This February I had the chance to take a trip of a lifetime; a week in Iceland with my best friend. Why Iceland? I wanted to visit somewhere that would inspire me to take on new challenges in 2016. From all that I’d read about this arctic island, it seemed like the perfect place to test the boundaries of my comfort zone.
While my friend and I had bet on an adventure, we could never have imagined what was in store for us when we arrived. From snowmobiling across a glacier to snorkeling in nearly freezing waters, each day we were met with a new and exciting feat. Over dinner each night, we fell into the practice of recapping the lessons our adventures from the day had taught us. In pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones, we inadvertently began to recognize the attitudes we’d adopted to assure a truly rewarding trip.
When our time in Iceland drew to a close, my attention turned to my life back home. I wondered how things might change for the better if I brought those learned attitudes into my regular routine. While I’d challenged myself to a trip that would leave me inspired, I returned with a new ambition; to develop a truly rewarding life by practicing these 7 attitudes.
With Toast Meets Jam I’m constantly meeting and getting to know young female founders. If you’ve watched my interviews you’ll know that they’re all about getting to know the women behind the businesses. In getting to know these amazing young women I’ve picked up quite a bit of incredible advice on what it takes to launch your own business. With the help of Entrepreneur Magazine, I’ve created Toast Talk, a new series to bring you all of that advice rolled into one delicious dish that you can dig into every Tuesday.
To kick-off we’re going to start by talking about overcoming the obstacles that can come with launching a business. And this week we’re going to start by talking about self-doubt.
One of the biggest fears I hear from young women entrepreneurs is that they feel like have no idea what they are doing and are worried that someone is going to call them out for it. If this sounds like you, you’re in luck because I have 5 easy steps for you to shake that self doubt.
#1 Find Your Support System
Figure out who those people are in your life that are going to be there to support you as you grow your business. Remember, no matter how independent you are, this is not something you need to do alone and it will be much more fun if you invite people to be a part of the process with you. Find those friends, family members, and mentors who truly get it, will pick you up when you’re feeling down and push you forward when you need a little encouragement.
#2 Start Telling People About Your Business
It can be scary to share your ideas with other people. You might be worried about what they’ll think or about the negative feedback they might give. But by starting to talk about your business, not only will you start to gain more confidence in it but you’ll also start building out your support system. You’ll find that the people who care about you will want to see you succeed and will help you figure out the bits you don’t know by connecting you to the right people and resources.
#3 Don’t Worry About What Everyone Else is Doing
There are always going to be people out there for you to compare yourself to. And the reality is there are going to be people out there doing things that are very similar to what you are doing and who in your eyes might be doing it better. Good for them! Let them inspire you but don’t let them discourage you. Don’t get caught up in what other people are doing. Stay focused on what it is you need to be doing to grow your business.
#4Remind Yourself Everyone Starts Somewhere
It can sometimes seem like everyone around you is an overnight success. Like they woke up one day, decided to launch a business, and boom they instantly had it all figured out and were a roaring success. When my mind starts trailing down this path I have to remind myself that everyone starts somewhere and even the people you look up to most likely have beginnings that look very similar to your own. One handy tool that I love to use when I need a little reminder of this is the Wayback Machine. This handy tool lets you go back in time to your favorite businesses and look at their historical versions websites. Trust me it does wonders for your confidence.
#5 Celebrate Your Successes
Last but not least, take time to celebrate the wins no matter how big or small. When you’re launching your businesses there are so many first you will encounter. Be proud of every step of the journey you take forward. Right these down somewhere so you can remember just how far you’ve come and how truly amazing you are!
Now I want to hear from you. What do you do to shake self doubt? Leave a comment below and join the conversation @ToastMeetsJam.
As her 30th birthday draws near, Lauren reflects on the important lessons she’s learned along the way
By: Lauren Sanchez
In 136 days, at 5:05 p.m. CST, I’ll be turning 30. How’s that for a countdown?
In all honesty, I’m not counting—I had to Google this information. But as I’ve gotten a bit older, I’ve noticed that with the passing of each year comes more awareness of age and the stereotypes that come with it. I think about it like this: when I turned 21, it was a “rite of passage.” No longer was I at the mercy of my roommate to buy me that bottle of peach wine on her weekly trip to the grocery store. I could walk into any bar and happily order whatever drink I wanted, and when asked for my ID, I was quick to flash it, because now, it meant something: freedom.
Then all of a sudden, I was 25. I had graduated from college, even finished graduate school, and had experienced all the nerves and anxiety of landing my first job. I was now a “young professional”. Life was about happy hours with colleagues and starting to become an adult. I say starting because in hindsight, I was still a bit clueless. I was still eating frozen dinners and had stupidly applied for my first store credit card. But life at 25 was surprising, even adventurous, as I began to navigate the world of online dating and started cultivating my persona as the single, fun-loving wedding guest at the couples’ table. I was still enjoying that intangible yet incomparable gift that I’d been given at 21: freedom.
Which brings me to now: I’m 29, and in less than five months, I’ll be 30. So, what have I learned? What poignant points of wisdom could I share?” Well, here goes…
In general, I would consider myself a fairly good cook in the kitchen. Give me a recipe and a little room for creative interpretation and I’ll whip you up pretty mean meal. Yet, despite my kitchen finesse when it comes to cooking, there has been one menu item that has remained outside of my capabilities. I have been plagued with an ineptitude to brew a great cup of coffee.
At first glance, the process seems simple enough. Pour hot water through coffee grinds until it turns into a black liquid, sweeten up with milk and sugar, and serve. Though, time and again my attempts turn out less than satisfactory. I can’t seem to get the water to coffee ratio correct; always ending up with a drink that taste watered down or far too bitter.
These epic fails have resorted to the use of a Keurig to get through my morning ritual. I have a love/hate relationship with my Keurig. I love it for its simplicity but hate it for what it stands for–my complete ineptitude to master the most basic of kitchen skills. The latter seems to have been more pronounced as of late and has me stirring to break out of my training wheels. After experiencing the cafe culture of Vienna I decided to do a little research and attend a tasting at my favorite coffee shop to learn how to step up my coffee game.
Though the practice has just begun, I’ve already picked up quite a few helpful tips that have taken my coffee capabilities from a few notches up. Whether you’re a brewmaster or just getting started, read on for the tips that will help you too to serve up the perfect cup of coffee.
GirlTalkHQ Founder Asha Dahya opens up about the journey to find her identity
“Don’t apologize for who you are… true happiness comes from knowing your individual worth and identity”
I have been in a relationship for 31 years, which, coincidentally, is also my age. That life-long relationship has been with no one other than my identity. Sounds weird, but hear me out!
For most of my life, I’ve struggled to uncover who I am and how I want to be perceived. Though you’d image this struggle would get easier with time, my experience has been quite the opposite. As I’ve grown older, extraneous circumstances – peer pressure, family pressure, the media, relationships with boys, my career- have threatened to break up my longest relationship and have even managed to hijack my identity at times.
By: Lauren Sanchez
