Part of the joy of working for yourself is being able to work on the projects and clients you choose, right?
Sometimes, imposter syndrome takes over, and there’s the tendency to say yes to every project that comes your way, even though your brain is screaming NO.
We know that we can go to the gym and build our arm, leg or back muscles. The good news is this: confidence is actually a muscle that you can exercise too, and so over time, you can gain the confidence to only say yes to the jobs you want, not the jobs you have to take.
Read on to find out how you can start working on this all-important muscle NOW, and build up some self-belief.
Work of what you’re scared of
Working for yourself is daunting, because you don’t have the security that a job in a big company would give you. The first step to becoming more confident in your work abilities is to figure out where your fears lie.
- Scared you won’t have enough money?
- Scared people won’t want to work with you if you’ve turned down a client?
- Scared you’ll get a bad reputation?
- Scared you’re not ‘worth’ the fun, profitable projects?
Once you’ve got clear on the big bad fears lurking in your brain, it’s time to tackle them one by one.
Work out the reality of your finances
It’s a luxury to be in a position to be able to turn down jobs. First and foremost, work out if your current financial situation permits you to pick and choose jobs. If you say no to the big client this week, will you be able to pay your bills at the end of the month?
Once you’ve done this, you’ll know whether you need to spend another couple of months sticking it out with sh***y projects, or whether you’re in a position to give up a few hundred euros.
Work out how you can level up
Think about the jobs you really want to work on. Do they require Photoshop skills, while you can barely draw a stickman? If so, it’s time to level up.
- Make a list of the top skills you’d need for your dream project, and for your dream client.
- Then go get those skills!
- Take courses online
- Read business books
- Attend an evening course at your local university.
Once you’ve leveled up your skill-set, you’ll be way more confident about saying no to mediocre projects, and saying a wholehearted YES to the ones you really want to spend your time on.
Stay in your own lane
If you follow a bunch of inspiring solopreneurs on Instagram, it’s easy to feel like you’re dragging behind. Someone is selling out their online course, another is getting featured on a famous podcast, and yet another person just released an awesome new product. That’s great for them, but irrelevant for you.
As hard it can be, focus on what YOU want, and what would make YOU happy – and then go all out working for it. Over time, you’ll build up your portfolio in the exact area you want to thrive in, and will have the confidence to say no to anything that doesn’t fit your vision of where you want to be.
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