If you’re dreaming of starting your own business or side-project, or you’ve already taken the leap and you consider yourself to be sensitive or introverted, it’s completely normal to feel unsure or overwhelmed at times. Especially when you’re doing it on your own.
Most of the women I work with are thoughtful, creative, and full of brilliant ideas. But even with all of that inner richness, self-doubt can still creep in.
“Am I doing this right?”
“Can I really make this work?”
“Am I good enough?”
“Am I even ready?”
“What if someone finds out I don’t really know what I’m doing?”
These are not signs that you’re failing. They’re signs that you care.
You’re probably more ready than you think
I was the same when I started out. I found hundreds of excuses to keep stalling and convincing myself I wasn’t ready. I signed up for more courses, more training, more qualifications, more learning. I told myself I needed a lot of expertise and experience to be really good at what I do.
But underneath, I was really just afraid. I thought everyone else had it all worked out, and I didn’t want to be discovered an imposter. Looking back, I can see that I wasn’t missing knowledge, I was lacking confidence and ironically, the only way I could build my confidence and experience as a coach, was to get started.
I came to learn that I didn’t need to be perfect. I could learn and grow as I went. I did need to be open to feedback, to be curious and humble and make time for reflection, and I also needed to seek support from people who could see my potential and remind me that it was okay to be doing this before everything felt perfect.
If you’re waiting to feel completely ready, chances are you might be waiting forever. Sensitive people often underestimate how capable they already are, because they’re aware of the many nuances and subtleties. You don’t need to be fearless to make a start – you just need to be willing to be brave.
Practical tip:
Ask yourself: If I weren’t afraid, what’s one small thing I would do this week? Then do that thing, gently and without pressure. Small steps eventually compound and they will ultimately build your confidence.
The sensitive path isn’t the loudest
As I wrote in The Gifts of Being Sensitive, sensitivity is not a flaw to fix, it’s a strength to understand. Sensitive people are intuitive, empathetic, and able to spot connections others might miss. But we also process things more deeply, and that can mean we tire more easily, second-guess ourselves more often and take criticism more personally.
Running your own business, especially one that reflects your values, can feel incredibly personal. It’s not just a job. It’s you, putting your ideas into the world and while this can feel exciting, it can also leave you feeling that you need to behave in ways that aren’t inherently right for you – to market yourself in the way an extrovert does, to be constantly ‘on’ or overachieving, to drive yourself without taking breaks.
The most powerful thing that I’ve learned is to do business my own way. To find opportunities to do marketing in a way that feels authentic, to lean into my intuitive strengths and to honour my need for space and quiet.
Practical tip:
Build buffers into your schedule. Sensitive nervous systems need more space to reset. Block out quiet days, batch creative work when your energy is high, and don’t compare your rhythm to someone else’s.
Common challenges for sensitive entrepreneurs (and how to navigate them)
1. Perfectionism and procrastination
Perfectionism often disguises itself as endless amounts of preparation. Constantly tweaking, researching and refining your offering or hesitating to put yourself out in the world usually stems from fear, not from genuine unreadiness.
What helps:
Stay connected to your why. Keep your vision somewhere close as a reminder of why this work is meaningful to you. Keep a handwritten note above your desk, create a Pinterest board, or revisit the written version of your vision each week. Let your vision be a reminder that done is better than perfect.
2. People-pleasing and a lack of boundaries
Sensitive women often want to help everyone, say yes to everything, and avoid conflict. But overgiving often leads to burnout and a lack of boundaries can lead to resentment.
What helps:
Practice saying “let me get back to you” as a buffer. It gives you time to tune in to whether the request aligns with your values or drains your energy and whether you genuinely have capacity.
3. Energy management
Be mindful of your energy, particularly if you’re also juggling family responsibilities, part-time work or health issues while trying to grow something new. Sensitive people need to manage their energy more carefully than others.
What helps:
Notice when you feel most energised and most depleted. Design your week around those rhythms where possible. Keep nourishing routines simple but make sure you incorporate them into your days and week: a daily walk, a grounding herbal tea, five minutes of journalling.
It’s ok to ask for help
One of the most common things I hear is, “I should be able to figure this out myself,” and, “I’m not doing badly enough to ask for help.”
Asking for help isn’t just for when things go wrong. It’s also for when you’re growing into a new challenge, coming up with new ideas or moving to new levels of self-belief.
It’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out yet. Most of us don’t, especially at the start, and this is when it’s often most crucial to have some support.
Practical tip:
Ask yourself: Who’s in my corner? Whether it’s a friend, mentor, peer group or coach, set up a regular check-in, either weekly or fortnightly. As well as helping you to feel supported and to remind you that you’re not alone, this will also help to hold you accountable for the goals and actions you have planned.
If you’re still finding your way
Maybe you’re full of ideas but unsure where to begin.
Maybe you’re juggling too much and wondering how to keep your energy steady.
Maybe you want to grow something meaningful without burning out – or pretending to be someone you’re not.
If you’re quietly ambitious, creative, or sensitive to the world around you, your path might not look like everyone else’s. Remember, that’s not a flaw. It’s a strength.
You don’t need to change in order to succeed. You just need to do your work in a way that honours who you are and how you work best.
Practical tip:
Try journalling on the prompt, “How can I do this my own way?” Let your intuition guide you and trust what comes up.
Reach out if I can help
If you’re sensitive or introverted, having support from someone who gets how you work can be game-changing, which is what a good business coach can do. They won’t hand you a formula or tell you what to do. They walk alongside you and help you find clarity, trust your instincts, and create a rhythm that feels sustainable.
If this resonates, you’re warmly invited to book a free discovery call.
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