Think big – even if you aren’t

If you’re running a small business, especially if you’re just starting out, it’s likely that you and your business are virtually unknown to prospective clients. Whether you want to admit it or not, you’ve likely felt inferior at moments – a feeling that’s both unsettling and unnecessary. Here’s how to turn a negative into a positive.

You think you’re too small – There are two things you can do here: pretend that you’re bigger than you are, or embrace the fact that you’re small. If you choose to come off bigger than you are you’re essentially lying to your customer. Once they find out the truth, you’ll destroy whatever trust you’ve created. There are plenty of positives to being a small business. You can offer your clients more personalized attention and better service.

You think you’re inexperienced – Instead of focusing on the fact that you lack experience, focus on the fact that you bring the latest knowledge and expertise to your industry. Rather than being tired and old, you’re business is young and fresh.

You think that you don’t have the necessary resources to succeed – What happens if a client demands 10 times what you normally offer or produce? Do you shy away and claim you can’t do it? Or do you stand up and give it a good go? The most important thing you can do in a situation like this is show that you’re prepared to handle anything – even if you have to hire more staff or work longer hours.

In conclusion

Your competitors might be bigger, more experienced and have better access to resources than you, but that doesn’t make the service they provide better than yours. Challenge them – and yourself – and show them what your business is made of. If you think you’re too small and incapable, then you might as well be. Know that what you’re up against isn’t that special and that you can do a better job than your competitors – if you want to.