2. 2
Module M2 Profiling women digital entrepreneurs
Competence
unit
U2.2 Building self-confidence
and initiative
Learning
outcome
Establish the keys to
taking initiative and self-
confidence
Type of
resource
PowerPoint Presentation
(PPT)
Type of
learning
Self-direct learning
Resource title Preparing myself to get start
Learning
hours
1h
Contents
- What can we learn from others
- Facing fears
- Building the right environment
- What does it mean success for me?
- Important rules to follow
4. 4
What can we learn
from entrepreneurs’
experience and the
role of their
self-confidence
Source: image by gerd altmann from https://pixabay.com/
5. “
Before I launched my business I felt sick at the thought of my
friends and family knowing what I was doing. It sounds a bit crazy
now, but at the time I was so worried that they'd think less of me. I
imagined them thinking "Ooh who does she think she is?" and "oh
no, that's a terrible idea!" I also felt too small and amateur to write
to magazines and newspapers about my new business. I think the
thing that helped the most was having a purpose bigger than
making money for myself. Velo Sister exists to raise money for
charities, so I've had to push past the fears and go ahead anyway.
The more I've done it, the smaller my fears have become. Six
months after launching Velo Sister, the fears and insecurities are
still there, and sometimes they delay me from taking actions - but
they don't stop me.”
Nic Fox, founder of Velo Sister - Ethical, online shop for women
who love cycling .
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/harjit-sohoteykhan/starting-a-business-hold-_b_13337926.html
retrieved 19.03.2019
5
6. “
When you step out of your comfort zone and decide to implement
something which was once an idea on a scrap of paper, you
unleash all of your insecurity demons. Will anyone like my idea? Is
it complete rubbish? Am I any good at what I do? I've been through
the whole range of emotions from "this is the best thing ever and
it's going to take over the world" to "this is awful and everyone is
going to hate it" - and everything in between! But with support
from friends and family, a fabulous network of female
entrepreneurs and a lot of sleepless nights, my ideas have become
a reality. People love them and are prepared to pay money for
them. My business is going from strength to strength, but the hard
work never stops. You have to keep challenging yourself, stepping
out of your comfort zone, making mistakes and learning from
them.”
Lauren Gayfer, founder of The Fairy Food Mother, a nutrition
business aimed at new mums.
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/harjit-sohoteykhan/starting-a-business-hold-_b_13337926.html
retrieved 19.03.2019
6
7. “
Running my business so far has been a beautiful rollercoaster -
scary, terrifying. It made me question everything, but it's also
exhilarating, inspiring and humbling. It's definitely not an easy ride
- emotionally more than anything. But you start to understand
yourself more. You realise that the little hiccups don't define you.
That you can do it. I hear from people who I least expect, tell me
that I've had a positive impact on their lives - and man you need to
hear that! Because it's all too easy to find yourself quivering under
a duvet and not wanting to come out. Realising that you have the
strength to deal with things, help other people and live a healthier
life, is empowering. You just need to remind yourself of that more
often.”
Bella McCrudden, founder of Nutribelle, follows her dream of
helping people find a way of making a healthy lifestyle part of the
natural balance of life.
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/harjit-sohoteykhan/starting-a-business-hold-_b_13337926.html
retrieved 19.03.2019
7
8. 8
Source: https://pixabay.com/
Mistakes and fears
don't define your
success or failure.
It's how you deal
with them that
does.
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/harjit-
sohoteykhan/starting-a-business-hold-_b_13337926.html,
retrieved 19.03.2019
Source: image by alexas fotos from https://pixabay.com/
9. 9
Fear of failure and
consequences of making a
mistake
The possibility of mistakes will always
be around you, regardless of what type
of entrepreneurial actions you will take.
It is normal to have fear of making a
mistake.
However, the biggest mistake can be if
you don’t take anything as
entrepreneurial action.
Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/887/willingness-entrepreneurial-
action/, retrieved 19.03.2019
Source: image by ambermb from https://pixabay.com/
10. 10
Therefore,
the best strategy is
not avoiding to take
initiative but...
working hard
Source: image on https://pixabay.com/
11. BUILDING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
11
Knowledge
If you have more
knowledge about the
specific topic related
to your action, the
larger self-
confidence you will
have.
Risk
For each decision
and any
entrepreneurial
action, there will
always be
possibilities for risk.
It is critical to identify
how much risk do you
want to take.
Experience
If you have enough
experience with the
specific
entrepreneurial
activities
and actions related,
you’ll be more able
to take those
actions.
Self-Confidence
When your self-
confidence regarding
action you need to take
is higher, then there is
more probability that you
will take that specific
action.
Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/887/willingness-entrepreneurial-action/ retrieved 19.03.2019
To take initiative and be well succeed, you must reflect about these key factors and the
way you see yourself towards each.
13. SUCCESS
Before starting, reflect about what exactly does mean success for you.
It is critical that you clarify this to yourself.
Is it about:
a) money?
b) having more quality time?
c) more freedom of action?
d) doing what you like?
e) Other: _______________ 13
14. You need to like what you are
doing in your business.
Sometimes things will be hard, so
it is important that you be
passionate about your business.
Passion may be one of the most
important forces that will lead you
to the success.
14Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/2736/10-rules-of-success-for-
entrepreneurs/, retrieved 19.03.2019
#1 Don’t do what you
don’t like doing
Source: image by yvvonecyw0 from https://pixabay.com/
15. You’ll need people: customers,
maybe employees...
You will need also persons with
which you can talk and exchange
some ideas. A safety net.
So, you need to start building your
community as soon as possible.
15Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/2736/10-rules-of-success-for-
entrepreneurs/, retrieved 19.03.2019
#2 Build a healthy
community
Source: image by Free Photos from https://pixabay.com/
16. Always learn from your mistakes.
Don’t be ever afraid of that. If
possible, learn also from others’
mistakes. Research and study
others’ experiences.
Sometimes, only trying we will
know if it works.
You need to know that errors can
improve you and your business.
16Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/2736/10-rules-of-success-for-
entrepreneurs/, retrieved 19.03.2019
#3 Use mistakes to improve
Source: image by jan vasek from https://pixabay.com/
17. You need to look at what
everyone else is doing in order to
do something different.
You will need to differentiate
yourself from everyone else.
How do you differentiate your
business from your competition?
17Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/2736/10-rules-of-success-for-
entrepreneurs/, retrieved 19.03.2019
#4 Differentiate yourself
Source: image by conger design from https://pixabay.com/
18. If you are the person who doesn’t
think about the limits, probably
you will reach everything that you
want.
On the opposite, if you see limits
in everything around you, instead
of opportunities, you need to
change your mindset and start to
look beyond the limits.
18Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/2736/10-rules-of-success-for-
entrepreneurs/, retrieved 19.03.2019
#5 Exceed yourself
Source: image by foundry Co from https://pixabay.com/
19. Your journey will not be a straight
line. Probably, you will face some
difficulties and setbacks.
If you want your journey to
continue the success, you will
need to celebrate and reward
yourself and your team for all
accomplished targets. Don’t
underestimate this.
19Source: https://www.entrepreneurshipinabox.com/2736/10-rules-of-success-for-
entrepreneurs/, retrieved 19.03.2019
#6 Celebrate and reward
Source: image by Free-Photos from https://pixabay.com/
20. LET’S REVIEW SOME CONCEPTS
Structuring self-confidence
Learning from others’ experience
Facing fears
Building the right environment:
Risk
Experience
Knowledge
Self-confidence
Rules to be well succeed
What is success for you?
Important rules:
Don’t do what you don’t like
Build a healthy community
Use mistakes to improve
Differentiate yourself
Exceed yourself
Celebrate and reward
20
21. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication reflec ts the vi ews onl y of the aut hor , and the Commission cannot
be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project Number: 2018-1-UK01-KA202-047909
