September 2025 Blog Prompt: How do you stay motivated and overcome self-doubt?
Contributor of the prompt: *Erin McCarthy
Serial Entrepreneur Diaries: Motivation vs. Self-Doubt
As a perpetual entrepreneur, I still catch myself asking, what keeps me going? Despite the financial roller coaster and wearing all the hats, I think it’s the thrill of the unknown that keeps pulling me back.
In my opinion, entrepreneurship is sorta like forced therapy. My vulnerabilities are mirrored back at me all the time. If my business isn’t growing, I have to face it, and myself, and grow. Motivation and self-doubt are two different animals, but in my world they end up working together to keep me inching forward.
Here are six things that keep me motivated and quiet the imposter syndrome:
1) Go back to my Why
My first reason is both selfish and not. Seeing the “aha” in someone’s eyes when they realize they can do it… They start afraid, overwhelmed, and resistant, and slowly graduate to confident and comfortable. Helping women find the voice they’ve always had so they can grow the business they care about? It fills me up. It gives me purpose. I’ll always love that.
2) Keep healthy habits
Sleep well, eat well, keep regular hours, and take designated time off. Get clear on what it takes to feel your best (physically and mentally) so you can rely on yourself to be consistent. Part of that is giving myself grace when I’m not at 100%. It is not about pushing all the time; it is about knowing your capacity and working smarter within it.
3) Work on internal validation
It took time to hear my own kudos. Early in my videography career, when production was heavily male-dominated, I often met people eager to prove they knew more than me. As a newbie, it was easy to shrink into self-doubt. My business mirrored that back. Either I figured it out, or I would change careers. So slowly, I figured it out. I made things. I got better. I helped clients do the same. Isn’t it true that those who struggle often find the best answers? To help others, I had to become what I wanted for them.
4) Stay current in my field
I am mindful of the value I offer. As long as I am doing my best with the skills and tools I have, and I keep learning what is new, it staves off the feeling that I am not enough.
5) Stay connected to other entrepreneurs
When you are a team of one, it is easy to get stuck. A circle of peers keeps you grounded, inspired, and honest.
6) Review my own accomplishments
(a) Scroll through past clients on my socials and notice how many have become friends and a real community.
(b) Re-watch the TV shows I self-produced back when I was still learning.
(c) Look back at where I started versus where I am, both technically and confidence-wise.
Now that I am in year 14 of this chapter and 25 years into entrepreneurship, I am grateful I get to keep learning, growing, and going.
Carole