Break Free from Limiting Beliefs Holding Back Your Handmade Business

Did you know your beliefs about your business results can actually hold you back? Today, we’re uncovering two key concepts—Cognitive Beliefs and Confirmation Bias—which both played a crucial role in our ancestors' survival but might be hampering your business growth today. Understanding these concepts can help you break free from invisible barriers and the false stories you might be telling yourself about your handmade business and in turn help you reach your goals faster.

Understanding Cognitive Beliefs

First, let's explore cognitive beliefs. These are the assumptions we have about ourselves and the world around us. Often, we don't even realize these beliefs quietly shape our actions and decisions.  However, these beliefs are not always accurate. When they are false and limit our potential, they are called limiting beliefs.

Here are a few examples of what the internal dialogue might sound like when you're experiencing limiting beliefs:

• "My products aren't good enough to charge higher prices."
  This belief often leads to underpricing, even when the quality and value of your handmade products justify a premium price.
• "I'll never be able to stand out in such a crowded market."
  This can prevent you from putting effort into marketing or trying new strategies because you feel overwhelmed by competition.
• "I'm not good at sales, so I can't grow my business."
  This limits your ability to reach out to new customers or promote your products confidently, creating a barrier to growth.
• "I don't have enough followers on social media, so no one will buy from me."
  This belief can cause you to focus too much on vanity metrics instead of building meaningful relationships with customers or focusing on the value they offer.
• "It's too risky to invest in my business—what if I fail?"
  Fear of failure can prevent you from making investments in materials, marketing, or learning that could lead to growth and sustainability.

Here's the kicker—since these beliefs are often false, they can keep you from reaching your goals. Limiting beliefs can prevent you from learning about the true cause of the issue and how to fix it. Which is why it's important to be able to identify limiting beliefs as you experience them (because we all have them)--and then work to change the core beliefs behind them.

The Impact of Confirmation Bias

Now, add Confirmation Bias into the mix. This psychological mechanism reinforces your limiting belief by causing you to focus only on information that supports your negative assumption while ignoring evidence that contradicts it. For example, if you believe the reason your sales aren’t higher is that no one wants your product, confirmation bias might lead you to overlook that your conversion rate is actually within industry norms. You may just need to drive more traffic to your website to get those sales up.

Why Our Brains Work This Way

So why exactly do our brains work this way? This type of thinking evolved to help our ancestors make fast decisions in critical situations. When faced with immediate threats or opportunities, like avoiding predators or finding food, having a set of biases allowed them to act quickly without spending valuable time analyzing every detail. These shortcuts helped our brains conserve energy and focus on essential survival tasks, even if they sometimes led to irrational conclusions.

The Impact on Your Business

But in the here and now, limiting beliefs paired with confirmation bias will keep you stuck in a cycle of self-doubt. They might even be the reason you call it quits on your business altogether. If you don’t change the trajectory of those thoughts by reinventing the story you tell yourself, it’s harder for you to get the results you’re looking for in your business.

Changing your beliefs and overcoming confirmation bias can have a profound effect on your business. When you believe in your potential and focus on positive outcomes, you're more likely to take proactive steps towards success.

Improved Decision-Making

With a growth mindset, you'll make better decisions that align with your goals. You'll be more open to feedback, willing to take calculated risks, and proactive in seeking opportunities for growth.

Enhanced Resilience

Running a handmade business comes with its challenges. By overcoming limiting beliefs, you'll build resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. You'll see challenges as opportunities for learning and growth rather than obstacles.

Increased Motivation

Believing in your potential and success fuels your motivation. You'll be more driven to put in the effort, try new strategies, and persist through difficulties. This increased motivation will reflect in your business's progress and achievements.

Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs

To achieve your business goals, it's crucial to change the story you tell yourself. Your brain naturally gathers evidence to support your beliefs, whether they're true or not. By consciously rewriting your narrative, you can shift your mindset and open up new possibilities.

Step 1: Identify Your Limiting Beliefs

The first step is to identify the limiting beliefs holding you back. Take some time to reflect on your thoughts and assumptions about your business. Are there any recurring negative beliefs that might be influencing your decisions?

For example, you might believe that a small number of sales on your most recent product launch means no one wants it. Recognizing this belief allows you to see how it might be shaping your actions and responses. Awareness of these limiting thoughts is the first step towards overcoming them and creating new possibilities for growth.

Step 2: Challenge Your Beliefs

Once you've identified your limiting beliefs, challenge them. Ask yourself if these beliefs are based on facts or assumptions. Look for evidence that contradicts your negative assumptions.

For instance, if you believe that a small number of sales on your most recent product launch means no one wants it, examine the situation more closely. Are there factors like marketing reach, timing, or awareness at play? Seek feedback from customers who have purchased the product—positive reviews or testimonials can provide valuable insights and remind you that your product has potential, even if sales are initially slow.

Step 3: Reframe Your Narrative

Reframing your narrative involves changing the story you tell yourself. Instead of focusing on limitations, focus on possibilities and solutions. Replace negative beliefs with positive, empowering ones.

For example, instead of thinking, "A small number of sales on my most recent product launch means no one wants it," reframe it to, "I’m in the process of reaching the right audience, and I can use this as an opportunity to adjust my marketing and promotion strategies." This shift in mindset can have a significant impact on your confidence and the steps you take moving forward.

Developing a Growth Mindset

Cultivating a growth mindset is crucial for overcoming limiting beliefs. Understand that skills and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. View challenges as opportunities to learn rather than obstacles. This mindset shift can significantly impact how you perceive your business and your ability to succeed.

Practicing Self-Compassion

Lastly, practice self-compassion. Running a business is challenging, and it's normal to encounter setbacks. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend. Recognize that making mistakes is part of the learning process and an essential component of growth.

Limiting Beliefs Don’t Have to Be a Setback

Limiting beliefs and confirmation bias can be significant barriers to your success as a handmade business owner. However, by recognizing and challenging these beliefs, you can break free from their constraints and achieve your business goals.

Remember, the story you tell yourself matters. By consciously rewriting your narrative and focusing on positive outcomes, you can create a mindset that supports your growth and success.

To help you on this journey, we've created a free downloadable worksheet to guide you through the process of identifying and overcoming your limiting beliefs. And stay tuned for our "Feelings Aren't Facts" email series, where we'll explore common limiting beliefs and provide practical strategies to overcome them.