Cultivate the Confidence Habit by tapping into your passions

Here at the Australia Businesswomen’s Network, we’ve made an interesting discovery about all of our 2015 Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame inductees. They all seem to embody one particular habit. That habit is the Confidence Habit. Unfortunately, employing this confidence is no easy task, especially for women. Studies have shown that women are far more likely than men to doubt and under-estimate themselves. Thankfully, the women in the Hall of Fame have led by example and shown that women who have confidence in themselves and their actions can and do succeed. When we analysed the results of the questions we asked each of the Hall of Fame inductees, we were able to pinpoint five ways that they cultivated the Confidence Habit. One way to cultivate this confidence is by tapping into your passions and being prepared to take risks. Almost without exception, every member of the Businesswomen’s 2015 Hall of Fame cites passion as a must-have for breaking through in business. Vanya Cullen, Managing Director and Chief Winemaker at Cullen Wines, recommends “you only take on work you love and are passionate about.” And Vanya is a living example of that ethos – the first West Australian and the first woman to win the Qantas / The Wine Magazine Wine Maker of the Year Award, Vanya has transformed her family firm from one of Margaret River’s best into one of the country’s premium boutique wineries. Managing Director of the multi awarding winning Spencer Group of Companies, Penny Spencer, feels so passionately about loving what you do, she’s even written a book on it! “Love what you do. If you have passion for what you do you will never work a day in your life. Success can be many things, but if you wake up everyday happy to be doing what you love – that is real success.” Juliette Wright, CEO and Founder of GIVIT, is on a mission to alleviate the effects of poverty across Australia. Establishing an online platform in 2009 to connect those who have with those who need, Juliette says she’s really had to stay passionate, even when she was under pressure from all angles. Her advice is to be prepared to invest in innovative ideas that have risk involved. And her big lesson? “I have learnt that it is 100% okay to be true yourself (despite what others think), and if you stay true to yourself you are guaranteed of success.” To learn some of the other ways in which these accomplished women have cultivated the confidence habit, download our very special Keepsake Booklet. If you’re facing roadblocks in your business that are leaving you feeling down, you should also take a look at our Breaking Through webinar. There you can learn more about how other businesswomen have dealt with challenges and broken through them to achieve success with their business.