Overcoming Self-Doubt When Launching Your Own BusinessSKIP TO CONTENTHarvard Business Review LogoHarvard Business Review LogoEntrepreneurship|Overcoming Self-Doubt When Launching Your Own BusinessSubscribeSign InLatestMagazineTopicsPodcastsStoreReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveSearch hbr.orgSubscribeLatestPodcastsThe MagazineStoreWebinarsNewslettersAll TopicsReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveMy LibraryAccount SettingsSign InExplore HBRLatestThe MagazinePodcastsStoreWebinarsNewslettersPopular TopicsManaging YourselfLeadershipStrategyManaging TeamsGenderInnovationWork-life BalanceAll TopicsFor SubscribersReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveSubscribeMy AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesSign InHarvard Business Review LogoEntrepreneurshipOvercoming Self-Doubt When Launching Your Own Business by Dina Denham Smith and Neri Karra SillamanMarch 20, 2026lucadp/Getty ImagesPostPostShareSavePrintSummary.   Leer en españolLer em portuguêsPostPostShareSavePrintBuilding a business is often framed as a strategic or operational challenge: sharpening product-market fit, raising capital, scaling processes and talent, outmaneuvering competitors. But at its core, entrepreneurship is a personal one.Dina Denham Smith Dina Denham Smith is an executive coach, strategic advisor, and Thinkers50 Radar honoree. She helps senior leaders and teams at organizations including Google, Netflix, Sephora, and Goldman Sachs build the clarity, resilience, and relationships required at the top. She is the lead author of Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work. Connect with her on LinkedIn or at dinadsmith.com, and subscribe to her newsletter, A Moment to Think.Neri Karra Sillaman is a Thinkers50 Radar 2025 winner, an Entrepreneurship Expert at Oxford Saïd Business School, and the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs. A former refugee-turned-entrepreneur, she founded a B Corp-certified luxury brand. She helps leaders build resilient, purpose-driven businesses that last through keynotes, executive education, and board advisory work.PostPostShareSavePrintRead more on Entrepreneurship or related topics Entrepreneurs and founders, Start-ups and Managing yourselfPartner CenterStart my subscription!Explore HBRThe LatestAll TopicsMagazine ArchiveReading ListsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutivePodcastsWebinarsData & VisualsMy LibraryNewslettersHBR PressHBR StoreArticle ReprintsBooksCasesCollectionsMagazine IssuesHBR Guide SeriesHBR 20-Minute ManagersHBR Emotional Intelligence SeriesHBR Must ReadsToolsAbout HBRContact UsAdvertise with UsInformation for Booksellers/RetailersMastheadGlobal EditionsMedia InquiriesGuidelines for AuthorsHBR Analytic ServicesCopyright PermissionsAccessibilityDigital AccessibilityManage My AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesHelp CenterContact Customer ServiceExplore HBRThe LatestAll TopicsMagazine ArchiveReading ListsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutivePodcastsWebinarsData & VisualsMy LibraryNewslettersHBR PressHBR StoreArticle ReprintsBooksCasesCollectionsMagazine IssuesHBR Guide SeriesHBR 20-Minute ManagersHBR Emotional Intelligence SeriesHBR Must ReadsToolsAbout HBRContact UsAdvertise with UsInformation for Booksellers/RetailersMastheadGlobal EditionsMedia InquiriesGuidelines for AuthorsHBR Analytic ServicesCopyright PermissionsAccessibilityDigital AccessibilityManage My AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesHelp CenterContact Customer ServiceFollow HBRFacebookX Corp.LinkedInInstagramYour NewsreaderHarvard Business Review LogoAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCopyright InformationTrademark PolicyTerms of UseHarvard Business Publishing:Higher EducationCorporate LearningHarvard Business ReviewHarvard Business SchoolCopyright ©2026 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Launching a business is frequently presented as a predominantly strategic and operational endeavor, emphasizing facets such as achieving product-market fit, securing adequate capital, refining operational processes and talent acquisition, and devising competitive strategies. However, at its very foundation, entrepreneurship represents a profoundly personal undertaking. Dina Denham Smith, a recognized executive coach, strategic advisor, and contributor to the Thinkers50 Radar, highlights this core truth, asserting that entrepreneurship’s essence lies in cultivating the clarity, resilience, and interpersonal relationships critical for leadership success—qualities particularly vital for senior leaders engaged with organizations like Google, Netflix, Sephora, and Goldman Sachs. Smith’s work, notably evident in her authorship of “Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work,” focuses on equipping individuals with the necessary tools to navigate complex leadership challenges. Neri Karra Sillaman, another key contributor, reinforces this perspective as an Entrepreneurship Expert at Oxford Saïd Business School and author of “Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs.” Sillaman’s background as a refugee-turned-entrepreneur, having founded a B Corp-certified luxury brand, provides a unique lens through which she examines the factors that contribute to enduring business success, offering insights through keynote addresses, executive education programs, and board advisory services.

The article emphasizes that the inherent self-doubt associated with embarking on a new business venture presents a significant, often underestimated, challenge. This doubt isn’t merely a fleeting feeling but a deeply rooted psychological hurdle that can impede decision-making, stifle innovation, and ultimately jeopardize the business’s prospects. The authors suggest that confronting this self-doubt requires a multi-faceted approach. First, developing a clear understanding of one's motivations—why one is pursuing this specific business—is paramount. This involves identifying the core values and passions driving the venture, anchoring the individual to a purpose beyond simply financial success. Secondly, building a supportive network is critical. Engaging with mentors, advisors, and fellow entrepreneurs can provide valuable guidance, encouragement, and a sense of community, mitigating the isolation often experienced during the early stages of a startup. The encouragement of diverse perspectives, particularly those of individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, can challenge conventional thinking and foster more creative solutions.

Furthermore, the text advocates for cultivating a mindset of experimentation and iterative learning. Rather than approaching the business launch as a single, definitive plan, it suggests embracing a process of continuous testing, adapting, and refining based on feedback and market response. This requires a willingness to accept failure as a learning opportunity, recognizing that setbacks are inevitable and crucial for growth. This approach is particularly highlighted through Sillaman’s research into the longevity of businesses founded by immigrant entrepreneurs, who often demonstrate a resilience and adaptability honed by navigating unfamiliar environments and overcoming obstacles. Finally, Smith's work emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation. Recognizing and managing one’s fears, anxieties, and insecurities allows for a more rational and confident approach to decision-making, improving the ability to persevere through challenging periods. By proactively addressing this internal dialogue and fostering a constructive relationship with self-doubt, aspiring entrepreneurs can significantly increase their likelihood of overcoming this critical barrier and successfully launching their own businesses.