Your target audience perceives your offering exactly as you do.

Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

Dear entrepreneurs,

Let me begin with asking, how often do you really stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself these questions:

“Am I able to make sense in my own head first before I explain about my offering to the external world, be it clients or friends?”

“Is my product/service truly ready before I go out there and announce it”

“Does the world genuinely need what I have to offer?”

If your answer to these questions is anything less than a resounding “YES,” it’s time for you to reassess.

Let’s take a few examples here:

  1. You’re selling croissants: They taste amazing, but you know the packaging is subpar. You sell them at a discount, hoping the quality alone will compensate.
  2. You’re a coach: Offering personal development services, but lacking a clear, structured program to guide clients from point A to point B. Yet, you rely on free discovery calls to fill the gap.
  3. You run an organic skincare line: Your products are high-quality, but deliveries are often delayed, and the packaging design feels lacking compared to competitors. Still, you push ahead, substituting promotions for where the product falls short.

What do you think is that one common denominator in all of the above?

We’ll get to that. But first, let me share my own story.

When I first ventured into the personal development space as a coach, I wasn’t entirely sure of my niche. I labeled myself a “Life Performance Coach” to stand out from the crowd of traditional Life Coaches, and launched a makeshift website I had built on my own.

Within weeks, I realised I neither connected with the title nor the purpose. My lack of confidence reflected outwardly, and no clients came my way. I hit pause, knowing I needed clarity before moving forward.

Fortunately, I had the freedom to step away, so I traveled for a month and a half, giving myself the space to reflect. That time away provided the clarity I needed, and when I returned, I was surefooted and fully confident of what I wanted to offer the world.

Without further ado, I hired a professional web developer and content writer to help bring my vision to life.

Today, not only am I attracting the right clients, but I’m also developing new products and expanding my services in ways I couldn’t have imagined a few months ago. I’m confident, and my reality reflects that.

Now, I’m not suggesting you drop everything and embark on a soul-searching journey if you’re feeling uncertain as an entrepreneur. I understand not everyone has that luxury.

But what I wish to bring forth today is that it all starts with you, and it all ends with you.

How you yourself perceive your own offering makes all the difference.

The common denominator in the examples I gave earlier is that we often try to compensate for the gaps in our offering with quick fixes — discounts, promotions, free sessions — hoping these will draw people in.

And sure, the whole world does this. So why shouldn’t we?

There’s no harm in using these tactics, but they should be add-ons, not your foundation. That’s the distinction no one talks about.

When you make your offering self-sustaining by addressing the gaps, the results you seek will come naturally.

You can then use these add-ons to accelerate growth, not compensate for inadequacies.

So how should we assess what are really the gaps that are breathing under the surface?

Self-audit: Stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself everything around your venture.

“What does my service stand for?”, “Is the pricing of the product justified?”, “Does the website need any more information?” and every other relevant question.

Then observe, how comfortably do you respond to these questions.

Do you pause too often, or does the information flow freely? Your own responses will be your indicators.

Once identified, just ACT!

While my own venture is service-based, yet I constantly request my team to question me on what am I trying to do. Every time I hesitate, pause or fumble, I know there is a gap that needs to be addressed.

If they aren’t around, I have a self-talk session or sometimes send a 20–30 minute voice note to a confidante to help me navigate my thought process. They simply listen without responding — one of the most powerful practices I’ve adopted lately.

So why is it so important to sharpen your perception of your offering?

Because your belief in your product or service shapes how others perceive it. The stronger your belief, the more compelling your offering becomes to others.

If you have been following my work recently, you will know how firmly I talk about the power of beliefs.

“A belief is nothing more than a stream of repetitive thoughts. But it doesn’t just sit idle in your mind — it’s what creates your reality. And what creates your reality holds the key to your vehicle.”

I hope you enjoyed reading this article. With just a few small adjustments in your daily approach, you’ll be amazed at how effortless entrepreneurship can start to feel. It’s not nearly as daunting as the world makes it out to be — it’s all about having the right mindset 🙂

Hi, this is Sumegha and my goal is extremely clear, help entrepreneurs build a ‘bulletproof entrepreneurial mindset’ that will make them ready to cater to any challenges that come their way.

As a part of my research, I found out that no entrepreneur needs any further advices/guidance on business acumen anymore. All they need is practical wisdom to make the entrepreneurial journey easier, irrespective of any stage they are at.

I offer a specialised 5-week program designed exclusively for entrepreneurs, covering essential aspects such as thought management, developing strong self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and other vital tools for building a resilient entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more here

I hope you enjoyed reading the above article. You can also check out my work on Medium or connect with me on Linkedin for more insights on entrepreneurship and mindset.