There are a number of things entrepreneurs need to be successful.
A brilliant business idea. Money or investors. A solid marketing plan. A
smart team to help you start up. But there's at least one thing that a
true entrepreneur needs above all others: confidence.
It takes someone who is courageous and determined to be able to bring
a new product or service to market, especially one that people haven't
seen before. A person needs to be bold and ballsy to lead a team,
communicate a vision and grow a company.
While no one is immune to bouts of insecurity, entrepreneurs who want
to be successful need to be confident in who they are and what they're
doing -- and be able to instill that same spirit in the people who will
help them achieve that success.
Know yourself.
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Entrepreneurs often try to be and do all things at all times.
Unless you have superhuman powers, that probably isn't possible. Plus,
let's face it: you're most likely not an expert at everything you need
to do to get your startup off the ground.
But don't sweat it. Assess yourself. Realize what you're awesome at
and what you're not. Be confident about the skills and capabilities you
possess and focus on those. Hire people to handle the rest.
Set reasonable expectations.
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Once you're laser-focused on the things you're good at, also
understand what's humanly possible to accomplish. Things don't always
need to be 100 percent perfect. Even rock star leaders are bound to fail
when they hold themselves to unreasonable expectations.
You can set your own internal bar for success by measuring it against
what you expect of your peers. You could also ask a mentor to tell you
how much he or she would expect of you. Then be confident in what you
can accomplish.
Ditch the negativity.
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As the saying goes, there's no crying in baseball. Likewise,
negativity and confidence don't go together. A person can't be truly
confident if he or she is focused on feelings of anxiety or doubt.
If you feel negative about something then put that assumption to the
test. Say, for instance, you think that you're terrible at giving
presentations. Ask yourself why it is you feel that way? What's the
evidence that supports it or is against it? If the feeling has merit,
figure out what you can do to solve the issue and be more confident.
Dress for success.
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Don't just act the part -- look it. Dressing sharp can improve the
way others see you as well as the way you see yourself. Appropriate
attire depends on a number of factors, including the industry you're in,
but as a general rule you should dress in a manner that suggests that
you are proud, prepared and in control.
Read More: 6 Tips for Staying Supercharged
Act without hesitation.
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Looking good is only half the battle. A successful entrepreneur
will also want to act confident. Someone who is visibly confident won't
hesitate between a decision to act and the action. Whatever it is, just
go for it. If you're feeling unsure about the same action over and over
again, ask yourself what's holding you back. The answer can help you
overcome any lack of confidence.
Read More: How to Project Confidence
Prepare yourself.
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In order to act without hesitating, you need to be prepared. It
might sound obvious, but don't go into a meeting without doing your
homework. The same goes for any other part of your business. Taking
action based on tangible knowledge is better than going into something
cold. Preparation helps erase self-doubt and makes you look good.
Read More: When Overconfidence Backfires
Don't let over-confidence hinder your success.
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After starting and growing a company to early success,
entrepreneurs can sometimes let confidence go to their heads. Not only
can over-confidence be a turn off for others, it can blind you to
important changes you need to make at your company. Being confident
shouldn't make you think you can do no wrong. When markets shift, you
can't always stay the course and ride the success you've enjoyed so far.
A confident entrepreneur will know when to make the changes that will
set his or her company up for success.
Read More: How Much Confidence Is Too Much?
Read More: How Much Confidence Is Too Much?
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