How many of you have ever felt that being a woman in business is hard?”  Well, it is hard – because if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. And being of the female persuasion, at times, can make it doubly hard! (just go to any bank and try to get a business loan………)

How many of you let that inner dialogue get the best of you on any given day?The sad thing I see and hear, daily, is brilliant women who are constantly beating themselves up.You know if you spoke to a friend the way that you speak to you, well……you wouldn’t have many friends left at any given time. Let’s look at (“David Letterman style”) the top ten lies we tell ourselves as women in business and see if any of these apply to you – in which case, you’ll get a clear picture as to where you are holding yourself back from making money, attracting clients and making a difference!

THE TOP 10 LIES THAT WOMEN IN BUSINESS TELL THEMSELVES

Lie #10: I’ll get focused tomorrow.

There are just so many things to do – I’m so busy – I don’t know where to start. I know……I’ll get focused tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day! NOT! Get focused today.

Lie #9: I don’t know enough (yet).

Yes, you do. Stop that crazy talk. That’s all it is – crazy talk. Many of you have been stay-at home Moms, or have come out of a corporate career, or have been mentored by experts – and now YOU are the expert. You know ‘your stuff’. You let self-doubt creep in, get in your way and hold you back from helping others. Stop that. All of your skills and expertise are transferrable. Which leads me to our next lie…….

Lie #8: I’m too new to charge that much.

Hello! You may be new to business, but you are not new to your area of expertise. Think about it. Think about all that you DO know. In the words of my mentor, Suzanne Evans, ‘to a person in Grade 4, a person in Grade 5 is an expert!”

Lie #7: No One Wants to Hear What I have to Say.

If you are over the age of 21, have had some life experience and have learned some great life lessons – then, yes, people do want (and need) to hear what you have to say. Get over yourself – get out there – and start helping other people.

Lie #6: I can do it myself.

Oh really? Good on you! Come on……..who do you think you are? There are many women entrepreneurs acting as the ‘lone ranger’ and attempting to be chief cook and bottle washer in their business. Do you fix your own car? Do you professionally clean your own teeth? Do  you take out your own appendix? Get the message? You can NOT do it all yourself – and where you are spending precious business time on anything that is NOT your talent, stop that right now. Outsource and delegate all things that are not your gift.

Lie #5: I can’t afford any help or support.

This one always makes me cringe. Good grief – who do you think you are? Everyone in business – and every successful business person – has, and needs a book-keeper, an accountant, administrative support, a coach. You can afford it – change your thinking – change the words you use to tell yourself all these lies. Turn it around – ‘HOW can I afford it?” is the way to go and the way to grow.

Lie #4: There’s enough ‘free stuff’ available to help me grow.

Yes, there is lots of free stuff out there on the internet these days. The thing is, when you are new to business, you have no idea how to put it all together into a plan! That’s why you are failing. That’s why you are not making progress. The lies you are telling yourself about accessing free stuff all the time are what keep you ‘small’ when it comes to business.

Lie #3: I don’t have time to (fill in the blanks)

We all have the same amount of time! What we choose to do with our time – and how we plan our time – is what makes the difference between being a business success and a business failure. So, cut the crap when it comes to telling yourself yet another lie – I don’t have time to read that book, I don’t have time to create a plan, I don’t have time to go to that meeting, I don’t have time to commit to an accountability partner………..change the way you talk to yourself which changes the way you think which changes the way you perform. Guaranteed!

Lie #2: I just need to make enough to (fill in the blanks)

Then you know what? You’re a hobby owner – and not a business owner. If you only want to make enough money to………pay for a trip, fund your children’s education, up-level your lifestyle or just make enough to get by………then you’re not in business. So, you might as well stop reading right now and head to the spa.

Lie #1: It’s harder for me than for everyone else.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I love that one. And I hear it often! “Oh it’s so easy for YOU!” Really? You really think that? Well, walk a mile in my shoes, why don’t you? As I said earlier in the article, if having/growing a business was easy, then everyone would be doing it. It is hard work. And I, personally, wouldn’t have it any other way! I’m in control. I’m the boss. I’m in charge. I make the decisions. I take the risk. And I love it!

Listen – the power of your word is the key to success. I am all about SIMPLE – and it’s that simple. When you keep lying to yourself, you get in your own way, you make it difficult, it becomes lonely, you get frustrated and you give up. STOP THAT.

When you get in the habit of keeping your word to YOURSELF, telling yourself the truth and acting accordingly – you WILL succeed in business.

What is your take-away from this article? Where can you make a change that will positively impact your business today?

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