Finding confidence in your skills

If you can solve a problem, you can create a business.

This advice always sounds easier said than done, and it needs some context. 

Stay true to you.

Many people see a success story and copy what other people did as a business model. You might invest a lot of effort into an idea only to decide it’s not right for you. 

Never compare yourself to others. When it comes to success stories, keep in mind that it takes a while to get momentum and you don't know their whole story.  

Choose things you enjoy enough to hold your interest. Your confidence will come out when you talk about what you care about.

What are those things we care about? What are we good at? Let’s get introspective! There are patterns that can help you find a purposeful talent or unique way of working.

Think about your skills and qualities.

1. Is there something you could teach a class on if you needed to?
2. Is there anything people have said you’re good at? Have you ever received a compliment for doing something that seemed super easy to you?
3. What projects do you see as “fun” from your school or work history?

Need help finding your top qualities?
Answer these questions with total freedom, you have no specific goal in mind for now. Grab a blank sheet of paper and a pen. We’re going back and getting deep.

1. What did you do for fun as a kid? 
2. Now look at each hobby or activity one in your list. What qualities or skills are required to do them? For example: creativity, organization, researching, speaking, writing, leading other people, teaching, etc.
3. Did teachers or people in school ever say you had a knack for something? For example: Leading others, creativity, writing, math, teamwork, etc.

Look for themes and patterns in your lists. What connects?

Putting it together.

It’s not uncommon that we choose to ignore our own talents and interests. This can be because we didn’t see how it relates to a career. When something comes naturally to us, we might not understand it’s a skill others can’t do. It provides value to others.

Are there any projects you've picked up that made you enthusiastic? Maybe it felt more exciting than your other work. Think about how you can do more of that. Keep your top qualities in mind as possible keywords to describe your working style.

Try an idea and learn from it. When it’s based on your genuine interests, it’s easy to talk about it in a way that gets people excited to work with you!

Keep reading to learn more:

Finding your why

How to get experience when you don’t have any

Writing about yourself in a way that feels organic