It’s hard not to think of being ‘let go’ as failure. But in fact, it’s just masked this way. Being made redundant forces some serious self-reflection and cease of finger pointing.
Like my story, for example. I got made redundant and now, I’m successfully self-employed. Those lessons proved to be invaluable. Now I know it was all part of my business lifespan.
Tackling niggling self-worth issues
Possibly the biggest issue for anyone going through a change in their career is self-worth. This isn’t just for people who have been let go, but people moving roles, changing careers altogether, and starting a business.
Identifying your self-worth is an essential part to being an entrepreneur. Having clarity on your values, ethics and what you stand for will help you make better business decisions.
It’ll shape the nature of your brand, create opportunities that aren’t right in front of you, and gives perspective.
Let’s take a closer look at what it means to be self-aware in business. Here are some traits of the confident entrepreneur:
- Not desperate for gigs – consistently to generate the right type of gigs and refusing to take on work that’s not the right fit. You won’t cheapen yourself just to ‘get the gig.’
- Listening to your gut
- Willing to take opportunities, not risks
- Speak up when you don’t believe what the other person is saying and doing is respectful
- Don’t seek permission and acceptance from other people – trust your own path and the decisions that accompany this direction, while still open to advice from insightful people.
So, how can you develop your business confidence?
Avoid being ‘white noise’, just another business number
Think about the values and ethics that shape you. People are attracted to the businesses and brands that have presence that know who they are – that have the conviction and confidence to not be beige.
When you’re a small business, it’s the owner’s sense of self that will either build or diminish this presence – there is no fence sitting. It comes with the responsibility of being up front and centre.
Spend time working out what you value the most. Here’s a list of self-reflection questions that helped me, and I hope they can guide you, too.
A simplified self-reflection exercise to gain clarity
- Why have you chosen to create this business and what was I about you that made you think you could make it a success?
- What continues to drive you in times of great challenge, disappointment and adversity?
- If you described your brand as a person, what values and ethics would it have?
- How are you currently utilising these values and ethics to drive business and create points of difference in the market place?
- How are you currently expressing these values and ethics to the market?
- How are you utilising values and ethics to build a stronger sense of self -worth?
- Considering these values and ethics, what businesses and clients would allow you to do your best work and be of most benefit to yourself, other people and still build the business?
- What industries and organisations would you not pursue as these are at odds with your defined values and ethics? Why is this?
- When it comes to sourcing new opportunities what are your negotiables and non-negotiables and how are these used by your business to make well informed, smart decisions?
At Kiikstart, we’re dedicated to helping people have more choice, influence and control about how they live, work and learn. If you’d like to hear more about what we do, contact us today on 0428 593 400 or enquiries@kiikstart.com.