| In my experience, there is almost always | | | | self-doubt and self-confidence issues. I'm of the |
| something that holds an independent service | | | | opinion that life is comprised of mountains (places |
| professional back from either getting his/her | | | | and times when you're at your best), valleys |
| business started or ramping it up to full capacity | | | | (when you don't think can take another minute) |
| and keeping it there. I call it the "Fraud Factor". | | | | and missiles (unexpected events that take you |
| Until you no longer feel like a fraud, any | | | | off track). If you were to ask 20 very |
| investment you make in marketing your business | | | | self-confident people about the low points and high |
| will be diminished because these unresolved issues | | | | points in their lives, every single one of these |
| are draining all of your marketing efforts. After all, | | | | people would tell you that his/her life has never |
| if you don't believe in yourself, why will anyone | | | | been all mountains -- that they have all seen their |
| else believe in you?What is the "Fraud Factor?" It's | | | | fair share of valleys and missiles just like the rest |
| a great sense of insecurity that overwhelms you | | | | of us.However, the difference is that these |
| any time you attempt to talk about or market | | | | self-confident business owners realize it's a phase |
| your business in some way. Below is a list of 6 | | | | and it will pass. The IBSC (also known as the little |
| statements that business owners suffering from | | | | voices you hear in your head), will rule your life |
| the Fraud Factor Syndrome often tell themselves. | | | | and your business if you let it. None of you fell |
| Do you resemble any of these remarks?:"I have | | | | off the turnip truck yesterday, to borrow a |
| no idea what I'm doing here -- why would my | | | | phrase from my growing-up years out in the |
| client trust me?""I don't have any experience in | | | | country. Every single one of you brings into your |
| working with clients as a (fill in the blank here with | | | | business a unique set of skills and experiences |
| your profession) -- the people I talk to about my | | | | that no one else has and no one else can |
| business are going to see right through me.""I | | | | duplicate.So, if you feel yourself to be a fraud, for |
| can't charge this much money for what I do -- | | | | whatever reason, you need to learn to "act as if", |
| I'm not an expert in this field.""I don't have enough | | | | or "fake it 'till you make it" -- pretend as though |
| information to work with clients -- I need to get | | | | you're a wildly successful business owner until you |
| more training.""I'll bend the rules just once for this | | | | truly believe that you are. If you need help, get it |
| client. After all, I'm a newbie, and I need to do | | | | -- from a good friend, a business colleague, your |
| anything I can to get a client.""I don't have all of | | | | spouse, a coach -- whatever works for |
| my marketing materials completed -- no one will | | | | you.People with high self-esteem who handle |
| ever believe I'm a business owner, so I can't start | | | | problems and challenges well understand that the |
| until everything is perfect."I would be lying to you | | | | only people who don't have mountain, valleys, and |
| if I told you that every single one of these | | | | missiles in their lives are lying in the cemetery. So, |
| thoughts didn't flutter through my head on at | | | | fake it until you make it, act as if, and suck it up |
| least one occasion in the start-up phase of my | | | | and get over yourself. Mark Twain says it best, |
| business. One or two of these come back and | | | | "Whether you believe you can or you believe you |
| visit me on a regular basis, even though I've been | | | | can't, you're right."Copyright 2006 Donna |
| a successful business owner now for 7 years and | | | | GunterOnline Business Resource Queen (TM) and |
| counting. It's very natural to be visited occasionally | | | | Business Coach Donna Gunter helps self-employed |
| by your own IBSC (Itty Bitty Sh**ty | | | | service professionals learn how to get more |
| Committee).What distinguishes happy, successful, | | | | clients online at . To sign up for more FREE tips |
| confident, and fulfilled self-employed business | | | | like these and claim your FREE gift, TurboCharge |
| owners from the unsuccessful ones are how they | | | | Your Online Marketing Toolkit, visit her site at . |
| handle problems and challenges and deal with their | | | | |