Today we are talking about a topic that a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with: talking about our business with confidence.
As entrepreneurs, having conversations about our business, especially with our friends and family, is not necessarily the easiest thing in the world. I don’t know about you, but I usually stay away from talking about my business unless someone asks -and even when that happens, my response is usually no more than three sentences long. I often can’t pull myself together and be confident in what I do…
Just a couple of months ago, my grandma and I had one of these conversations:
Grandma: “What do you do for a living?”
Me: “Er…I…”
And then one of my relatives jumped in: “She writes stuff on the internet.”
Me: “I have a virtual assistance business where I help busy entrepreneurs tackle their to-do lists while living the life that God has intended for them.”
Silence. 😶
This very experience showed me how desperately I want validation from people and how much fear I have. I want people to GET it. I don’t want to look stupid or look like someone who can’t even explain what they do.
Maybe you can relate? If you are also struggling with talking about your business with confidence, first and foremost, you are not alone. In what follows, I share the details about what I’ve learned from the past few weeks and how I’m overcoming this obstacle. I hope that you will also break free from feeling inadequate and needing validation from people.
Focus on the heart
I’ve recently had to make some tough decisions about my business, and man it wasn’t easy! While some were minor changes here and there, some were big, like stepping back from a few projects and clients and reevaluating where my business is headed (and most importantly, where God stands in this whole process).
Through talking to my husband I realized one important thing: our conversations about my business are not so much about what I do, but rather what I am called to do.
Often when we have conversations with someone about our business, we feel the urge to tell people what we offer and what we are good at, and the mistake here is that we are speaking to the wrong crowd. These “sales pitches” should be reserved for our potential clients only.
When it comes to family and friends, my first advice is to focus on the heart. Tell a story and share your beautiful dream. A story is different than a sales pitch and people often connect with stories better, even if they are unfamiliar with the work that you do.
HOW TO GUIDE A GENUINE CONVERSATION:
- Tell a story – Why do you do what you do?
- Share your calling – What inspired you to start in the first place?
- Share your dream – What are you excited about for your business? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Remember, you are not talking to your clients, so use language that your friends and family can relate to, understand, and feel inspired by. By doing so, I bet you will find yourself more excited when you talk about your business with others.
Be confident – whether they get it or not
There are times when you will encounter people who don’t get what you do, and this is not the end of the world. I repeat, this is NOT the end of the world!
As much as we want everyone to get what we are doing and appreciate it, it is just not realistic. Technology is constantly evolving and the idea of having an online business is still pretty new to a lot of people, especially older generations. So what can you do? Be gracious and patient towards those people while still being confident in who you’ve become and what you offer to the world.
Confidence takes practice. It doesn’t come naturally, at least not for me. I’ve learned the importance of seeking truth and arming myself with God’s promises so that I can walk in freedom and grace.
When I am weak, He is my strength. When I am insecure, He is my safe place.
I hope this is helpful, or at least it encourages you a bit! This is still very much a work in progress for me. I don’t have a magic spell or formula that can help all of us feel confident in who we are and our calling, but the power of our Father can and He longs to give you everything you need to conquer whatever comes your way.
If you implement any of the things I mentioned above, let me know or tag me on Insta! I would love to cheer you on along the way.
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