How Far Will You Go?
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
– Michele Ruiz
This quote caught my attention recently because I think it speaks to an experience many women in business share. Not necessarily because people openly tell us we won’t succeed, but because doubt has a way of creeping into our lives in much quieter forms.
Sometimes it sounds like concern from a loved one and sometimes it comes from people who don’t really understand what we’re trying to do. Sometimes it comes from our own inner voice questioning whether we’re experienced enough, or if we are knowledgeable enough, or ready enough to take the next step… this is a common one for me.
Running a business asks a lot of us
It asks us to make decisions without guarantees, put ourselves out there when we’d rather stay comfortable, and keep moving forward even when results take longer than we’d hoped. From the outside, people often see the successful launch, the busy diary, or the social media post celebrating a milestone. What they don’t see are the moments beforehand when someone is sitting with a cup of tea wondering whether they should even try.
Most business owners can look back and remember opportunities they almost talked themselves out of, the networking event they nearly didn’t attend because it felt a bit too stressful. A collaboration they were nervous to suggest because of the very real chance of being rejected, a new service they worried nobody would buy… and sometimes they don’t. The difference is rarely that successful people are fearless, more often, they’ve simply learned to take action while feeling uncertain.
One thing I’ve noticed through networking with other women is how often we underestimate ourselves, we look at someone else’s business and assume she has everything worked out. We see confidence, experience, and success. Meanwhile, she’s probably dealing with the same questions and challenges we are, and not to mention all the other life stuff that is happening right alongside that business.
Confidence
The truth is that confidence doesn’t usually arrive before we act. Most of the time, it arrives afterwards. We take the step, discover we can handle it, and then find the courage to take another. Over time, those small actions create momentum, and suddenly we’re doing things that once felt far beyond our reach.
What I like most about Michele Ruiz’s quote is that it isn’t really about proving people wrong, it is about staying focused on your own journey. When we spend too much time worrying about criticism, comparison, or other people’s opinions, we give away energy that could be spent growing our business, developing our skills, and serving our clients.
As members of a women’s networking community, we have something incredibly valuable. We are surrounded by women who understand the realities of business ownership and we know what it’s like to experience setbacks, celebrate wins that others might not fully appreciate, and keep going when things don’t unfold exactly as planned.
That’s why communities like this matter. Every time we share our experiences honestly, encourage another member, or celebrate someone’s success, we help create an environment where women feel more confident taking the next step. Seeing another woman succeed reminds us that progress is possible, even when we’re feeling uncertain ourselves.
This months challenge
So perhaps the challenge this month isn’t to silence every doubt or convince everyone around us that our ideas are worthwhile, perhaps it’s simply to keep moving forward and to take the next step you’ve been putting off, however small it may seem. Send the email, start the conversation, book the event, launch the offer, or ask for the opportunity.
Because every step forward creates a little more distance between you and the doubts that once felt so loud.
And one day you’ll look back and realise that you didn’t get where you are by arguing with doubters or waiting until you felt completely ready, you got there by continuing to learn, grow, and take action while supporting other women along the way.
Keep going. Your future self is already grateful that you did.
Thank you for reading this month’s blog, How Far Will You Go?
Chloe and Kelly,
Ladies That Do Networking