It’s true that believing in yourself and your brilliance doesn’t come easily to most of us.

But just like any muscle, it takes effort and it’s strengthened by taking action. The best way to overcome your self doubt is to get to know it. Experiment with taking new actions and growing new beliefs and watch your self-belief snowball.

After a lifetime of following other people's rules, doing things differently and running a business on your terms can feel exciting and freeing.

It's time to shape (or re-shape) your work into a happy, fulfilling and you-shaped business.

But how?

It’s easy to think that courage is a condition for taking action – “when I feel courageous, I’ll begin” – but the reality is that you’re more likely to create confidence by taking action.

Waiting to know enough or feel ready before you start can mean breaking the self-doubt loop is harder. By not beginning, you can persuade yourself that you’re lacking the bravery or brilliance you need to bring your goals to life.

So, what to do instead?