Overcoming Self-Doubt
Starting a business can be a daunting task, especially when you’re plagued by self-doubt. As Marie Forleo shares, she struggled with this in the early years of her entrepreneurial journey. Instead of trying to position herself as an all-knowing expert, she embraced transparency. She acknowledged that she was on the same journey as her audience, just further along in the process of learning and growth.
By being honest about her own experiences and challenges, Marie was able to move past the debilitating self-doubt that had kept her stuck for so long. She realized that she didn’t need to have all the answers, but could instead serve as a guide to help others navigate their own paths to success.
Conquering the Fear of Rejection and Criticism
As a highly intuitive and sensitive person, Marie found that overcoming the fear of rejection and criticism was a significant hurdle. The desire to be liked is deeply rooted in our survival instincts, and neuroscientists have shown that social rejection activates the same part of the brain that processes physical pain.
However, Marie recognized that no matter how good you are or how hard you work, not everyone will want to do business with you or like what you create. Instead of letting that stop her, she made a conscious decision to share her gifts with the world. She understood that there are millions of people out there waiting for her unique ideas and services, and that by holding back, she would be depriving those who need her most.
Marie emphasizes that there is no product or service that is the right fit for everyone, and that trying to please everyone is a recipe for mediocrity and failure. She encourages her audience to embrace their own unique qualities and to stop trying to fit into the conventional mold.
Letting Go of Conventional Advice
When Marie first started her business, she read all the classic business and success books, which often advised entrepreneurs to pick a niche, focus down, and get known for one thing. However, this advice didn’t resonate with her. As a multi-passionate individual, she found that trying to narrow herself down into a single niche felt like she was cutting off a limb.
Instead of forcing herself to fit into a mold, Marie embraced her diverse interests and passions. She gave herself permission to bring all of herself into her business, blending her love of music, dance, personal development, and more. She realized that who she is is a one-time mega event in the universe, and that she shouldn’t waste time trying to follow the conventional rules.
Marie encourages her audience to start doing “you” because unless you do, you’ll never be done. By letting go of the need to conform to traditional business advice, she was able to create a unique and successful enterprise that reflected her true self.
Relinquishing Control
In the early days of her business, Marie wore all the hats, from finding and working with clients to invoicing, customer service, and more. This one-person show approach was exhausting, and in order to grow, she knew she needed to hire help and relinquish control.
Marie recommends starting small when it comes to delegating tasks. Begin by handing off less critical responsibilities, such as customer service or bookkeeping, to build trust with new team members and practice loosening the reins. Over time, you’ll wonder how you ever tried to do everything on your own.
Giving up control can be a daunting prospect, but Marie emphasizes that it’s a necessary step in scaling your business and freeing up your time to focus on the higher-level tasks that only you can do.
Eliminating Excuses
In order for her business to reach the level of success she dreamed of, Marie had to eradicate any and all excuses from her mind and life. Excuses like “I don’t have enough time,” “I’m already working multiple jobs,” or “I don’t know how to hire or manage employees” were holding her back.
Marie shares two strategies that helped her overcome her excuses. The first was a quote by author Alan Cohn, which said, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who have reasons and those who have results.” This quote resonated with her and inspired a commitment to being the type of person who produces results rather than making excuses.
The second strategy was embracing Marie’s life motto, “Everything is figure-outable.” This belief helped her stay positive, keep an open mind, and be willing to see and create new possibilities, even in the face of challenges. By adopting this mindset, she was able to let go of the excuses that had previously held her back.
Marie emphasizes that living an excuse-free life is an ongoing practice, not a one-time event. It requires consistently telling the truth to yourself about what you really want and what you’re willing to do to achieve it.
By giving up these five things – self-doubt, fear of rejection and criticism, conventional advice, control, and excuses – Marie Forleo was able to build a successful and impactful business. She encourages her audience to follow a similar path, embracing their unique qualities, delegating tasks, and adopting a mindset of possibility and results. With these shifts, you too can unlock the success and freedom you desire.
