Podcast Summary: The BossBabe Podcast Episode 461
Title: How to Trust Yourself Again After a Hard Season in Business
Host: Natalie Ellis
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Introduction: The Struggle with Self-Trust After Setbacks
In Episode 461 of The BossBabe Podcast, host Natalie Ellis delves deep into the often-unspoken emotional turmoil that entrepreneurs face after enduring challenging periods in their business journey. Natalie opens the discussion by acknowledging that beyond questioning business strategies, many entrepreneurs grapple with self-doubt and a loss of self-trust after setbacks such as hard launches or personal difficulties.
“The hardest thing to rebuild isn't always the revenue, but... your self-trust.”
— Natalie Ellis [02:15]
Why Failure Erodes Self-Trust
Natalie explores the psychological impact of failure, emphasizing that business setbacks feel intensely personal. She explains that failure serves as perceived evidence that one's instincts and decision-making abilities are flawed, leading to pervasive self-doubt.
“When that happens, your brain starts collecting evidence. You replay every decision you made leading up to it.”
— Natalie Ellis [05:30]
This relentless self-scrutiny ties the business’s performance directly to the entrepreneur’s identity, making it difficult to separate personal worth from professional outcomes. Natalie warns that diminished self-trust doesn’t just affect past experiences but also hampers future decision-making, creating a state of limbo where momentum stalls.
Distinguishing Fear from Intuition
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to helping listeners differentiate between fear and intuition—both of which can present as gut reactions but stem from different sources.
“Fear is reactive. It’s loud, it’s urgent. It can scream, ‘Don’t do this. You’ll regret it.’”
— Natalie Ellis [15:45]
“Intuition, I think, is calmer, it’s quieter, but it’s rock solid. It feels less like panic and more like certainty.”
— Natalie Ellis [17:10]
Natalie provides practical strategies to identify the origins of these feelings, encouraging listeners to pause and reflect when faced with gut reactions. She advocates for allowing time and space to discern whether a decision is rooted in genuine alignment or driven by fear of past failures.
Rebuilding Self-Trust Through Micro-Decisions
Natalie introduces the concept of "micro-decisions" as a method to restore confidence and self-trust incrementally. Instead of waiting for a significant breakthrough, she suggests making small, deliberate choices that reinforce one's ability to lead.
“Confidence doesn’t come back in a single decision. It really is rebuilt through small, repeated actions.”
— Natalie Ellis [23:50]
Examples of micro-decisions include setting personal launch timelines, sending emails without excessive deliberation, and establishing clear boundaries. Each of these small steps serves as proof to the nervous system that leadership and decision-making are still within one's capabilities.
Avoiding Obsession: The Balance Between Reflection and Overthinking
Natalie cautions against the trap of obsessively dissecting past failures. She differentiates between constructive reflection and destructive obsession, emphasizing that while reflection leads to learning, obsession breeds self-punishment and stagnation.
“Obsession is messy. It sounds like, ‘What the hell was I thinking?’”
— Natalie Ellis [29:20]
She advises letting go of past mistakes by extracting lessons learned and moving forward, thereby preventing the cycle of paralysis that hinders progress.
Embracing Safe-to-Fail Experiments
To further rebuild self-trust, Natalie advocates for engaging in "safe-to-fail" experiments. These low-stakes trials allow entrepreneurs to test new ideas without the pressure of high expectations, fostering a culture of curiosity and resilience.
“Experiments give you your power back. They let you move without waiting to feel 100% confident.”
— Natalie Ellis [35:10]
By focusing on the process rather than the outcome, entrepreneurs can regain momentum and clarity, ultimately leading to more confident and informed decision-making.
Personal Anecdote: Overcoming a Failed Launch
Natalie shares a personal story about a failed product launch that significantly undermined her confidence. Instead of waiting for a big win to restore her self-trust, she made a small, decisive action that reaffirmed her leadership.
“Once I rebuilt that self-trust, everything about how I lead starts to change... Clients buy faster, opportunities come and find you.”
— Natalie Ellis [42:05]
This anecdote illustrates the practical application of her strategies and underscores the transformative power of micro-decisions in overcoming self-doubt.
Actionable Steps: Rebuilding Self-Trust
Natalie concludes the episode by offering listeners tangible steps to begin rebuilding their self-trust:
- Identify Past Resilience: Write down three of the hardest things you've survived and the skills you used to overcome them.
- Create Micro-Decisions: Start making small, deliberate choices that reinforce your ability to lead.
- Engage in Safe-to-Fail Experiments: Test new ideas without the pressure of high stakes to rebuild confidence gradually.
- Separate Reflection from Obsession: Focus on learning from past experiences without dwelling on mistakes.
“Self-trust isn’t rebuilt in your head. It is about acting your way there and proving over and over again that you can make the call.”
— Natalie Ellis [50:30]
Conclusion: Moving Forward with Renewed Confidence
Natalie wraps up the episode by reassuring entrepreneurs that rebuilding self-trust is a gradual process attainable through consistent, small actions. She emphasizes that self-trust restoration leads to stronger leadership, better business outcomes, and a more fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.
Key Takeaways:
- Failure Impacts Self-Identity: Business setbacks can deeply affect personal self-trust.
- Fear vs. Intuition: Learn to distinguish between fear-driven decisions and genuine intuition.
- Micro-Decisions: Implement small, consistent actions to rebuild confidence.
- Avoid Obsessive Overthinking: Focus on constructive reflection rather than self-punishment.
- Safe-to-Fail Experiments: Engage in low-stakes trials to regain momentum and clarity.
- Consistent Action: Prove self-trust through repeated, deliberate choices rather than waiting for big wins.
Notable Quotes:
- “The hardest thing to rebuild isn't always the revenue, but... your self-trust.” — Natalie Ellis [02:15]
- “Fear is reactive. It’s loud, it’s urgent. It can scream, ‘Don’t do this. You’ll regret it.’” — Natalie Ellis [15:45]
- “Confidence doesn’t come back in a single decision. It really is rebuilt through small, repeated actions.” — Natalie Ellis [23:50]
- “Self-trust isn’t rebuilt in your head. It is about acting your way there and proving over and over again that you can make the call.” — Natalie Ellis [50:30]
This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for entrepreneurs navigating the challenging waters of self-doubt after business setbacks. Natalie Ellis provides both emotional support and practical strategies to help listeners reclaim their self-trust and continue their journey toward building a successful, freedom-based business.