Standing in your power

On Tuesday, I introduced Dara Girard’s article, “The Power of Belief,” where she says that believing in yourself is a key factor in business success. Here’s another piece of her article that I’d like to share:

“You are the master of your fate; you determine the legacy you will leave,” she says. “Successful careers are built by [people] who take the time to learn. Understand that you’re a capable individual… You won’t know everything at first, and you’ll make mistakes—that’s okay. —Dara Girard

I view this as stepping into your own power and simultaneously taking ownership for what you can control, while letting go of what you can’t. For example, you have the power to:

• Learn everything you can about your medium/art form
• Learn the requirements for setting up a legal business, paying your taxes and contracting with clients
• Hire advisors to help when you need it, in such areas as choosing a business entity, bookkeeping, tax preparation, even honing your style and brand
• Produce the work you want, how you want, when you want, even if it’s not for paying clients
• Say no to clients who aren’t a good fit, or to projects that won’t allow you to do what you enjoy and do best
• Join organizations to learn more and surround yourself with other artists
• Collaborate with people who support you
• Share your work on your blog, Facebook, Twitter or another social media outlet
• Find out how to submit your work for publication, and approach editors
• Offer to hang an exhibit at the neighborhood coffee shop or retail space
• Enter contests
• Own your own story and share your vision with the world

At the same time, there will always be some things you can’t control. They include:

• Whether someone likes you and wants to work with you
• What clients, colleagues or critics are or are not saying about you
• Whether a former client decides to compete with you
• What your competitors (or peers, if you prefer) are doing
• The response—positive, negative or indifferent—of a person for whom you did a special favor
• The results of a contest you entered, or response to your submission for publication or offer to exhibit your work
• Whether your tax return will be audited or you will be sued

There’s no need to beat your head against something you can’t control, wondering and wringing your hands about what other people are doing and why. I know it’s a challenge, but try to let it go and instead focus on what you can control. There is always a positive step to be taken, if you’re willing to believe in yourself and your abilities.

So, what step are you going to take today?

Cheers,

P.S. How is your believing in yourself assignment going? Were you able to just believe in yourself and your gift on Tuesday? If so, keep it going. Choose to believe in yourself today, and if that works, try tomorrow, and if that works, the next day.

If you’re struggling, that’s ok, too. Ask yourself what is it that makes you not believe in yourself? What can you do to start believing in yourself? You might want to spend some time with that, and journal your answer. I’d love to hear how it goes.