“Fear leads to self-doubt which is the worst enemy of creativity.”

David Ogilvy

Has the thought of “am I truly made for this entrepreneurial journey” ever visited your mind?

Or maybe, you’re like me — you’re more optimistic, and your gut assures you that things will turn out well in the end.

You just know it. But…

Somehow, things seem to go awry… People whom you trusted to find support from, say things that snuff out your already flickering flame. Inside, you feel like you’ve been stabbed with their words that were blunt enough to cut like a sharp knife.

But here you are, my fellow survivor.

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

Friedrich Nietzsche (not Kanye West)

This piece is written with my heart in my hands. If you’re reading this, I promise you that this will change the trajectory that you’re heading for the better.

I’m just like you — you’d give up safety for adventure; you’d take risks for things that you see potential in. No matter what phase of an entrepreneur’s journey you’re at right now… Just keep on keeping on. And if need be, take a step back. Trust me, that step could be the very thing you had to do to propel you 10 steps forward.

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

Listed below are 3 golden keys that successful WOMEN have.

1. Being Optimistic

Being optimistic might seem “ignorant” or “delusional” to a realist. But studies have shown that optimism is an essential trait to find success. What you believe in, or let yourself believe becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Hoping to get a confidence boost? Try being a little more optimistic.

Sometimes you really just got to let go and jump into the deep.

You planned it all out, you’ve done your due diligence and researched what you could… You’re ready to take action!

At this moment, I guarantee you that flashes of what’s on the line, doubts on whether it’ll work or not, and a hundred more “what-ifs” are coming. But, just give yourself a second to be a child and let go of all the things that can’t be controlled.

2. Being Persistent

As much as stepping the path less traveled forces you to grow exponentially, and learn things through painful and unforgettable trial-and-error, remember to still have faith like a child.

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without the loss of enthusiasm.”

Winston Churchill

Know that the lows of life or business are never forever as long as there’s action being taken. Life is that b*tch who is indifferent to how badly hurt you’re going to get from what she throws at you. You have to get up!

What does getting back up means?

It means having control over your emotions and reminding yourself to establish a growth mindset.

NEWS FLASH! Successful women do feel sad, get angry, and probably got lost more times than you and I have. No matter, they still find this drive to just try one more time. They let themselves learn from mistakes and failures instead of staying down on the ground, therefore they have this substance and grit that we all admire.

These successful women were persistent.

3. Being Confident

You know how we, as ladies, would appreciate a second opinion on whether our shoes match the outfit we’re wearing. Or if this particular top makes us look fat.

80% of the time as an entrepreneur, you’re not going to have this privilege. It is not the easiest thing to find someone who truly understands, or who is able to elevate you. Finding assurance within yourself is the key to being confident.

If you find that confidence is one thing that you’d like to get better at, I’ve got good news for you! It can be practiced. You don’t have to be naturally confident to be a confident person…

Confidence can be practiced.

Here are 3 confidence-boosting habits I make myself do:

#1: Talk to Yourself Aloud

A form of introspection… When you become more self-aware and when you focus on your strengths, you’ll become someone whom you never thought you could be (in a good way).

Use a mirror, a spoon, or take a video recording of yourself. Speak out loud what’s troubling you and then, lay out the solutions you think could work. Choose your action plan and tell yourself what you’d tell someone else who’s facing the same situation as you.

Practicing speaking out loud in confidence solidifies positive thinking about yourself.

#2: Present to Others Like You Know What You’re Doing

People trust confidence. It’s a given.

When you practice talking to your family, friends, or prospects, you’ll only get better and more comfortable at it. Whatever doubts that you have in mind, understand that only you are aware of it.

You don’t have to know everything, you just need to know what’s needed (for now).

Start presenting like you know what you’re doing.

#3: Let Your Yes be Yes and No be No

Aim to not be so easily swayed by someone else’s opinion. It might be from someone close and important to you, however, confidence comes from liberation from these fragments of several people’s opinions.

Ultimately, it comes back to what you think and what you’re going to do about it.

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

With these 3 golden keys, as well as the 3 habits to grow your confidence…

I’ll give you my vote — I say yes, you do!

To be insanely honest, strategies that you’re seeking to find success are useless until you’ve mustered enough courage to JUST TRY.

UPDATE: When I first wrote this article on 13th Aug 2018, I was just a (struggling) freelance writer who doesn’t know if I’m billing invoices right. Today, on 6th May 2020, I’m running my own social media agency! Just wanted to share with you ladies (and gentlemen) to take every day as it is. You CAN do it 🙂

Jamie Cheng

Jamie Cheng is the Co-Founder of Digital Alpha Agency. Digital Alpha Agency’s goal is to be the bridge that enables businesses to go digital and continue to thrive today and beyond. We specialise in social media growth and sales funnel optimisation, where we help you increase your revenue through organic & paid social media, and email marketing.