Everyone aspires to be the next Jeff Bezos. Who doesn’t desire to be a successful entrepreneur people look up to? But it’s easier said than done. Becoming a great founder is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. And while everyone has their own journey, there are some traits you must incorporate into your personality if you want your venture to be a roaring success. Strong conviction is one such trait!
Yes, you must possess a sense of certainty to act on your belief. You won’t be able to give your business your complete 100 percent until you have the conviction that it will succeed. Read autobiographies of all great founders, and you will find the mention of strong conviction and the role it played in their success.
How Strong Conviction Is the First Step to Success
First things first, you actually have to be clear about what conviction refers to. To put it in simple words, conviction is a firmly held opinion or belief. Typically, it tends to come to people naturally.
When you truly believe in something, nothing can distract you. People’s opinions of your actions don’t matter if you are convinced about them. Nothing can change the mind of people with strong convictions, and this is what helps them succeed in the cut-throat world of entrepreneurship.
When you start your own business, you will realize that there are times when people will question your actions. Even your parents and friends won’t be able to understand where you are coming from. This is where your strong conviction will help you remain resolute. Your belief and tenacity will enable you to continue working on your passion with full zeal, irrespective of what others say.
Interestingly, while a lot of people hope their ideas will succeed, very few have the unwavering conviction that’s the hallmark of success. This is among the most vital reasons that so many entrepreneurs fail despite having a great start.
Strike a Balance Between Conviction and Humility
Yes, conviction is invaluable for success. However, it’s pretty common for people to confuse conviction with a lack of humility. This is when problems develop.
You can’t believe that you will be successful in whatever you do, no matter how much experience you have. It’s vital to be grateful for your achievements at every step. You must believe that you can fulfill your goals but also have the humility to count your blessings.
Remember, it’s easy to confuse conviction with ego. Most people who believe in themselves tend to become loud and excited about things they do. This can easily be taken in the wrong way. And people can be turned off by your aggression.
So, you have to ensure that your conviction does not make you look egotistical. It shouldn’t make it difficult for people to approach you with their feedback. How else will you know how to improve?
Don’t Let Conviction Make You Delusional
Yes, every great founder believed in what he did. However, this does not imply that they were deluded by their beliefs. It’s not necessary that you are always right, and you have to accept this. At the same time, being wrong does not imply that you lose confidence in your decisions.
Having a strong conviction also means that you are willing to deal with the consequences of your actions. You don’t mind being wrong if you learn a valuable lesson along the way. And this trait has helped people flourish in their businesses.
Once you develop this attitude, no failure can prevent you from achieving your goal. Because you know that this setback is merely a hurdle in your journey that you have to cross to reach your destination! Having a strong conviction helps you move past your mistakes. You don’t dwell on what went wrong and instead work to turn things around.
Tune Out the Noise!
Want to know a common trait in all great founders? They did not care what others thought! And this was only possible because of their conviction!
People with conviction aren’t dissuaded by what others are saying, positive or negative. They aren’t discouraged when their idea is not met with enthusiasm, and they don’t let the praises get to their head either. They haven’t set out on this journey to prove a point. For them, their goal matters which is why they are able to achieve greatness!
Let Your Strong Conviction Be Your Guidance
It’s not easy to develop a strong conviction about your abilities. However, there are some things you can do to increase your belief in yourself. For one thing, collect data and perform research about your venture.
And then convince yourself that you genuinely believe in what you are about to do! If you want others to respond favorably to your idea, invest and convince yourself of the idea first. You have to pitch your idea in the best way possible. Only then will others be inclined to agree with your plans.