Three Small Steps To BIG Confidence

I love to backpack. It’s satisfying, challenging, and provides time to disconnect. I enjoy planning the trip, packing the equipment, and the process of bringing all of the logistics together to trek new routes. But, often times when I bring up my adventures in a conversation someone will say, “I can't walk that far" or "I love the outdoors, but I just have not done it before.”

I tell them that anyone can do it and it's just a matter of taking one small step and then another.

One of the things I’ve realized about backpacking (along with other skills we master) is when people feel they are inexperienced they give up and never take the first step. But, like many things we attempt in life—that does not need to be the case.

Backpacking is like any other skill, it takes practice and some perseverance. Keep walking. Why else would there be dozens of magazines, hundreds of tour groups, and multiple shows dedicated to teaching people how trek and climb mountains?

We’ve all experienced situations where we were unsure and questioned our abilities.

Whether starting a new company like I recently did at Aha! or out in the wilderness, we’ve all had to do something we’ve never done before. You start to ask yourself questions like:

  • What if I’m not good at X?
  • How will I ever be able to master Y?
  • Why does it seem so effortless when she does Z?

So how do you build a sense of confidence, especially as it relates to what you do for a living? The reality is there is no quick fix, or five-minute solution.

The good news is that building confidence is achievable, as long as you have focus and determination.

Set small goals
One of the quickest ways to start building confidence is by accomplishing something you did not believe you could. Set a clear vision so you know where you are headed and stay grounded in what you are trying to achieve. Once you know your destination, start building competence and mastery of those skills necessary to achieve your goals. The goals you set do not need to be monumental. Start with very small goals, then get in the habit of achieving them and celebrate each achievement.

Take small risks
Do you often sacrifice your personal aspirations for what’s comfortable? Have you always wanted to pursue a challenging new role or even start a company, but have given up before you really got started? If this sounds familiar, you need to look up and out and gain the confidence to get uncomfortable. If you are under confident you will typically avoid taking on risks and stretching yourself—or, you might not try at all. Going the extra mile to achieve greater things builds confidence but it also means stepping out of your comfort zone. The key is not to stretch too far at first, just reach a little.

Make small mistakes
Part of taking on new risks is the ability to acknowledge when you have failed. It's true that's it's better to have tried at something challenging and failed, than not try at all. Some of the greatest athletes in the world admit that they don't mind losing as long as they know they've put in their best effort. It's a chance to learn what they need to do next time to improve and win. Persisting in the face of setbacks builds more confidence, grows skills and helps us learn to operate beyond our current potential.

If you've been avoiding learning a new skill or even trying to do something you think you would love, it's time to finally start. And start by getting small before you try to go big.

Set one goal today that you want to achieve and take the first small step toward building confidence to get there. What step are you going to take?

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ABOUT BRIAN AND AHA!

Brian seeks business and wilderness adventure. He has been the founder or early employee of six cloud-based software companies and is the CEO of Aha! -- the world's #1 product roadmap software. His last two companies were acquired by Aruba Networks [ARUN] and Citrix [CTXS].

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