It’s fun to start a side business, but then it becomes old. There is a lot of excitement, new ideas, and potential in the initial few days. But what do you do when your friends roll their eyes, your family challenges your priorities, and you start to doubt yourself?
That’s when a lot of folks give up. Not because the idea wasn’t good. Not because the hustle wouldn’t work. But they let other people’s voices drown out their own.
This essay is for you if you’ve ever thought that no one believes in your side job, not even you. Let’s speak about how to take action to get over doubt, grow your inner strength, and show everyone, even yourself, that you’re wrong.
Doubt Is Normal—Accept It
Every business owner, freelancer, or creator who has ever been successful has gone through the same things you are going through today. It’s normal to have self-doubt and get criticism from other people at the same time.
Chris Guillebeau tells a lot of tales in The $100 Startup about entrepreneurs that started tiny, with no formal company strategy, no help from others, and very little money. They were willing to attempt, fail, and try again.
Having doubts doesn’t imply you’re doing anything wrong. It means you’re getting better. And growing isn’t easy.
Don’t Expect Validation—Work for It
Your friends and family might not support your hustle, but it’s not because they’re awful people; it’s just that they don’t see what you see yet. They might say stuff like this:
- “That’s not a real company.”
- “Nobody makes money doing that.”
- “You should be concentrating on your work.”
Don’t fight them. Don’t try to make them believe you. Let your results speak for themselves.
Your hard work will be validated when it pays for your auto insurance, when it can buy groceries for a week, or when you get your first true customer.
Guillebeau says in his book Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days that “Action is the antidote to fear.” Don’t argue; do action.
Change How You Think About Criticism
Criticism hurts, especially when it comes from people we care about. But it might also be a present. Use criticism to ask yourself:
- Is what they’re saying true?
- Are they putting their own worries on others?
- Do their thoughts matter to my business journey?
Not everyone has a right to be heard when you make decisions. This is a time to build discernment, not despondency.
Create a Loop of Small Wins
Don’t try to think your way out of it if you don’t believe in yourself. Do more and think less. Do something small that helps your hustle move forward:
- Send one email with a pitch
- Put up a post on social media
- Change the picture of one product
- Look into one of your competitors
Every action, no matter how minor, adds to the evidence. And proof always wins over skepticism.
This is the only way to build confidence. Not by waiting to feel deserving, but by heaping modest wins on top of each other.
Find or Start a New Group
It’s okay if the people around you don’t understand. But you need at least one person who does. Try:
- Getting along with other freelancers or people with side jobs in your area
- Joining Reddit forums like r/SideHustle
- Following creators on Twitter or YouTube who talk about their journey
- Finding a digital partner to hold you accountable
One thing that all the stories in The $100 Startup have in common is that successful hustlers didn’t do it all by themselves. They met other people who were going through the same thing and relied on them when things became tough.
Use Outside Doubt as Fuel
It’s powerful to prove people incorrect, but not out of anger—because of peaceful assurance. You can work without noise, stress, or criticism when no one believes in you. You’re building in the dark, which is where strength is made.
Don’t let the doubt define you; instead, let it drive you. You aren’t doing this to show them they’re incorrect. You are doing this to show that you are right.
What If You Still Don’t Trust Yourself?
This is the most difficult aspect. When your own mind says:
- “This will never work.”
- “Who am I to do this?”
- “I don’t have what it takes.”
Keep in mind that belief is something that grows, not something that is born. No one is really sure of themselves at first. They develop it by doing the work, even though they’re scared.
On tough days, say this to yourself: “I don’t have to trust everything today. I just have to move on.” And then, just take it.
Make a “Prove-It” Folder
Here’s a simple but effective tip: Make a folder, either physical or digital, where you save all the proof that your work is worth something:
- Screenshots of thank-you or compliment texts
- A picture of the first payment you made
- A recording of a client review
- A message you wrote to yourself after you made your first sale
On challenging days, this folder will be your go-to. It will remind you that you’ve already come a long way.
Be Careful Who You Tell
It’s easy to want to tell everyone about your idea right away. But not everyone should get early access. Tell folks who will:
- Encourage instead of ignore
- Challenge in a way that helps, not criticize in a way that hurts
- Offer thoughts or help without fear
Take care of your concept like a seedling. Give it water. Protect it. Give it time to grow roots before you let the world appraise its fruit.