When Confidence Wobbles

Written by LiveLink
May 6th 2025

When Confidence Wobbles. Finding Your Feet Again 

Running your own business can feel a bit like being on a rollercoaster. Some days you’re flying high, ticking off to-do lists and celebrating wins. Other days, it can feel like you’re stuck at the top of the ride with no idea when the drop is coming.

If you’re reading this because your confidence has taken a knock, you’re not alone. I often have moments/weeks of self doubt. It happens to every business owner at some point, often more than once. Let’s talk about why it happens, what you can do about it, and—most importantly—how to get your groove back.

Why does confidence dip?

Let’s start with the obvious: running a business is hard. It’s emotionally demanding, financially risky, and sometimes deeply isolating. That’s a potent cocktail for self-doubt.

Here are some of the most common reasons small business owners lose confidence:

Slow sales or quiet periods

When business slows down, it’s easy to take it personally. You might start questioning your offer, your pricing, or even your own capabilities. But quiet patches are part of the cycle, not a sign that you’re failing.

Comparisonitis (Is that even a word?)

Spending too much time on social media? It’s a breeding ground for comparison. Seeing other business owners smashing goals can make you feel like you’re behind or not doing enough. Even if you’re doing just fine.

Overwhelm and burnout

Trying to wear all the hats? It’s no wonder you’re feeling shaky. When you’re constantly spinning plates, it’s hard to see the bigger picture, and easy to feel like you’re not doing anything well.

A bump in the road

Maybe a client left. Maybe you got a refund request, or a bad review. Even one piece of negative feedback can feel enormous when you’re personally invested in your business.

The inner critic

Let’s not forget the ever-present voice that whispers, “Who do you think you are?” Self-doubt is part of being human, but it can be louder when you’re doing something brave like running your own business.

How to rebuild your confidence

Losing confidence doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for business. It just means you’re human. Here are some ways to gently but firmly rebuild that belief in yourself.

Zoom out and get perspective

When your confidence dips, it’s often because you’re zoomed in on what’s not working. Take a step back. Look at how far you’ve come, the clients you’ve helped, the challenges you’ve overcome.

Try this exercise: write down your top five business wins from the past year. Big or small—doesn’t matter. Remind yourself that success isn’t always about massive milestones; it’s about consistent progress.

Have a ‘Wow Wall’. Somewhere to store all the positive feedback you get (however small). It will sustain you when you’re having a wobble

Reconnect with your ‘why’

Why did you start your business in the first place? What did you hope it would give you, or allow you to do?

Your ‘why’ is your anchor. When confidence wobbles, going back to that deeper reason can help you feel grounded and motivated again.

Talk to other business owners

Isolation is confidence’s worst enemy. Chatting with fellow business owners—especially the honest, no-fluff kind—can be an incredible tonic.

Join a networking group, hop on a Zoom coffee, or just message someone you admire. Chances are, they’ve been where you are.

Work on one small win

Confidence doesn’t come from sitting around thinking about how to be more confident. It comes from doing something. Don’t wallow!

Pick one small, manageable task that moves your business forward. Send a follow-up email. Post something on social media. Write a blog (like this one!). Small wins stack up quickly.

Take a break

It sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to rebuild confidence is to stop pushing. Rest gives you clarity. If you’re burnt out, you won’t be able to think straight—let alone make good decisions.

Even a day off to walk, read, or sit in the garden can do wonders.

Invest in support

You don’t have to do this alone. Whether it’s a coach, a VA, a bookkeeper, or a mentor—bringing someone in to lighten your load or give you perspective can be a game-changer.

Think of it as buying back energy, clarity, and (you guessed it) confidence.

Tools to rebuild confidence today

Let’s get practical. Here are a few resources and tools you can use right now to start feeling more grounded and in control.

Confidence journal

Each day, write down:

• One thing you did well
• One win (no matter how small)
• One thing you’re grateful for in your business

This takes less than five minutes and helps train your brain to look for the positives.

The “I’m proud of…” list

Open a doc or grab a notebook and write 50 things you’re proud of. Yes—50. It sounds like a lot, but once you start, you’ll be amazed at what pours out.

Include business wins, personal achievements, kind things people have said about your work—anything that reminds you you’re capable.

The Eisenhower Matrix

Feeling overwhelmed can sap your confidence. Try this simple time management tool:

Draw four boxes:

• Urgent and important
• Important but not urgent
• Urgent but not important
• Neither

Put your to-dos into the boxes. Focus on the top two categories, and delegate or delete the rest. It’ll help you feel more in control and less like you’re drowning in tasks. And you’ll soon realise that some things on your list will never get done. Ever.

Book recommendation: “The Confidence Code” by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

This book explores the science of confidence and how we can build more of it. Practical, reassuring, and especially good for women in business.

Meditation or breathwork apps

Tools like Insight Timer, Calm, or Breathwrk can help when anxiety takes hold. Even just three minutes of guided breathing can reset your nervous system and get you back in the game.

Losing confidence doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you care. You’re growing. You’re pushing your limits—and that’s always going to feel a bit uncomfortable.

Confidence is not a fixed trait. It’s a muscle. And the more you gently stretch and strengthen it, the easier it becomes to bounce back when things wobble.

So be kind to yourself. Reach out. Take a break. Take a step. You’ve done hard things before—you can do this too.