Slaying the “Less Than” Dragon

There‘s a dragon of self-doubt that every solopreneur knows well. Taming it can be tricky.

The visits usually arrive in the middle of the night. You can’t sleep, and your mind starts its churn.

Is this really such a good idea? What if I put in all this work and nobody thinks it’s any good?

Worse, what if they tell me what they’d like, but it’s something I don’t want to build?

Will it ever be as good as what [name of some leading writer/thinker/creator] has done?

Meet the dragon that rules the world of “less than” and self-doubt. It’s territory that solopreneurs know well, the arena of comparison where we all come up short.

The kingdom of self-doubt.

The dragon of doubt is always lurking, ready to pounce on solopreneurs. I’ve wrestled with it in my own solo business and have seen it in hundreds of others. Maybe these sound familiar.

• You’re elated at landing a big job and immediately panic that it may be the last one you ever get.

• You’re ready to hit publish on a new article, website, or other creative project, and your finger hovers over the keyboard, hesitating.

• You’re moments away from making a presentation that could change the trajectory of your company. Your mind is screaming: Why did I ever think this was a good idea?!

Slay the dragon.

I’ve worked with solopreneurs for decades and know the dragon of doubt takes many forms. (Sometimes it’s so creative, we step back and marvel, right?)

There are many ways to turn down the flames of self-doubt. Most fall into these three categories. See which ones resonate for you.

1. Get physical.
   If you’re tired, hungry, or haven’t stepped away from your desk for hours, you’re setting yourself up for a dragon attack. Sleep, diet, and exercise remain a powerful trio of armor. None require a massive commitment of money or time. It begins with an awareness of your daily choices.

2. Practice mental cross-fit.

   Positive self-talk and meditation can create a foundation for mental fitness. Some solopreneurs jot down an affirmation each morning, while others leave themselves upbeat Post-it notes on their desk or monitor. You do you. Become your cheerleader.

3. Build social ties.

   Isolation is red meat to the self-doubt dragon. Connect with other soloists for accountability and celebration. The virtual possibilities are numerous and remarkably creative these days. For example, I’m writing this newsletter in an online co-working session of Jay Clouse’s community, The Lab. I’m here with a half-dozen kindred spirits as we work on individual projects for an hour. Consider how you can find (or create) your support team.

In my early years of self-employment, I remember the self-doubt — and my ignorance of business operations. With experience and age, those dragon visits become mostly an occasional annoyance. Seasoned solopreneurs know the dragon’s stealth tricks — and how to maneuver around them using the tactics noted above.

What does your self-doubt dragon whisper to you? Which tactics do you use to banish (or at least tame) its hold on your psyche? This is a topic I’ll explore again in the future and I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts in the comments.

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Pssst…last call. I’ve heard from a few folks and am looking for a few more for a feedback team for a new project I’m developing. Think of it as an MBA for solopreneurs, delivered in 3-minute slices. Interested in helping me beta test this project? Email me and tell me, Yes, I’m interested, and I’ll add you to the list. Thanks to everyone who’s jumped aboard already.