5 mistakes Good Girls make when growing their own businesses (and how to avoid them!)
Starting and growing a business is a fun journey that can be challenging at times and require dedication, innovation, and adaptability. As a Good Girl personality, you're someone who thrives on meeting external expectations and may find it easier to fulfil commitments to others rather than yourself. While this characteristic of yours can be a huge advantage when working for someone else, it can lead to pitfalls when it comes to building your own business.
In this blog post, let’s explore five common mistakes that Good Girls can make at one time or another when trying to grow their own businesses and some solutions to overcome them.
1. OVERCOMMITTING AND NEGLECTING SELF-CARE
Let’s hold our hands up - we naturally tend to say "yes" to every client, project, or collaboration that comes our way. This can lead to overcommitment and eventual burnout. Neglecting your mental and physical self-care can adversely affect your productivity and decision-making ability, which will slow your business growth.
SOLUTION
You need to get super clear on your focus for this quarter and say no to everything else. This means setting boundaries and prioritising tasks. If your budget allows, now is the time to delegate or outsource non-essential responsibilities so that you can focus on the parts of the business only you can do. And we need to prioritise making time for self-care activities that rejuvenate our mind and body. This can be something as simple as a short walk. Remember, taking care of yourself is essential for your business's long-term success as you are your biggest asset.
2. LACK OF GOAL CLARITY AND FOCUS
Almost the definition of the Good Girl is that you can get caught up in fulfilling others' expectations, which can distract you from setting clear, achievable goals for your business. Without a well-defined direction, your efforts can become scattered, leading to slower progress and missed opportunities.
SOLUTION
Take time to set goals for your business. Write them down and keep them visible to maintain focus and track your progress regularly. Remember to revisit and adjust your goals when you need to to help you stay true to your business vision.
3. IGNORING WHAT YOU’RE BRINGING TO THE WORLD
We often seek validation from external sources, which can lead to a lack of confidence in our business's unique value. Neglecting to highlight what makes your product or service different can result in difficulties standing out in a competitive market.
SOLUTION
We need to try to identify and embrace our strengths and what we uniquely bring. Try surveying your customers to understand your target audience's pain points and how your business can address them effectively is a great starting point. Use this knowledge to share your unique value to potential customers and differentiate yourself from competitors.
4. RELUCTANCE TO SEEK HELP AND NETWORK
Entrepreneurship can be isolating, but us Good Girls may hesitate to seek help or network because we don't want to burden others with our needs. This can lead to missed opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and valuable insights. Working with others is also something that is truly motivating for us so seeking out opportunities to do this will always be worthwhile.
SOLUTION
Recognize that looking for help is not a sign of weakness but a strategic move to grow your business. Attend industry events, join networking groups, and seek mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who can offer guidance and encouragement on your entrepreneurial journey.
5. FEAR OF FAILURE AND AVOIDING NECESSARY RISKS
It’s important to realise that we may fear failure more intensely than others due to our sensitivity to external judgment. This fear can lead to a reluctance to take necessary risks for business growth, such as investing in new marketing strategies or expanding our products/services.
SOLUTION
Get curious rather than fearful. See each setback as an opportunity to improve and grow. Calculate risks carefully and take considered steps forward, learning from both successes and failures. Cultivate a growth mindset that enables you to see challenges as stepping stones rather than obstacles.
As a Good Girl Rebel, you have a lot to offer the world through your business. By understanding and addressing the common mistakes mentioned above, you can leverage your strengths and overcome challenges more effectively. Remember to set clear goals, prioritize self-care, seek help, and embrace your unique value proposition. By doing so, you'll be better equipped to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape and foster the growth of your business.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M A GOOD GIRL REBEL?
If you’ve been nodding along as you’ve been reading then this is for you! But you can check by taking the free personality quiz. This gives you a 13-page pdf report with advice tailored to your answers.
The Good Girl Rebellion app (available on Apple, Android or on your computer) is designed to help you through these challenges every workday. It’s like I’m there coaching you one to one! You press play and it guides you through clearing your blocks and building your business.
Right now it’s available at an introductory offer at £17 per month with no minimum commitment - you can cancel when you want yourself in the app. And there is a 7 day free trial so you can even try it out with no charge.
This is something I’ve worked on for 18 months (and probably longer) and I’m super proud of the impact it’s having for people already. I’d love you to get those results too.