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Amber Olson Rourke is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer for Nerium International \u2014 an award-winning skincare and wellness solutions company with headquarters in Addison, Texas. Amber is responsible for Nerium\u2019s branding, creative services, communications, public relations, events, digital marketing and social media. Learn more about Amber by viewing her monthly #realchats Facebook LIVE events and her #realchats thought leadership blog.<\/h6>\nIt\u2019s no secret that I struggled with self-doubt when I started my career. In fact, I’ve written about it before<\/a>. The truth is, life would have been very different if I had listened to that negative voice in my head. My dreams and goals have always been big, even as a kid, which is why overcoming self-doubt was one of the most important things I could do for my future self. At some point in your life, you may feel that you’re not enough. It’s a crippling feeling. I know. But, after more than a decade as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, I\u2019ve narrowed down six easy-to-follow steps to turn doubt into confidence. Giving up on your dreams or not even trying because of self-doubt and fear is a non-negotiable deal breaker for success. So, let’s get to it!<\/p>\n It’s normal to experience self-doubt but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to let fear define who you are. The truth is that these two emotions can limit your potential. So, first things first, identify the silencer or the nagging voice in your head. It’s essential to identify the unproductive and negative thoughts that make you pause\u2026 and not follow through on an idea. Once you pinpoint it, it will be easier to replace the negativity with something more suitable and positive.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s one example from my own life: I\u2019m too young to be taken seriously<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If I had continued to cultivate this mindset, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Instead of taking risks and speaking up, I would have told myself that I’m too young to be taken seriously. Part of becoming a leader others can follow is to push past unproductive and negative thoughts. A fear of failure should never be your reason for not stepping outside of your comfort zone. Remember<\/a> this quote by Mass Challenge Founder and President Akhil Nigam: “Nothing happens unless you take the initiative to do it.”<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve identified your silencers, replace the negative self-talk with positive self-talk. In my case, I replaced \u201cI\u2019m too young to be taken seriously\u201d with \u201cI\u2019m deserving of respect because I\u2019m creative, intelligent, and a hard worker.\u201d Train your brain to replace the negative with the positive.<\/p>\n TIP: Not sure where to start? These 35 affirmations, published in the Huffington Post<\/a>, will change your life!<\/p>\n Here\u2019s something I always say: The more successful you are, the more critics you\u2019ll have. If you\u2019re unable to handle criticism or want to avoid criticism at all cost, then I\u2019m sorry to tell you, but achieving success in a big way is not likely for you. Many people are fearful of what others think (it\u2019s normal!), but only you have the power when you make the decision to not give up. One of my favorite quotes goes something like this: “There are no statutes built for critics. Be OK that it\u2019s going to happen and let it not define you.”<\/p>\n I’m not sure people realize how many decisions are made based on emotion instead of fact. When confronted with an issue, write down all the facts, study the facts, and based on these facts alone make your decision. Learn to control your emotions. This way your argument will be based on the hard facts only! Having that certainty is an immediate boost to your self-confidence.<\/p>\n Push yourself to do the things you\u2019re scared of. More often than not, you\u2019ll realize that it wasn\u2019t that scary after all. Fear builds upon itself, which is why I live by this rule: if I haven\u2019t done anything that scares me in the past 90 days, I\u2019m not growing. The reality is that great leaders are lifelong learners. They’re always seeking new opportunities to learn from; what’s more, consistently challenging yourself cultivates a culture and mindset of growth and productivity. These are two traits you’ll need to take your life to the next level.<\/p>\nStep 1: Identify Your Silencers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Step 2: Replace Silencers with Positive Affirmations<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nStep 3: Embrace the critics<\/h3>\n
Step 4: Put Facts on Paper<\/h3>\n
Step 5: Challenge Yourself<\/h3>\n
Step 6: Make Your Dreams Bigger than Your Fears<\/h3>\n