A Major Obstacle to Career Change...The Fear of Self-Promotion and Selling!

Do you have a great business idea or a new career you would like to build?  Many people do and some even start creating their idea.  Then they stop.  One of the most common obstacles to building a business or career you love is your beliefs about selling and promoting.Whether you are creating a business or building a career, you will have to sell.  You will either be selling a product or service or promoting your own abilities and accomplishments.  There is no way to get around it...you must learn to sell.There are many limiting beliefs keeping us from whole heartedly promoting our business or ourselves.  Many of us hold the belief that selling is a negative activity.  We believe sales people are pushy, uncaring and annoying.  There are many beliefs around the idea that it is "bragging" to talk about our achievements.  People should just notice how great we are!  Of coarse that rarely happens.Since you can't be successful and refuse to self-promote or sell then perhaps it is time to change your beliefs around selling.  How would it change your attitude if you truly believed that you have something wonderful  to share  with others?  What if you believed that you could promote your business in a way that showed you cared about the success of others?  What if you believed that in the process of promoting yourself or your business you could make wonderful friendships and business collaborations?  It all starts with our beliefs which then translate into the attitudes we hold and how we share with others.  If you think about it you can probably remember someone who sold you something or offered you a service in a way that felt good.  In fact you felt better after they talked to you then before.  That is how you want to sell.Along with changing your beliefs to supportive beliefs around selling it is also time to take a look at how you like to sell.  Where do your strengths lie?  I found that I loved to show the value of my business through offering workshops.  I enjoy leading workshops and talking about my business came naturally in that environment.  Others like to get involved in volunteering and in the process share with people what they do for work.  Some people thrive on meeting people through networking.  Many like to market over the Internet.  Some people even enjoy cold calling!  Experiment for yourself and find the marketing venue that fits you and your strengths.As you think about your resistance to promoting your business or yourself make a list of fears and limiting beliefs that come up.  When you have your list  write an opposite powerful belief to replace it with.  Don't let the fear of marketing keep you from the career or business of your dreams.  Remember that whatever you have to offer is your unique gift to the world so give it!