Courage vs Confidence

Chicken or Egg - Which Comes First?

According to an episode of Ilise Benum's Marketing Mentor podcast episode 529, guest Stephanie Mickelson suggests courage comes first - confidence will follow. I can get behind that.

It takes courage to step out and do the thing - whatever "it" is. Once you take that first step (or leap!), repetition will bring confidence. 


Reframing
Stephanie also suggests reframing butterflies as excitement, not danger. This also makes sense as it can be easy to get lost in anxiety and paralyzed by fear thanks to those butterflies. Dial down the "flight or fight" mechanism for yourself with a little self-talk mental adjustment. Excitement moves you forward! 

A friend recently alluded to this reframing in a different way - Fear vs Adventure. 
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About Your Business
Whether you're starting your business or a new endeavor in your business, most of us don't start out with much confidence to get started. Questions abound!

• Will it work?
• How do I even get started?
• Will I be able to afford the start-up and initial growth period?

Return On Investment (ROI)
At some point, you break out the yes/no paper or spreadsheet to weigh your options. Depending on the fire in your belly, the dislike of your current situation, or the length of your "yes" list over your "no," it takes courage to take that first step to simply start. That first step is the hardest. 

Confidence Keeps You Going
After that, it's moving a fly wheel (thank you, Jim Collins!) with momentum on your side. Repetition and the daily work move you forward, even if it's little by little. That repetition helps you gain confidence to repeat and do even more. 

Where Are You?
Do you feel like you're lacking courage or confidence? Can you see the difference between them in your situation? How do you propose to move yourself forward? 

If you'd like a hand or even a simple pep talk, I'm very happy to lend an ear and share ideas how you can make progress! Let's Chat by email or message me on LinkedIn! 

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