How to Feel More Confident: Overcoming the Chicken and the Egg Effect
Melisa Liberman
Podcast: Grow Your Independent Consulting Business podcast | Coach for Independent Consultants | Bestselling Author: Grow Your Consulting Business: The 14-Step Roadmap to Make Your Independent Consulting Goals a Reality
In today's edition of THE INDEPENDENT, let's talk about confidence.
There are two common mistakes I see consultants making when it comes to confidence as business owners.
?
1. Thinking they'll feel more confident as soon as ______________________.
Are you falling into the chicken-and-egg trap?
By that I mean, do you think you'll feel more confident as soon as you achieve a milestone such as landing the next client or a client accepting your increased pricing?
Confidence doesn't work this way. It's not something that you receive.
How do I know? I've seen it time and time again when a consultant lands a new client, they get a quick boost of confidence, and then it quickly fades as they start worrying about where the next client will come from,.?
Relying on external results to create confidence is a slippery-slope.
Instead, it's important to develop the skill of internally generating confidence (not tying confidence to anything) in order to achieve the results you're looking to create in your consulting business.
领英推荐
This is one of the most important business owner practices you can be doing as a consultant.
?
2. Underestimating how a lack of confidence impacts their business.
Confidence isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential to your business’s success. Yet many consultants underestimate how a lack of it quietly undermines their growth.
Self-doubt can lead to underpricing, hesitating to reach out to new clients, overworking to prove your worth, or avoiding critical decisions. These habits might feel safe but ultimately limit your potential, erode authority, and stall growth.
Confidence isn’t something you wait for—it’s a skill you develop.
By building it intentionally, you’ll show up as a peer to your potential clients, make bolder decisions, and unlock the growth your business needs.
?
Put this into action - How do you create confidence on demand?
Ask for help - I'm currently filling Q1 2025 coaching spots. If you've been thinking about getting help, now is the time to figure out if coaching is the next best step for you and your business. Click here for more information, and to apply for a Coaching Exploratory call.
Reduce Churn + Increase Expansion | Scale Customer Success and AI Strategies | Have Fun Growing
2 周This is a great lesson, Melisa Liberman. I enjoyed the episode, too. You touched on it at the end in the Be/Do/Have section, but to add a complementary thought... One way to build confidence outside of major achievements is to document (even mentally) the tasks we complete daily, weekly, and monthly that help drive business. Actions like networking, journaling, taking classes, listening to (your) podcasts, analyzing deal flow, tracking outcomes, doing the books, etc. all can deliver dopamine hits needed to build momentum and confidence.
I help great consultants transform online marketplaces from time sinks into reliable revenue channels | CEO @Indie Intel
1 个月Tying confidence to external wins is such a common trap. Your emphasis on building confidence from within is a vital mindset shift for any consultant aiming to grow sustainably.
Data Architect Consultant & Strategist | I simplify BI & Analytics for business executives.
1 个月A great reminder! I definitely get caught in this trap. Or thinking I'll feel more confident after I go through x,y, and z experiences with different types of data work. But truthfully, each comes with their own unique challenges and you have to be prepared to solve problems on the fly by sticking to your knowledge foundations.