How to Stay True to Yourself in the Entrepreneurial World

lindseybussie
Apr 4
4 min read

Updated: Jun 4

So many small business owners put themselves second to better their business, and this can result in a lack of authenticity and even burnout. Why does authenticity matter? How do you stay authentic without burning out?

Why Authenticity Matters

Our world used to be a smaller place. There was less of everything, less grocery stores, clothing brands, drink options, and the list goes on. Today, we are blessed (and sometimes cursed) with a series of options for just about everything. If you, as a business owner, aren't sure where you fit in the landscape, you will get lost. This is why authenticity and strong branding matters more now than ever.

Strong Branding

Your business’s voice, color, and logo can all be things that let your customers think “Hey, recognize them!” It’s what’s going to set you apart from your competition. This is why branding guidelines are so important. When working on branding guidelines, keep these things in mind:

Branding Guideline Tips

Consistency: Changing logos, fonts, and colors too often can confuse your customers and make it harder for them to know and recognize your company.
Avoid too many things: If you have too much detail in your logo, or too many brand colors or fonts, it can be overwhelming for a customer and might even turn them away.
Don’t have a weak identity: All business owners struggle with imposter syndrome and confidence from time to time, but if that’s all you show your customers, they might lose confidence in you.
Keep the competition in mind: There are a lot of people starting and running small businesses! You have to know who is a big player in your market and why you're different.

Trust

Being authentic leads to building trust with your customers, business partners/friends, and yourself. When you stay true to yourself, you become confident in your business decisions. Your customers know they can come to you for your products or services. Your business partners and friends know they can refer people to you and can also come to you peer-to-peer.

Define your Core Values & Mission

Deep breath. This one can be hard for people. It requires you to dig down deep and think about yourself personally and professionally, but it’s important. Defining your core values and mission is what will give you and your business the backbone it needs to weather the storms that will come your way. It will be your north star in making decisions that are right for you, your business, and your customers.

Here are a few questions you can ask to help you define your core values:

Why would a customer choose me over the competition?
What does my business stand for?
What do I define as success? Failure?

Once you have these things defined, it will help you make decisions that align with who you are. Here are a few businesses that have strong core values and mission:

Patagonia: committed to environmental sustainability, using ethical sourcing and activism to combat climate change.

REI: champions outdoor adventure and community, even closing on Black Friday to encourage people to explore nature.

LEGO: focuses on creativity, learning, and quality, inspiring innovation in both kids and adults while promoting sustainability in its materials.

TOMS: operates with a One for One® giving model, using its business to improve lives through charitable initiatives like providing shoes, clean water, and mental health resources.

Are you struggling to define your core values and mission? We can help. 2BConsulting Co specializes in helping entrepreneurs know themselves better. Schedule a free consultation to find out more.

Work-Life Balance As An Entrepreneur

At the beginning of starting a business, it can be an "I must do all the things all the time" situation, and no one understands that more than us. But at some point, you have to find balance. Entrepreneurs can lose their authenticity when they start to burn out. You might be thinking, I won't let that happen, but it usually happens to most of us.

Here are three signs you're burning out as an entrepreneur:

Health problems: You're getting sick more often, or not recovering from sickness. Maybe it's a sudden injury from something that shouldn't have hurt you. Whatever it is, your body is telling you it needs a beak.
Brain Fog: Your brain is a muscle, and when it gets overused or under-rested, it will stop being as efficient as it was. This can look like forgetfulness, slow thought process, and spaciness.
Negativity: We all have ups and downs, but if you find yourself only focusing on the bad things day in and day out, you might need a break.

Ways to Help Small Business Owners Avoid Burnout

A little bit of help can go a long way when you’re trying to do all the things. Here are ways to support yourself and avoid burnout.

AI/Tech Tools

It's never been easier or cheaper to leverage tech and AI to help out small businesses. Here are a few you might want to look into:

Chat GPT: From asking and answering, scheduling making, to policy creating and content ideas, there is a lot it can do for you.
Grammarly: The editor you can afford (the basic option is free). Skip typos and misspelled words with this tool.
Trello: Free and easy to use, this project management tool helps keep you and your employees on task and in the loop.

Contract workers

Sometimes you can’t do it all. If it’s in your budget, you might want to think about hiring a contract worker to help you out with specific tasks that are bogging you down or that you’re lacking the skill set for.

Ask for help

Don't be afraid to ask for help, sometimes we just need to get ahead so we can breathe a little. If hiring a contract worker isn't in your budget, it can't hurt to ask family and friends to help you out short term just so you can get a little break.

Conclusion

Being an authentic business owner will help you stand out from the competition, and help build trust with your customers. Staying true to you will help you in both your personal and professional life.