Breaking Free: The Top 10 Self-Limiting Beliefs Holding Entrepreneurs Back
Does this sound familiar to you? You’ve got a great idea, you’re passionate about it, and you truly believe in yourself. But at the same time, you’re scared to take that leap of faith and see it through.
Don't worry! You're not alone. We've all been there. Everyone experiences self-doubt and fear. When you’re starting out as an entrepreneur, it can be hard to break free from the self-limiting beliefs that hold you back. We all have them—the thoughts and feelings that keep us from trying new things or reaching for our dreams.
To help you break free of those negative thoughts and take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level, here are 10 common self-limiting beliefs that entrepreneurs need to recognize and move beyond.
DISCLOSURE: Some of the links that I share in this article ARE my affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. In fact, sometimes you'll get a discount or free credits just FOR using my link. 🙂
What are self-limiting beliefs
Self-limiting beliefs are negative thoughts and attitudes that keep us from achieving our goals and living life to the fullest. They often arise from fear, lack of confidence, or feeling like we don't have what it takes to be successful.
At their core, self-limiting beliefs are stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we can or can’t do. They limit our potential, cause us to doubt ourselves, and keep us from taking risks or trying new experiences.
Top 10 Self-Limiting Beliefs Holding Entrepreneurs Back
I'm too old (or young).
One of the self-limiting beliefs that entrepreneurs face is “I'm too old (or young).” We may feel like we're either too inexperienced or that our age puts us at a disadvantage. But the truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to success.
Age is just a number! Whether you're just starting or have been in business for years, age doesn't have to be a barrier holding you back from success.
Sure, there may be some challenges that come with being younger or older than average, but if you focus on what you can do rather than what you can't, then you'll be able to overcome them with ease.
I don’t have enough money, resources, or experience.
This is one of the most common reasons why entrepreneurs don’t start their businesses. But just because you don’t have a lot of money at the start doesn’t mean you can’t launch a successful venture.
A great way to get started is by leveraging your existing skills and experience to create a service business or product line without having to invest too much up-front capital in the process.
It's easy to think that having more money or resources will make all your problems go away and make it easier for you to achieve success. But this isn't always true!
Having more resources can certainly help, but it isn't everything—your creativity and determination are just as important, if not more so. And as for experience? You don't need years of experience under your belt before taking on a new venture; learning as you go is part of the fun!
It's too difficult! I don’t have enough knowledge or expertise or I have never done this before.
This is commonly heard from people who have years of working experience specializing in their day jobs and now taking on entrepreneurship. They seem to forget that we all have the ability to learn no matter what age we are.
Nobody starts with all the answers right away—that’s why we call it learning! As an entrepreneur, there are plenty of ways to continue learning new skills and gathering knowledge about your industry so you can stay ahead of the competition.
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I also used to fall into this trap myself when I first started my business. I felt that I did not have any business experience at all as I had been working in a day job in the public sector for years before that.
However, I told myself that business is not rocket science. If others could do it, I should be able to learn to do it too! So I read books, took courses, and started watching videos and taking part in workshops.
By doing all this, I grew my knowledge base which eventually helped me become successful in my business. So if you find yourself thinking that you don’t have enough knowledge or expertise for your venture – remember: we can learn anything if we are willing to put in the time and effort.
So consider taking online classes, attending workshops and seminars, or even hiring a coach who can guide how best to reach your goals as an entrepreneur.
I need more time before I'm ready.
It's completely normal to feel like you need more time to prepare for a big venture, but you mustn't let this hold you back from taking action. Waiting until you feel ‘ready' can be an excuse for procrastination and will only delay your success.
The truth is, there will never be a ‘perfect' time to start and you will never be 100% ready as things are changing all the time. So it's best to take the plunge and make the most of any downtime you have.
Start small and focus on one task at a time. Taking small steps each day toward your long-term objectives. As you gradually build momentum, you'll gain more confidence in your abilities and eventually have the skill set to tackle larger projects.
Prioritize what needs to get done now versus later so that you can make progress while still managing your other responsibilities in life as well. It will also help ensure that when it comes time for launch–you're prepared!
I'm afraid of failure and rejection.
Fear of failure and rejection are common feelings among entrepreneurs, but it's important to remember that everyone experiences them from time to time.
Rather than letting fear stop you in your tracks, use it as an opportunity to push yourself further. Ask yourself what would happen if you never took the risk and refused to pursue your dream. Chances are, you'd be worse off than if you'd taken a chance and failed.
We all make mistakes–it's how we learn! So don’t be afraid to take risks and embrace failure as part of the process.
It's natural to feel fear and doubt when trying something new. But, instead of letting fear stop you from taking action, use it as motivation to succeed.
Remember that failure is part of the journey and will help you learn and grow as an entrepreneur. And if someone rejects your idea or offer, don't let that stop you either–you never know who might be on board the next time around!
Learn to reframe these negative experiences into positive ones. Understand that every “failure” brings us one step closer to achieving our ultimate goal!
I'm not good enough.
This is probably one of the most common of the top 10 self-limiting beliefs out there. It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others and feeling like you don't measure up.
We all feel like we're not “good enough” sometimes but remember: There's always room for improvement and no one ever became successful overnight!
Instead of letting imposter syndrome take over, focus on what makes YOU uniquely qualified for success – whether it's years' worth of experience, special skills, or even just sheer determination – and use those qualities to drive forward!
Tell yourself that you are more than capable of achieving success!
I don't know where to start.
In one of the Facebook post in a Facebook group on entrepreneur mindset, This is the number 1 reason cited by people in response to the question “What's stopping you from starting an online business?” out of 57 people who responded.
About 26% of the people said they don't know how to get started or where to begin. This is also one of the reasons why I started this blog as I experienced it when I first started my online business. I hope that through my sharing people will be able to be clearer about this.
It's natural to feel confused or overwhelmed when first starting, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. It's common to see people taking up a new course to learn a new business and then giving up after a few days of trying. They then say that thing is a scam and doesn't work.
Instead of saying that, why don't you learn from those who are successful and try to find out how and why they made it work for them? You can also learn from the mistakes of others who have gone through a similar experience—find mentors and peers that you trust and look up to and get advice on what worked for them.
You can also join my Facebook group where there is a mix of online entrepreneurs and new entrepreneurs and we learn from one another. You can join my group by clicking on the picture below.
Remember: Even though we are living in the internet age where things happen fast and we all crave instant success and gratification, the reality is success doesn’t happen overnight, skills take time to develop, and it takes time to get your idea off the ground. But by getting started and taking baby steps, you'll be able to make progress and eventually achieve success!
I don't think I'll ever make it big.
It's easy to doubt ourselves when faced with adversity or when you keep trying but somehow have not seen success yet. Believing in yourself and having faith in your abilities is key when it comes to achieving success!
Don't let fear stand between where you are now and where you want to go; focus on progress rather than perfection, and trust yourself to know that you will get there eventually!
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I'm overwhelmed by everything need to do/learn.
This feeling isn't uncommon among entrepreneurs – especially when starting – but remember: Rome wasn't built in one day!
While it can be hard to find a balance between taking action, getting things done, and also giving yourself time to learn and grow. The best way to tackle this is by breaking down your goals into smaller tasks.
Take things slow, prioritize tasks based on importance/urgency, and focus energy on doing only a few essential things first before moving on to bigger projects! This way you can focus on one thing at a time and not get overwhelmed by the bigger picture.
Creating a timeline of milestones will help keep you on track and make it easier to stay motivated as each task gets accomplished. It also helps to create an action plan that outlines every step that needs to be taken so that nothing is missed.
My idea won't work out / won't succeed.
It's natural to be skeptical about ideas but there's no way to tell until trying them out. So don't kill your own ideas and limit yourself before you even try them out!
Although it is normal to have doubts, especially when you're just starting. But remember: Every successful product or business has failed in some way or another, so even if your idea doesn't work out the first time – keep trying and never give up!
Start with the basics and slowly build your way up–by testing, learning, and experimenting you will slowly uncover the right approach.
The most important thing is to be open-minded and willing to make mistakes – because it is only through making those mistakes that you'll learn what works, and what doesn't!
Entrepreneurship requires patience and perseverance – so don't give up when faced with a setback, instead try to figure out what went wrong and move on.
Don t let fear stand between implementing something that could potentially be beneficial – instead, take calculated risks based on the data/research available and trust your instincts. You won't regret the decision down the road!
Conclusion
By understanding these top 10 self-limiting beliefs that entrepreneurs have, you can start recognizing the stories you may be telling yourself and begin to break free from them. Nothing is stopping you from achieving success—all it takes is a bit of self-love, confidence, and faith in yourself. It will take time and patience, but believe in yourself, stay focused on your goals, and never give up!
