Weekly-ish notes on navigating big change

#bizconfidencechallenge

How to take action (without waiting around for more confidence)

You have to take action, even when you don’t feel ready. Today we’re going to talk about what’s stopping you from taking the action you need to take… and how to do it anyhow. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast131/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You have to take action, even when you don’t feel ready.

Today we’re going to talk about what’s stopping you from taking the action you need to take… and how to do it anyhow.

But before we do, I want to let you know that tomorrow, on a free webinar, I’m going to be sharing my experience with taking a leave in my business – how I took 4 weeks mostly offline this summer as I dealt with a new medication and how I’m going to be mostly offline for 14 days during my upcoming trip to the UK. If you’re seeing this when this episode is released, you can sign up for that and to hear allll about how I did it at taraswiger.com/webinar. If you’re listening later you can find that webinar as part of my new class with Stacey Trock of FreshStitches: How to take a break (without breaking your biz). It’s got a workbook that guides you through everything you need to do to be ready for taking your own leave and an interactive Q+A with Stacey and me where we’ll help you develop your own leave – you can find it all at taraswiger.com/leave.

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

 

You Have Permission

Last week, I encouraged you to accept compliments, and boy, was it hard! One of the things I noticed in many challenger's posts (you can see them all here) was doubt about the validity of compliments. There was a lot of discounting compliments as not “real,” or the complimenter as not really knowing enough to have a valid compliment. In other words, even when you TRY to accept other people's compliments (and comments about your worthiness and awesomeness)... it's never enough. Another person can never give you enough validation to make you feel confident if you aren't already. Today, we’re going to talk about the step you can take today, with or without confidence, to move forward in your business: Permission. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast130/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Last week, I encouraged you to accept compliments, and boy, was it hard! One of the things I noticed in many challenger's posts (you can see them all here) was doubt about the validity of compliments. There was a lot of discounting compliments as not “real,” or the complimenter as not really knowing enough to have a valid compliment. In other words, even when you TRY to accept other people's compliments (and comments about your worthiness and awesomeness)… it's never enough.

Another person can never give you enough validation to make you feel confident if you aren't already.

Today, we’re going to talk about the step you can take today, with or without confidence, to move forward in your business: Permission.

Resources Mentioned:

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Join the Biz Confidence Challenge!

The Biz Confidence Challenge is LIVE once again (if you haven't joined us, it's not too late – sign up here!). The Challenge is a 6-week practice in building confidence in yourself, so you can move forward in your business. Each week I send one challenge for you to do and then share on Instagram (with the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge), then I explain how that  challenge will build your confidence in the next episode of the podcast, and then we dive even deeper and I'll share my own answer to the challenge + your reactions + I answer your questions in a weekly live webinar, each Thursday.

Sign up here to join the challenge!

Accept that Compliment

Wow, your hair looks fantastic today! Your business is really taking off! I love your shoes! Your work is beautiful! If I said this to you, face-to-face, how would you react? If you're like most women, you will probably deflect, laugh it off, or flat out argue with me (and studies show that if you're a man, or are already pretty confident, you probably won’t.) This week's #BizConfidenceChallenge is simple, but SO HARD for many of us: Accept all compliments. It's not as easy as it sounds, but it's sooooo important for personal AND professional reasons! Listen to the episode at TaraSwiger.com/podcast129/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Wow, your hair looks fantastic today!
Your business is really taking off!
I love your shoes!
Your work is beautiful!

If I said this to you, face-to-face, how would you react?

If you're like most women, you will probably deflect, laugh it off, or flat out argue with me (and studies show that if you're a man, or are already pretty confident, you probably won’t.)

This week's #BizConfidenceChallenge is simple, but SO HARD for many of us: Accept all compliments.

It's not as easy as it sounds, but it's sooooo important for personal AND professional reasons!

In this episode, we'll discuss:

  • How to accept a compliment
  • How NOT accepting a compliment undermines your reputation
  • How accepting compliments builds your confidence

Resources Mentioned:

Get more goodness and support the podcast: http://patreon.com/taraswiger

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Join the Biz Confidence Challenge!

The Biz Confidence Challenge is LIVE once again (if you haven't joined us, it's not too late – sign up at the bottom of this post!). The Challenge is a 6-week practice in building confidence in yourself, so you can move forward in your business. Each week I send one challenge for you to do and then share on Instagram (with the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge), then I explain how that  challenge will build your confidence in the next episode of the podcast, and then we dive even deeper and I'll share my own answer to the challenge + your reactions + I answer your questions in a weekly live webinar, each Thursday.

Sign up here to join the challenge!

Don’t Wait to be Chosen

You have done amazing things in your life + biz - so why are you waiting around before you do MORE amazing things? Do you think someone "more important" or more famous or bigger or better needs to choose you before you can "make it" and move forward? Stop waiting and start doing - with confidence. Visit TaraSwiger.com/podcast128 for more info!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Get more goodness and support the podcast: http://patreon.com/taraswiger

The reaction to the Biz Confidence Challenge so far blows me away. YOU have so much to be proud of, you have so much to build your confidence on! So… what’s up with the self-doubt?

Why do you doubt you can do awesome things when you’ve already done SO MUCH?

Often self-doubt (or lack of confidence) is tied to fear – we hold ourselves back (or think we're not good enough), not because we have any proof, but because we're waiting on… something.

You may not have even thought of it consciously before, but if you aren't taking the action you want to take, you're waiting on something.

In this episode, I'm full of questions – and you can get a FREE worksheet to help you answer them when you sign up to join the Biz Confidence Challenge, below!

Listen along with your free workbook so you can figure it out – what are YOU waiting for?

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Join the Biz Confidence Challenge!

A new round of the (live) Biz Confidence Challenge started this week (if you haven't joined us, it's not too late – sign up at the bottom of this post!). The Challenge is a 6-week practice in building confidence in yourself, so you can move forward in your business. Each week I send one challenge for you to do and then share on Instagram (with the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge), then I explain how that  challenge will build your confidence in the next episode of the podcast, and then we dive even deeper and I'll share my own answer to the challenge + your reactions + I answer your questions in a weekly live webinar, each Thursday.

Sign up here to join the challenge!

What Confidence IS and IS NOT (and why you need it in your handmade biz)

This week's challenge in the Biz Confidence challenge was to list 3 things you're proud of. Not just list them for yourself, but share them with the community on Instagram, using the hashtag #bizconfidencechalenge. And friends, this is hard! Today we're going to talk about why it's hard, and why you need to do it. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast126/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Get more goodness and support the podcast: http://patreon.com/taraswiger

This week's challenge in the Biz Confidence challenge was to list 3 things you're proud of. Not just list them for yourself, but share them with the community on Instagram, using the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge. And friends, this is hard! Today we're going to talk about why it's hard, and why you need to do it.

Resources + Links Mentioned

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Join the Biz Confidence Challenge!

A new round of the (live) Biz Confidence Challenge started this week (if you haven't joined us, it's not too late – sign up at the bottom of this post!). The Challenge is a 6-week practice in building confidence in yourself, so you can move forward in your business. Each week I send one challenge for you to do and then share on Instagram (with the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge), then I explain how that  challenge will build your confidence in the next episode of the podcast, and then we dive even deeper and I'll share my own answer to the challenge + your reactions + I answer your questions in a weekly live webinar, each Thursday.

Sign up here to join the challenge!

The Difference between Arrogance and Confidence

There's a difference between arrogance and confidence, and your confusion about the two might be hurting your business. Today, inspired by the participants of the Biz Confidence Challenge, we're going to talk about the difference between being arrogant and being confident in your business and your product and why it's important for you to be proud of your work. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast93/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

There's a difference between arrogance and confidence, and your confusion about the two might be hurting your business. Today, inspired by the participants of the Biz Confidence Challenge, we're going to talk about the difference between being arrogant and being confident in your business and your product and why it's important for you to be proud of your work.

You can join the totally free 6 week Biz Confidence Challenge at TaraSwiger.com/bizconfidence + you can participate in the community by using the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge.

 

How to listen

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Build your business, grow your confidence.

bizconfidence

How do I keep my self-doubt from holding me back?
How do I move forward even when I don't feel like it?

These are the questions we all come up against, especially as we start to do something new and challenging, like starting or growing a business based on our creativity.

The answer is: Confidence.

Not “just force yourself to do it.” Not “just wait until you feel ready.”

The answer is: Identify the doubt, build your confidence in that area, and then move forward, bit by bit.

Oh, I know, it's more fun to focus on the tactical stuff, like growing your Instagram followers or learning Periscope, but remember, none of the tactics (and no amount of followers) will matter if you don't know where your business is going; and beyond that, none of the tactics in the world matter if you don't DO them.

When I talk to makers about their businesses (and when I look at my own), what I discover 99% of the time is that we all know a BUNCH of stuff we COULD do, but we feel held back from actually DOING it.

To be totally honest, I know about a million things I could be doing for my business, but I don't do them because… I don't have the confidence.

An example: Recently a friend (who is in the industry and knows a lot of great people) sent me a request from a journalist looking for an expert in exactly what I teach. And I hesitated to reply to it, for over an hour, because I thought: I'm not an expert enough.

I finally did it, but afterward I realized how much a lack of confidence could have cost me in that moment, and how much it's cost me over the life of my business.

I bet, if I asked you to, you could tell me a similar story in your own business, from just this month.

So I ask: What would less self-doubt and more confidence do for your business? How would you act? What would change?

In a recent podcast episode, I lay out 7 ways to defeat self-doubt (and build your confidence), but just knowing these things is different than DOING them. Doing them takes time, and focus, and dedication.

So let's do it, eh?

Let's take the actions, together (because, yeah, I need it too).

Over the next 6 weeks, I'm going to challenge us both to take one action, each week, to move forward, build our biz confidence, and step into our own awesomeness. And I’ll be playing along too, and sharing my own progress.

Here's how it'll work:

Each Monday, I'll post a challenge on Instagram. (Be sure you're following me!) This will be one action you can take during the week, that will build your confidence. When you complete the challenge, snap a picture and share it with the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge (I’ll also email you this challenge, as I know you may not be on Instagram!)

Each Friday, I'll send a lesson to build on the challenge and explore it deeper. Sign  up here to get them!

I'll post a discussion thread on the Facebook page (be sure you've liked it, and that you like a few posts, so Facebook actually shows it to you!), so that after you've read the lesson, we can discuss your experience with the challenge and what you've learned.

These confidence-building lessons + stories will only be available to email subscribers, so if you'd like to share it with friends, please tell them to sign up here! (And don't forget to sign up for yourself, too!)

What would change in your business if self-doubt no longer held you back? #bizconfidencechallenge

Click To Tweet

Are you in?

Ok! Here are the steps you need to take:

  • Be sure you're following me on Instagram
  • Share this page with your friends
  • Like the Facebook page and join the discussion.Answer the question here: What specific action has self-doubt kept you from taking, in just the last month?
  • Take a picture that represents something you'd do in your biz, if you had more confidence.
  • Share it on Instagram and tag it #bizconfidencechallenge.

#BizConfidenceChallenge update!

How much would your business grow if you stopped letting self-doubt hold you back from doing what you most want to do? Join me for a FREE 6-week ecourse to build your confidence, crush self-doubt, and grow your business. At TaraSwiger.com/bizconfidence

Are you following along the #BizConfidenceChallenge? I have been blown away by the depth and brilliance of the replies so far. I wanted to celebrate this Confidence Journey we've started together, by highlighting a few of the replies here. You can find more on Instagram here. (If you can't see photos below, you might need to click through!)

If you haven't joined in yet, it's not too late! Just sign up here and reply to one of the past challenges (below) or start with the very next challenge! (You'll get the next lesson on Thursday and the next challenge on Monday.)

 

Challenge #1 of the BizConfidenceChallenge

 

Week 2:

Last week’s reaction to the #BizConfidenceChallenge blew me away. YOU have so much to be proud of, you have so much to build your confidence on! So…what’s up with the self-doubt? Why do you doubt you can do awesome things when you’ve already done SO MUCH? Often self-doubt (or lack of confidence) is tied to fear – we hold ourselves back (or think we're not good enough), not because we have any proof, but because we're afraid of … something. When I ask my clients and students what they're afraid of, the answer usually surprises them. (It's easy to let the fear rule you, without ever even knowing it's there!) And yet their answer never surprises me – I’ve either felt it myself, or talked to MANY makers who have! But once they identify the fear, we can work with it. We can question it, challenge it, or just allow it to hang around. (@Elizabeth_Gilbert_writer talks about letting your fear ride with your creativity in #bigmagic). That's your challenge this week: Look at WHAT lack-of-confidence is holding you back from. (Sharing your work? Social media? Sending a newsletter? Hiring help? Taking the next step?) Then ask: What am I afraid of? If I did the thing now, what am I afraid of happening? Finally ask: What's the WORST that can happen if that fear comes true? Could I survive it? And what's the REALISTIC outcome? This isn't (necessarily) going to dispel this fear forever, and that's not our goal. Our aim is to see it for what it is and RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN SURVIVE IT. You see, even the most confident, brave people feel fear (of being “found out”, of being judged, etc.). The difference is, they feel confident that they can handle it, and so the fear doesn’t keep them from doing what they need to do. ✨To take part in the challenge: Share a photo inspired by either *What your fear holds you back from doing in your biz *What you're afraid of *Your worst case scenario and tag it #BizConfidenceChallenge! New to the challenge? Learn more and sign up for free lessons in profile!

A photo posted by Tara Swiger (@taraswiger) on

Know some friends who could use a confidence boost?

Share the challenge!

I’m joining @TaraSwiger for the FREE 6-week course + #bizconfidencechallenge here:

Click To Tweet

The Power of Confidence + your invitation to a free e-course

What would you do in your biz if self doubt weren't holding you back? Join me for a FREE 6-week e-course to build your biz confidence, at TaraSwiger.com.

 

This week on the podcast, I'm talking about how to Defeat Self Doubt. This is a question that comes up for so many makers:

How do I keep my self-doubt from holding me back?

How do I move forward even when I don't feel like it?

The answer is: Confidence.

Not “just force yourself to do it.” Not “just wait until you feel ready.”

The answer is: Identify the doubt, build your confidence in that area, and then move forward, bit by bit.

Oh, I know, it's more fun to focus on the tactical stuff, like growing your Instagram followers or learning Periscope, but remember, none of the tactics (and no amount of followers) will matter if you don't know where your business is going….and beyond that, none of the tactics in the world matter if you don't DO them.

When I talk to makers about their businesses (and when I look at my own), what I discover 99% of the time is that we all know a BUNCH of stuff we COULD do, but we feel held back from actually DOING it.

To be totally honest, I know about a million things I could be doing for my business, but I don't do them because … I don't have the confidence. An example: Last week a friend (who is in the industry and knows a lot of great people) sent me a request from a journalist looking for an expert in exactly what I teach. And I hesitated to reply to it, for over an hour, because I thought: I'm not an expert enough.

I finally did it, but afterward I realized how much a lack of confidence could have cost me in that moment, and how much it's cost me over the life of my business.

I bet, if I asked you to, you could tell me a similar story in your own business, from just this month.

So I ask: What would less self-doubt and more confidence do for your business? How would you act? What would change?

In the podcast episode, I lay out 7 ways to defeat self-doubt (and build your confidence), but just knowing these things is different than DOING them. Doing them takes time, and focus, and dedication.

 

So let's do it, eh?

Let's take the actions, together (because, yeah, I need it too).

Over the next 6 weeks, I'm going to challenge us both to take one action, each week, to move forward, build our biz confidence, and step into our own awesomeness. And I’ll be playing along too, and sharing my own progress.

Here's how it'll work:

Each Monday, I'll post a challenge on Instagram. (Be sure you're following me!) This will be one action you can take during the week, that will build your confidence. When you complete the challenge, snap a picture and share it with the hashtag #bizconfidencechallenge

Each Thursday,I'll send a lesson (you must be signed up here to get it) to build on the challenge and explore it deeper.

I'll post a discussion thread on the Facebook page (be sure you've liked it, and that you like a few posts, so Facebook actually shows it to you!), so that after you've read the lesson, we can discuss your experience with the challenge and what you've learned.

 

Are you in?

Ok! Here are the steps you need to take:

  1. Sign up for the weekly lessons here
  2. Be sure you're following me on Instagram
  3. Share this page with your friends
  4. Like the Facebook page and join the discussion. Answer the question here: What specific action has self-doubt kept you from taking, in just the last month?
  5. Take a picture that represents something you'd do in your biz, if you had more confidence. Share it on Instagram and tag it #bizconfidencechallenge.
I'm joining @TaraSwiger for a FREE 6-week e-course – the #bizconfidencechallenge:

Click To Tweet