Forging a New Path: Overcoming Weaknesses and Building Skills as an Entrepreneur

Stepping into the world of entrepreneurship is both exhilarating and terrifying. It’s a journey that demands more than just a great idea; it requires resilience, adaptability, and a relentless commitment to self-improvement. For many of us, this path also means confronting our weaknesses head-on while simultaneously building new skills that will shape our future self and desired success.

When I first considered starting a business, I saw more barriers than opportunities. Doubt whispered that I wasn’t ready, that I lacked the expertise, and that the unknown was too risky. But I realized that success wasn’t about starting with all the answers—it was about committing to the process of learning, growing, and refining myself along the way.

One of my biggest challenges was learning how to market myself and my ideas. I had never worked in sales, never had to pitch a product, and never had to convince someone to buy into an idea I was offering. The only thing I had ever sold was myself—but even then, it was only in the context of job interviews, and most of those opportunities came about through personal connections, casual conversations with hiring managers, or job fairs where the company was already looking for someone like me. I never had to walk into a room cold, pitch my value, and close a deal with someone who wasn’t already interested.

The previous business I had started required no selling, I had walked away from a job where I had several companies already interested in continuing a relationship we already had with me. I had built their trust over time, and the products I built they already knew and knew they wanted. That changed when I started this current entrepreneurial journey. I had to learn, sometimes painfully, that selling a product or service is really just another form of selling yourself. People don’t just buy things—they buy trust, credibility, and confidence in the person or company offering the solution. At first, I struggled. In fact, I still struggle with this. I thought I could rely on logic, technical knowledge, and a well-thought-out business plan to win people over. But I realized quickly that selling isn’t just about information—it’s about connection. If I couldn’t get people to trust me, then it didn’t matter how great my product or service was.

Whether you’re selling a service, a product, or an idea, what you’re really selling is yourself. The shift in approach doesn't happen overnight, and I still don’t consider myself a natural salesperson.—In fact, I still feel awkward and stumble on my words constantly. But I’ve learned that sales, like job interviews, is a skill that can be developed. It’s about understanding what people need, building relationships, and positioning yourself as the person they can trust to provide the solution. Beyond this, you also have to believe in yourself, and the product or service you're promising to deliver. If you don't believe in it, how can you reasonably expect to make someone else believe in it?

For anyone starting out and feeling overwhelmed by the idea of selling, I can say this with certainty: You don’t have to be a natural. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing to learn, adapt, and put yourself out there. The more you do it, the more you refine the art—until one day, what once felt impossible starts to feel second nature.

And that’s when you realize: You aren’t just building a business. You're building yourself.

Trust your dreams,

Nicole Ferretti