
Trusting Yourself in Business: How to Build Self-Belief and Make Bold Decisions
Trusting Yourself in Business: How to Build Self-Belief and Make Bold Decisions
There’s a quiet confidence that comes from knowing, deep down, that you’ve got this. But when you're running a business — especially one that feels personal, creative, or built on your lived experience — that inner voice of self-doubt can be loud. So I want to talk about self-trust: why we lose it, how to rebuild it, and why it’s the not-so-secret weapon behind every bold business decision you’ll ever make.
You can read all the strategy books and hire all the coaches, but if you don’t trust yourself? You’ll always second-guess, stall, and wait for permission that doesn’t need to be given.
Why We Lose Trust in Ourselves (And Why It’s So Common in Business)
Self-trust doesn’t disappear overnight. It erodes over time, chipped away by things like:
- Doing what you think you should do instead of what you want to do
- Outsourcing your power to every guru on the internet (I love putting people on a pedestal)
- Fear of failing or getting it wrong, so you play small instead
- Being burned in the past by bad investments, bad advice, or plain bad luck
And business, more than anything, can bring those wounds right to the surface. Because it’s not just about the work, it’s about you. Your voice. Your message. Your offers. Your pricing. All of it feels high stakes.
But you can’t build something powerful without backing yourself. Trust is the glue that holds together courage, consistency, and clarity. And the good news is, it can be rebuilt.
Rebuilding Self-Trust: What It Actually Looks Like
Let’s clear this up first: self-trust isn’t about getting it right all the time. It’s about knowing that even if you get it wrong, you can figure it out. You’ve got your own back.
Here’s how to build that kind of trust — one decision at a time:
1. Take faster action
Overthinking is just procrastination in disguise. Start making decisions quicker — even the small ones. Post the thing. Raise the price. Say yes. Say no. Move.
2. Reflect on what has worked
Your brain loves to remind you of all the times it didn’t go well. But what if you made a list of every time you did get it right? Proof is powerful. And chances are, your wins list is longer than you think.
3. Stop waiting for the ‘right’ answer
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t exist. Business isn’t a test you pass. It’s a practice. Choose the best option you can with what you know now, and keep moving.
4. Build evidence
You build trust the same way you build fitness — repetition. Every time you do what you said you would do, you reinforce the message: I can trust myself.
5. Give yourself compassion when you get it wrong
Messing up doesn’t mean you’re untrustworthy, it means you’re human. Learn from it, forgive yourself, and keep going.
Why Self-Trust Attracts Clients
Want to know the real reason self-trust matters in business? It’s magnetic.
When you trust yourself:
- You stop hiding your offers or explaining them to death
- You sell with certainty (not desperation)
- You show up more consistently
- You create braver, bolder content
People are drawn to certainty, not perfection, but certainty. When you’re clear and confident in what you bring to the table, people feel safer buying from you. It’s that simple.
And no, this doesn’t mean faking confidence. It means standing in your expertise, even when you’re still figuring it all out. It’s a practice. The more you do it, the more you believe it.
The Fear of Getting It Wrong
Let’s talk about that big one: What if I make the wrong decision?
Here’s a truth I want you to take with you — you can’t fail your own business. Not really. Because even the ‘wrong’ decisions bring you closer to the right ones. Every time you take action, you’re gathering data. Learning. Growing. Adjusting.
Fear of getting it wrong keeps people stuck in inaction, which is far worse than making a misstep. You can recover from a mistake. You can’t build momentum if you’re standing still.
So next time that voice creeps in — What if this flops? What if no one buys? What if I look silly? — remind yourself: you’ve figured things out before. You’ll figure this out too.
Practical Ways to Strengthen Self-Trust in Business
If you're feeling wobbly, try a few of these simple shifts:
- Set smaller promises and keep them. If you say you’ll post three times this week, do it. Build trust through action.
- Journal your wins. Daily or weekly, keep a record of what went well. It’s your personal confidence vault.
- Limit your inputs. Too many voices = decision fatigue. Pick one coach or mentor you trust and tune out the rest.
- Make space to hear your own voice. Walks, journaling, white space in your calendar — whatever helps you reconnect with you.
- Talk it out. Sometimes you need to say things aloud. Whether that’s a coach, a biz bestie, or a voice note to yourself — let it out.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Always Been the Expert
At the end of the day, business isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being the person who shows up, trusts herself, and keeps going, even when it’s scary.
You’ve always known more than you think. You’ve always had more power than you realise. Self-trust isn’t something you earn, it’s something you remember.
And when you can stand in that? The rest falls into place.
So if you're waiting for a sign… this is it. Back yourself. Choose yourself. Trust yourself. Your business will thank you for it.
---
Loved this post? Listen to the full episode of The Joy Work Show on your favourite podcast app, or head to HERE to tune in.
Looking for community, strategy and real support as you grow your business? The Joy Work Club Community and Members Club is where it’s at. Accountability, big-hearted strategy, and a whole lot of joy — come join us!