A recurring theme in our master mind group is a tendency to ‘think small’ of ourselves.

We don’t charge enough for our products /services, we don’t put ourselves forward for big jobs, we don’t approach the top level movers and shakers, we don’t toot our own horn  – and so on.

Yet we’re all smart, confident and talented women – we can see it in each other but not in ourselves.

We’ve discussed the issue at length and we’re aware that this thinking small will inhibit any chance of true success in our businesses. Whether it’s through lack of confidence; being too humble; just not believing in ourselves, or not recognising the real value we offer – something is holding us back.

As Nelson Mandela famously said; ‘Your playing small doesn’t serve the world’.

One of our members brought along a worksheet one week that outlined the need to make a decision and own it (eg, I am the city’s leading business coach), believe it and then list all the reasons why you deserve it. That was empowering – sometimes we forget all the experience we have, the achievements we’ve accumulated until we list them down and acknowledge them properly.

When I started Her Business magazine my dream was simple – to start a magazine for women in business; I could see it, I believed in it and, amazingly, in myself (even though I didn’t know anything about running a business or publishing) – I simply didn’t doubt it. I just got on with it.

With age and experience comes wisdom but also knockbacks, fear, -coupled with less energy, more commitments – and suddenly a dream that was simply challenging a few years ago – now seems so much more tougher.

I came across a post and workbook today called ‘7 steps to playing a much bigger game’ – and I love it. David Navarro has written a very looooooooooooong post (but well worth the read) to complement the workbook. The free workbook is downloadable from here: www.thelaunchcoach.com/workbook1 . If you’re not stepping up  – then check this out as it’ll kick the butt of your thinking small.

Lots of what David said resonated with me, but particularly this point when we wonder if we’re good enough (that old imposter syndrome rearing its head): “You have certain skills you can offer the world, and whether or not you don’t appreciate them, other people can.  You may not see yourself as a 10 on the old sliding scale, maybe you’re a 5, but let me tell you this: To people who are a 0, 1 or 2, your 5 might as well be a 10.  You have value they need.”

This is a conundrum I face as a business blogger; the more I look, the more I discover lots of other people are out there already doing it and doing it well; I feel intimidated, the inertia kicks in – but then I think of the people who’ve asked me what’s blogging about? What’s twitter? And I realise I do have lots to offer; and there is enough of the pie for us all…. so I’ll stop waiting to be a ten and just jump right in and give the value I can.