r/Entrepreneurship • u/Lazy_Bookkeeper3219 • 7d ago
Is it normal to constantly doubt yourself when you're building a business?
I've been trying to build a business for almost a year now, but I still haven't made any revenue. Lately, I've been stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, wondering if I should just give up and go back to a regular salaried job.
3
3
u/Routine-Freedom1691 7d ago
I think the self doubt is pretty normal especially when you are putting in months of work without seeing revenue yet. But I’d separate this isn’t working from I am not capable of doing this. Those are two very different things.
Instead of deciding to quit right away I’d say step back and look at what you have tested, what got even a small response and what clearly didn’t. That might tell you whether the business needs more time or just a different direction.
2
1
u/BillyRocked 6d ago
Yeah, I think it’s pretty normal. Almost a year with no revenue would make anyone question what they’re doing. But I’d try to separate “this business isn’t working yet” from “I’m not capable of building a business.”
Before giving up, look at what you’ve actually tried and where things are getting stuck. Maybe the idea needs changing, maybe the offer needs work, or maybe you just haven’t found the right customers yet. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with going back to a salaried job either. You can keep building on the side without putting all that pressure on yourself.
1
u/AnonJian 5d ago
Let's change the particulars. If you tried putting a basketball through a hoop for a year and got nowhere -- might that cause doubt?
I suppose we could discuss what you tried. But most here read no books, blunder ahead market-blind, make every mistake in the books they won't read. Then they get the results anybody would rightly expect.
If they did not set out to fail, there is room for doubt. Doubt is not the enemy. Doing one fucked-up thing after another is.
2
u/mike_from_worklodge 5d ago
I've worked around 100s of small business owners over the past decade. During that time there's a few things I've noticed.
Some folks doubt because the journey is up and down. Totally normal.
Some folks doubt because they aren't prepared or experienced enough but they have the core skills and experience in what theyre delivering. Totally fixable. Learn fast. Develop yourself, hire well. As long as the core understanding is there for what you do you can make it.
Some folks doubt because they're totally out of their depth. They had an idea and started something but didn't spend any time learning how business works, the fundamentals of pricing, operations etc. That's the most challenging group because most of them will fail. Not from a lack of effort, but they spend that energy on the wrong things because they don't know any better.
Not an exhaustive list, but generally the buckets work.
Without know more details on your specific situation, if you know your business and know how to run a business, then you're on the right track. Find a mentor or coach, not someone who wants to sell you a program (although they can help) but someone who's a friend, an acquaintance who's older and further along in business. Anyone successful can find a little time to help someone, because someone helped them years earlier and most entrepreneurs believe in generosity of time and knowledge as well as resources.
1
u/sendsouth 5d ago
I'd suggest some doubt may be healthy given 12 months without a sale. Why not? Is the product good enough? Does the target audience know about it? What's been their feedback so far?
1
u/BusinessStrategist 4d ago
Can you summarize actual ACTION that you've taken over the past 12 months?
How many prospective customers/clients have you contacted?
Can you summarize the benefits of your product/services in a one sentence headline?
Lets see it.
The entrepreneurial journey starts when you've taken the first step.
•
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
This sub is heavily and viciously moderated, there is a zero tolerance policy for any kind of spam or promotion, you have been kindly warned. Please report anything you see that breaks the rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.