True Confessions: What are you terrible at?

Read More of the "Just Start" Series

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I'm a terrible driver.
While I realize admitting this opens me up to chauvinistic women driver jokes, I have come to the point in my life where I can no longer deny it. I have kind of embraced it as part of who I am.

How bad are you, you ask?
Ever see Mr. Magoo? I'm his long lost daughter.
You best stay in your lane, because I am going to use all of mine and some of yours.
If a vehicle next to me at a stop light revs its engine, I'm going to show what this minivan can do, hell, you don't need to rev your engine, it's still on...
And if I zig-zag, the traffic cameras can't catch me.
I'm so terrible that when I was pregnant two years ago, and apparently lost my depth perception, I rear-ended two cars in the space of two weeks... in the school parking lot... the cars were parked... and a garage door.

BUT
I still drive. Why? Because it's necessary for me to live my productive and fulfilling life.
As you can probably tell, I enjoy driving, it's more than getting from point A to point B. It's the experience, especially with windows down, music blaring - feeling the speed. OK, yes, I am very much a kid at heart, immature? maybe a little, but if you are a thrill seeker and love to jam, I'm your ride to your little league game, or not, once your parents read this.

My sub par acumen is something I have to be keenly aware of and try to improve to keep my day moving, but it is just something that has to be done for the rest of amazing to happen.

Now let's talk starting that business

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So how about you? What are you terrible at but don't hate? Are you letting it hold you back from a productive and fulfilling business? If you were to embrace that thing and do it your way, would it make your potential customer's experience different than with anyone else?
I know, I know - my example is silly and has some serious liability attached to it, but we're not talking about me now, we're talking about you.
So let's get serious...

Maybe it's:

• "I'm terrible at professional writing, but I'm really good at explaining what I do, and I know I need to blog."

- Often if you are the founder of your company, you are the brand, writing in your own voice is perfectly appropriate, and in fact, it is kind of in vogue right now. Oh, and there's an app for that - check out Grammarly.
(see my article "Write the bad version first" and "I'm sorry you just have to blog")
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• "I'm terrible at concentrating. I don't know how I would have enough focus to lead a team to carry out my idea, but it's a really good one! People need this!"

- Remember Thomas Edison? Same story, we all know how that turned out.

• "I'm terribly shy, I could never go to a networking event and pitch my business on the fly, but I love talking about my business to people that I know."

- Maybe you need to start with social networking first, and then face-to-face meetings once the relationship has been developed.

• "I would be a terrible mother if I turned my cake making passion into a business, because that would take time and/or attention away from my kids."

- Food for thought: if you already know that cake making is what you love to do, you are already making cakes. I'm guessing you are doing it for free for friends and family. Are you a terrible parent when you are taking the time to do that, or no because you are being a helpful relative? There is no better gift to your children than to teach them/show them hard work and dedication, and the rewards it brings to your own family. There will be challenges, I can help you figure those out. They will be proud of you, I promise. Mine are. 

passion vs. confidence
What much of this comes down to is passion vs. lack of confidence. Only you can decide which one you are going to allow to win. Passion starts and follows on the path to your dream, lack of confidence can either be a small obstacle or a fork in the road, it is up to you.

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More articles on the subject of passion vs. confidence:
Confidence - Is it necessary to start a business?
I don't mean to brag but...