Hopefully, your experience as a small-business owner has included at least a couple days when you have felt triumphant. Of course, not every day will feel this way.

Small-business owners deal with anxieties and insecurities all the time. After all, running a business is hard work and for many entrepreneurs it is somewhat uncharted territory. No matter your level of preparation, you might sometimes feel like you’re making it all up as you go — and that’s a confidence-rattling feeling.

Insecurity’s not always a bad thing

The good news, first and foremost, is that you are not alone. Insecurity is universal among small-business owners. Whatever issues you feel insecure about, you can rest assured that others are wrestling with the same issues.

Additionally, you might take some small encouragement in the fact that this is how you’re supposed to feel, at least in part. Entrepreneurs need a healthy dose of ego, but they also need some moments of humility. These moments will remind you to listen to other voices, to seek help when you really need it and not to overstate your own ability. Insecurity can be a good head-check — an appropriate way to gain some perspective.

Putting doubt in its place

With that said, it is also imperative to put doubt in its place — to understand exactly how it can mess you up. The reason self-doubt can be dangerous is that it prevents you from taking action. Insecurity can leave you paralyzed at a time when your company really needs some motion, some momentum — some leadership.

That’s not to say that moments of reflection and self-evaluation cannot have merit. However, you have to remember that doubt prevents action. Don’t allow insecurity to leave you stagnant for too long.

When you start to feel stuck in insecurity, ask yourself: What action really needs to be taken? If you doubt your course of action, think about whether there might be a better way to do things. If so, then you should weigh the pros and cons of both methods. But if not, the best response to your insecurity may be to brush past it and just do something, rather than sit and feel stuck. 

Changing your perspective

Another way to deal with insecurity is to break down your big problems or major objectives into some smaller goals — daily or weekly benchmarks you can hit. If you feel overwhelmed by a big project, insecure in your ability to complete it, then try thinking of it as several small projects. Focus on one component at a time and celebrate your completed milestones.

Another way to change your perspective is to stop looking at things from the mind of a small-business owner. Instead try to look at things from the customer’s viewpoint. Think about the value you’re offering and how you could improve it. Are you doing everything in your power to make the customer experience satisfactory? Are you distinguishing yourself from the competition? If so, then you need not feel too insecure; you’re tending to the important things and something good will surely come of that.

Responding to failure

Sometimes, of course, you’ll simply fail — and when you do, it’s important to not let that failure feed your insecurity. Instead, analyze the situation. Learn from it. Then move on. You might even celebrate your failure — because at least you took a swing, rather than being paralyzed by inaction.

Inaction can often be deadly — but insecurity is, to some extent, normal and even healthy — so long as you know how to address it.

About the Author

Amanda E. Clark is the president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic Inc., a full-service professional writing company. She is a published ghostwriter and editor, and currently under contract with literary agencies in Malibu, Calif., and Dublin, Ireland.

Since founding Grammar Chic in 2008, Clark, along with her team of skilled professional writers, has offered expertise to clients in the creative, business and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects and often engages in content and social media marketing, drafts resumes, press releases, Web content, marketing materials and ghostwritten creative pieces. Contact Clark at www.grammarchic.net.