One person may be holding you back from doubling your income as a design professional. That person isn’t a competitor or a customer. That person is you.

Design professionals can be — and too often are — their own worst enemies.

At my seminars in recent months I met four individuals who were more knowledgeable about their “can’t’s” than their “cans.”

An interior designer told me she lacked the “credentials” to enter a design competition.

A kitchen and bath professional declared he lacked the “track record” to raise his hourly design fee.

A window fashion specialist complained she lacked the “technical know how” to learn about and offer motorization.

A showroom manager said he lacked the “facilitation skills” to conduct a focus group of her top customers.

In fact, the key thing they lack is the courage of their convictions.

Too bad so many designers, window fashion professionals, decorators, retailers and others are so attuned to their doubts about their ability.

Some suggestions on how to rid yourself of destructive self talk:

+ Recall past successes. Remembering yesterday’s achievements will empower you to tackle today’s
challenges.

+ Refuse to lose. Heed the advice of Winston Churchill: “Never give up. Never, never give up.”

+ Refocus your energy. It takes lots of effort to dwell on your shortcomings. Rechannel that effort into focusing on your attributes.

+ Rehearse your responses.Develop –ahead of time — good responses to lousy questions. Preparing yourself for the “Questions from Hell” will boost your confidence.

+ Fake it ’til you make it. Accentuate the positive about yourself to the greatest possible degree. If you don’t toot your flute, who will?

+ Mind your own business. By comparing yourself to more “talented” competitors, you put yourself down. Comparison is a game without winners.

+ Consider the consequences. So what if you try something and fail? It’s not what you lose, it’s what you learn. Said Tom Watson, former IBM chairman: “If you want to succeed, double your failure rate.”