Having one of those days? Knowing Your Strengths Keeps You Going

Introduction

Starting, and running, a business is an exciting adventure—until you hit those days. You know the ones: when self-doubt creeps in, energy is at rock bottom, and even turning on your computer feels like too much. In this article, we’ll talk about how knowing your strengths—your natural character traits and ways of being—can be your secret weapon. Especially on the tough days.

Key takeaways:

• Performance is not linear, some days we need more motivation than others.

• What strengths actually are.

• How to use your strengths on the tough days.

• You don’t have to be good at everything - leverage your own strengths and outsource those you need.

The Highs Are Easy. It’s the Wobbles That Test You.

Let’s be honest. Running your own business isn’t all polished branding and pep talks — some days, it’s messy and uncertain.

Yes, there are magical days—when you wake up feeling inspired, full of ideas, confident in your voice, and excited to create. You might be in your creative flow, mapping out plans, connecting with your audience, and fully aligned with what you’re doing. 

But then there are other days.

Days where your confidence disappears like your phone charger when you need it most. You question your offers, your abilities, even your whole idea. And who knows if it’s down to hormones, burnout or just a run of the mill confidence crisis of confidence?

Whatever the cause, every woman building something of her own will have these days. What matters is how you handle them.

And that’s where your strengths come in.

What Are Strengths, Really?

We’re not talking about generic “you’re a strong woman” Pinterest quotes here.

We’re talking about your innate ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that energise you and help you perform at your best.

There are different frameworks (like VIA Character Strengths and CliftonStrengths) but at the heart of it, your strengths are what make you you.

They’re not skills you’ve learned. They’re the natural traits that guide how you operate when you’re in flow.

Think things like:

• Curiosity

• Empathy

• Strategy

• Creativity

• Leadership

• Persistence

• Humour

• Optimism

• Focus
  

Your unique combination is like a personal success formula.

Strengths: Your Inner Cheerleaders on the Tough Days

Here’s the truth: when you know your strengths, you stop looking out there for validation. You stop relying on motivation or moods. You know what to lean into—even on the days when nothing else is working.

Let’s look at a few real examples:

→ Feeling stuck and indecisive?

If Perspective is one of your strengths, try zooming out and looking at the bigger picture. Revisit your long-term vision. Remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

→ Feeling low energy and uninspired?

If your strength is Creativity, set aside 20 minutes to play. Try sketching, brainstorming new ideas, or looking for inspiration. Let your creative mind spark your momentum.

→ Beating yourself up because you didn’t get enough done?

If Kindness or Self-Regulation are your strengths, show yourself the same grace you would a friend. Honour the day, reset, and start again tomorrow.

This is how strengths work.
They don’t just make you better at what you’re doing—they make you better at being you in the process.

The Confidence Boost You Didn’t Know You Needed

One of the biggest challenges women face in business isn’t a lack of strategy.
It’s self-belief.

When you’re juggling life, work, hormones, identity shifts, and learning to be visible and vulnerable as a business owner… confidence can take a hit.

But knowing your strengths gives you a kind of unbreakable proof.

It’s not someone else’s idea of success.
It’s your own data about what energises you, what you do naturally well, and how you best contribute.

And that is very powerful.

Instead of thinking “I should be more confident,” you begin to think:
“I can trust myself. I know how I work best. I’ve done this before.”

It shifts everything.

“You are not your mood. You are your character.”

Lindsay Guest

It’s Not About Being Good at Everything

Here’s the other magic of strengths: they give you permission not to be good at everything.

When you know what energises you and what drains you, you can:

• Stop forcing yourself to work in ways that don’t suit you

• Delegate or delay things that drain your of energy

• Build your business around your brilliance

  This is especially helpful for solo entrepreneurs who feel like they have to do all the things.

Spoiler: You don’t.

You just have to do your things. The ones that come naturally, the ones that light you up, and the ones that move the needle.

So… How Do You Find Out Your Strengths?

There are a few ways.

If you’re curious, I always recommend starting with a strengths assessment (like the VIA Character Strengths or CliftonStrengths tools). These are the assessments we use as a starting point in The Strengths Mastery.  They give you language and insight that’s so useful. You’ll start to see patterns you didn’t even know were there.

https://offers.thebrillianceproject.co/strengths-mastery-coaching-programme

Then, through reflection, journaling, coaching (), or just noticing what makes you feel alive, you’ll start to own those strengths more deeply.

This isn’t a quick fix. It’s a practice. A way of being.
But once you start, you can’t unsee your strengths. And that’s a good thing.

Your Strengths don’t disappear on the hard days, they are just waiting to be used.

Take-Homes for the Days That Feel Hard

If you’re a woman building a business and you’re feeling stuck, slow, or like everything is just a bit too much, try this:

Pause before you push.
Not every hard day needs to be powered through. Sometimes it’s a sign to reset, not quit.

Go back to your strengths.
What comes naturally to you? What makes you feel energised, confident, effective? Choose one and work from there.

Let your strengths guide the way.
They’ll show you how to move forward in ways that suit you—on your best days and your wobble days.

Be kind to yourself.
You’re doing something brave. You’re building a business and holding space for your own growth. That deserves credit so take time to recognise it. 

The result? You stop holding back and start living boldly, with energy and intention.

You become the founder of your own success, creating a life that’s not just good, but truly brilliant.

Final Words: Be Brilliant

The path of entrepreneurship is full of highs, lows, and hormonal challenges.
But when you know your strengths, you’ve always got something to stand on—even when everything else feels shaky.

So the next time you wake up doubting yourself, go back to what makes you you.
That’s where the real magic happens.

Strengths-based Coaching for Women

Helping you step into your next level of success.