Overcoming imposter syndrome as a mom entrepreneur
“What the heck are you doing?
You don’t even belong in this space.”
No, nobody has ever said this to me directly, but it sure feels like it sometimes. My inner mean girl voice can be freaking cruel.
I started my new business nearly six months ago and I’m absolutely loving the direction it’s headed. But I can’t stop dealing with the most annoying imposter syndrome.
Prior to opening my business, I was staying at home basically full time with my almost five-year-old and one-year-old. Being a stay-at-home-mom is the most difficult job in the world. I’m certain of it. Not only are you trying to keep tiny humans alive, but also work on yourself while teaching your kids to be good people, too. So why in the world is that I was totally capable of doing that hard job, but now that I’m in business for myself I feel totally out of my league.
If you’re a mom like me dealing with the same feelings and insecurities, here are tips on overcoming it anytime those sneaky thoughts creep into your mind.
Expert or not, you have unique services to offer.
Sure, being the very best at what you do would be freaking amazing! But let’s be real here, this isn’t the most attainable. Here’s the truth: You are the only one that can do what you do in your own way. Don’t devalue that. You have something to offer that is needed. If you’re feeling insecure about your business, keep reading.
Knowledge is a total confidence booster.
Those with booming businesses didn’t get there by accident. They invested in their businesses through education. There are tons of courses, e-guides, downloads and resources out there for your industry. Limited on funds? Download the free courses! And when the money is available, invest! Take a course or class.
“Yeah, but what if I don’t have the extra funds?”
Utilize the freebies available to you. There are millions of fantastic resources out there at your fingertips. Tons of great mom entrepreneurs just like you provide great nuggets of info for free. Grab those freebies and start with that!
Make comparisons based on where you started, not to someone else.
It is entirely too easy to look at someone in the same space and think ‘Holy smokes, I suck.’ You don’t. And to be honest, it’s a total BS comparison. You don’t have any idea how long they’ve been in business, where they came from, prior experience, their schedule, the help they get daily, etc. Just knock it off! Okay?
Give yourself a fair comparison. Where did YOU start? Are you making progress? Are you heading in the right direction? You should be comparing you to YOU, not to anyone else. Which brings me to probably one of the most important tips.
Give yourself all the grace and focus on gratitude.
Look, motherhood is hard. Business is hard. And you are taking on both at the same time. This journey you’re on isn’t linear and the fact that you’re tearing yourself apart isn’t going to make it any easier. So do yourself a favor and give yourself all the grace. Showing gratitude in all the little moments has given me such a great perspective. If you can shift your mindset to focusing on the little things you’re grateful for, you’ll have a much better outlook. Start small with one thing; write it down if you have to. Put a sticky note on your computer. If you can start making it a habit, whatever you write down becomes true.
Remember, being a mom entrepreneur is such a privilege. You have the opportunity to do the most amazing job raising babies AND fulfill some passions of your own in business. Is it easy? No, but you’re not in it alone.
I hope this helps. You’ve got this, momma.
