There was a point in time when I almost wasn't CEO of my own start-up! I was contemplating letting a guy I barely knew run my company because he seemed to have more experience. I wasn't sure where these thoughts of "I can't do this" were coming from but they were heavy and full of fear-based thinking. Luckily, they didn't last long.
I had coffee one day with my CPA. We both graduated from USM with our Master's in Spiritual Psychology and so he serves, as all graduates from that University do, as a great coach at just the right time. I told him I was thinking about letting Mr. F run my company and he just stared at me. He was in shock that I would literally abandon my baby like this and I thought that maybe I was doing the right thing. I mean I hadn't been a mom before, what did I know?!
He asked me one question that changed the direction of my career and my journey (although I believe I would have eventually woken up from my lack of confidence at some point). He said: Kate - do you think the President of the United States knows how to be the President of the United States before he becomes that?
I was dumbfounded. How brilliant was this question?! I realized that MEN get it - they know how to take leaps of faith, risks, and to push themeslves to be amazing even when they have no idea what they are doing. I was going to give my first chance at being CEO of my vision to a man! What was I thinking?! I am the right person for the job. I am capable, I am worthy, I am magnificent and brilliant!!! As Marianne Williamson would say - "who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world." Amen soul sister is what I have to say to her brilliant quote about the fear of success!
And yet its also about confidence, isn't it?! How do we do something we haven't done before? Hey - how did we pee in the potty or walk for the first time?! We tried it and we practiced and then it became second nature. I can be a CEO. In fact, most of you can be - certainly women entrepeneurs that jump ship from corporate and have a dream and vision to launch - can do it!
My new mantra - I CAN, I WILL, I AM, - FROM A PLACE OF LOVE!!!
Join me in saying that out loud! Don't you feel better? Now go get 'em tiger!
-Kate Neligan
The Synergistic Entrepreneur
CEO & Founder of Mindful Media Entertainment & Synergy TV
Check out this great article on women's confidence when it comes to the workplace. Its enlightening!
http://blogs.hbr.org/glickman/2012/01/confidence-is-a-numbers-game.html
