Biggest Challenges Faced By A Business Owner At A Small Business
Howard's biggest challenge as a business owner is overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating societal views on mental health; the work requires "unpacking norms" and combating "old ways of thinking" to both ask for help and advocate for its importance within their community.
Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Stress Management, Confidence, Mental Health
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Howard Zuo
Business Owner
Small Business Owner
Georgia Institute of Technology, 2011
N/A
Engineering - Chemical
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Coaching, Speaking & Writing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt is a significant challenge, even with client success. This highlights the importance of self-awareness and actively working to address internal obstacles.
2. Navigating societal views on mental health and challenging outdated perspectives is a key aspect of the role. This emphasizes the importance of advocacy and perseverance in promoting positive change.
3. Seeking and accepting help is a crucial skill to develop, demonstrating that even successful professionals need support and collaboration to succeed. This underscores the importance of building a strong support network and not being afraid to ask for assistance when needed.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
My biggest challenge, and there are always many, is really feeling 100 percent of myself. I actually feel very confident in my skills. My clients give me great reviews, but there are days when imposter syndrome feels so strong.
On those days, I have to do a lot of unpacking. I question what are societal norms, or me being hard on myself, or legacies of patriarchy. I have to tell myself, "It's okay for me to ask for help."
For other people, asking for help might be natural. I have to consciously talk myself through it: "Okay, we can ask for help." Then, "I can figure out who to ask for help." Finally, "How do I ask this specific person for help?" I realize I get in my own way a lot.
Outside of my own control, the biggest challenge is how mental health is viewed in the community. I'm very grateful that newer generations are taking it more seriously and it's becoming a conversational topic, no longer taboo.
However, in some ways, I still have to fight old ways of thinking, generational trauma, and older people who are not interested in hearing me. But the work still needs to be done, so I'm happy to do it.
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