All achievers are wired for action. The successful ones use energy as fuel—and that energy comes from how they feel.
When you feel confident, you push yourself because you enjoy it. You don’t need external validation, so you:
• Move fast
• Take more risks
• Focus on 80/20
• Have your own back
• Don’t care what other people think
When you feel inadequate, you push yourself to prove your worth. But you overcompensate and:
• Slow down
• Overanalyze
• Try to be perfect
• Criticize yourself
• Take things personally
After decades of coaching founders, here’s what I’ve learned: most of us are trying to prove something.
It’s not the best way to achieve. You’ll work yourself to the bone. That was me in my first business.
I had to prove how smart I was so I’d finally feel “good enough.”
It’s why it took me so long to turn my consulting business into a solutions company. I worried about what clients and competitors would say. Like somehow, I was selling out by simplifying my business and productizing my services.
But here’s the truth: it’s an inside job. Change how you feel, and you’ll change what you do.
No one who feels good about themselves wants to feel trapped and exhausted by their business.
There are two kinds of achievers:
- Those who feel good about themselves.
- Those who don’t.
Those who do will thrive. Those who don’t will burn out.
So feel good about yourself first. It’s the foundation for everything. Then, fix your relationship with your business.
Make it work for you. You’re worth it.