Bornyk is an esteemed artist, creator, and transformative coach specializing in therapeutic art and mindfulness for busy entrepreneur women as they navigate the complexities of stress, overwhelm, and life's turbulence. Drawing from her battle with chronic health conditions, mental health challenges, overwhelm and a profound shift from 14 years in corporate registry work to entrepreneurship, she founded Beautifully Broken Transformations. Her work, deeply rooted in her journey towards healing and empowerment, aims to guide and inspire individuals from feeling stress and overwhelm to a state of calm, clarity and empowerment.
