If you have been a regular listener, you know that I am obsessed with helping female solopreneurs gain confidence and courage so they can pursue and achieve their goals and dreams.  One of the most common scenarios I encounter with my business strategy and coaching clients the fear of hearing the word “no.  I have been interviewed on the topic of entrepreneurship and rejection sensitivity on several other podcasts, so I know this is a pretty widespread struggle. 

There are a number of ways we unconsciously resist hearing no that actually limit our income, profit, and success in business.  Behaviors such as never raising our prices, asking a team member to learn something new, and avoiding creating new offers are a few.   Many of us go so far out of our way to avoid being rejected that we basically reject the chance of being found, hired, and paid.  Or, we just don’t ask for the sale, avoid using a Call to Action in our marketing, and “forget” to follow up with prospects.  

With everything I am learning about confidence, failure, and resiliency, I have come to the conclusion that getting better at dealing with “no” is a skill that all of us need to get better at.  Think of it this way: we either need to learn how to deal more effectively with “no” or get used to settling for less than we truly want.  

The main issue is what we make it mean when we hear no, especially for those who are shy, introverted, highly creative, socially anxious, and who experience rejection sensitivity, but the good news is that getting better at hearing no is a skill that anyone can learn.  I share several strategies that have been helpful to my clients and also to myself, including one I adapted from my experiences as a psychotherapist, including:

• Upping the ante on your “no” 
• Role-playing with your biz bestie
• Questioning the “no” 
• Asking for things you don’t really want/need 

Also mentioned in this episode: 

“Go for No” by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz  https://amzn.to/3vjEtaZ

Did you recognize yourself in any of the ways I talked about in this episode? So many of my clients knew they were struggling and suspected they were holding themselves back in their business when they hired me, and one of the first things we did was to assess their mindset and habits.  If you don’t know what isn’t working, you won’t know what to change, right?  

I created a quiz with 6 different behaviors I often see in female solopreneurs that limit their income, profit, and success.  Once you take the quiz, you will receive specific feedback, guidance, and practical advice about your particular challenge and more importantly, steps you can take to fix it.   

Click on this link to take the quiz: What’s Holding You Back?   https://bit.ly/obstaclesquiz

With 20+ years of experience as a psychotherapist and 7+ years as a coach, I rarely meet a solopreneur who wouldn’t benefit from some expert guidance. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see if my signature 12-week 1:1 coaching program is right for you. https://calendly.com/diannwingert/free-consultation/

So, that’s all for now, Driven Woman!  Please join us next week for an amazing guest interview with Nicole Lewis Keeber, my first-ever repeat guest. Nicole and I will be talking about what entrepreneurs need to know about trauma and why it seems like everyone on the internet is suddenly claiming to be a trauma specialist.  In the meantime, stay driven!