How low self esteem killed a perfectly good business.
Once upon a time I had a photography business.
It was really good. I was really good.
Except I just couldn’t see it.
Marie-Claire is a Professional Rebel. She inspires people, who feel they don’t belong, remember who they are and find their place in the world. Together they go on a journey of creativity, courage and curiosity to stop giving so many fucks and grab life by the balls.
She’s also a pretty badass photographer too – just don’t call her that 😉
Once upon a time I had a photography business.
It was really good. I was really good.
Except I just couldn’t see it.
Imagine if I gave in to that voice of self doubt when it reared up?
Imagine if I let myself talk myself out of it because I was feeling a bit of resistance?
Imagine if I just thought fuck it after not many people turned up that day and decided not to do any more of these workshops?
I would never have helped ALL of these people…
I thought I’d write something for #mentalhealthawarenessweek – because I know first hand how easy it is to let any diagnosis become an identity or a new label to wear, and how it can all add to feeling broken and unable to do the things in life that you dream of doing.
Want to know why I bang on about ‘know yourself, be yourself and f*%@ing own it’ all the time and why it’s such a big thing for Professional Rebel?
Because if you don’t have confidence in business, if you don’t see what you bring to the table in business, if you can’t see what makes you special in business – you will keep holding yourself back, missing opportunities and feeling frustrated too.
You may even give up completely.
Meet Laura.
She’s one of my photography clients and has also become a really good friend.
She recently did a brave and put on an event to bring a few people from the online business space together.
The usual worries were there. I’m certain she won’t mind me saying this but I think whenever anyone steps outside of their comfort zones to do something different, parts of our brains try to tell us all sorts of stuff. I get it myself – no one will come, it will be crap, am I charging the right amount, it’s a stupid idea, blah blah blah.
You are moving.
You are growing.
I know that sometimes it doesn’t feel like it.
But you are.
You don’t notice because that’s the way of the world.
We’re taught to focus on all the things we’re not doing.
We’re taught to concentrate on all that we’re not good at.
It’s not your fault.
That was how school worked.
Focus and work harder on the things you struggle with.
We’ve all taken that pattern with us unto adulthood.
I know it gets you down.