Self-doubt is an inevitable feeling when we go out on our own.

You’re entering new territory, removing guardrails, and ditching the defaults that have been programmed into you over a decade (or two, or three!) in the corporate world.

So it’s natural to feel unsure of our abilities to succeed in a new model, particularly when seemingly everything is at stake.

On top of that, you’re seemingly alone.

Earlier today, I took a group of mostly new and aspiring independent consultants through a live workshop on the “5-balloon” framework I published here last month on gauging your fit with self-employment.

I wasn’t privy to the small group breakouts where the participants were able to share their self-assessments with each other.

But I was struck by the clear, common themes in the post-session feedback survey:

• “I have more strengths than I think”
• “I’m not alone”
• “I’m better off than I thought”
• “It’s not just me”
• “I have a few strengths that actually make me a great fit for self-employment.”

We have a lot to look forward to when breaking out of the corporate box.

Flexibility. Agency. Earning potential. Independence.

But when the self-doubt rises (and it inevitably will!)

Remember that you’re most likely better off than you think.

And more importantly, you’re not alone.

💡

-Wes