Ep 192 - Creative Confidence: Overcome Self-Doubt and Unleash Your Leadership Potential guest Amy Bernstein
In episode 192 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we dive deep into the nuances of creativity, self-doubt, and the entrepreneurial spirit with Amy Bernstein, an accomplished author, book coach, and creative powerhouse. Amy has dedicated her life to the written word and to helping others unlock their potential as writers and thinkers. Through her work, she illuminates the often-hidden journey that creatives and leaders must navigate, particularly in facing self-doubt and taking ownership of their own risks.
The Role of Self-Doubt in Creativity and Leadership
Amy’s perspective on self-doubt is refreshing and counterintuitive. Rather than viewing self-doubt as an obstacle to conquer, she advocates for managing it as a companion in our creative journey. “You cannot conquer self-doubt,” she shares. “But you can learn to manage it.” This philosophy, rooted in her own life experiences, has empowered her to take bigger creative risks and has also allowed her to guide others on similar paths.
For Amy, the presence of doubt doesn’t diminish creativity; instead, it fuels it. She believes that self-doubt is intricately linked to creativity, especially when it comes to taking bold steps or attempting something new. "Anyone who is any kind of a maker or a creator ... is embarking on a lot of risk-taking," she notes. "And the risk-taking often escalates depending on where you are in that project." This risk-taking is where entrepreneurs and creatives share common ground. Both groups must navigate external pressures and internal resistance to bring their visions to life.
Amy’s insights provide entrepreneurs and leaders with a blueprint for how to make peace with self-doubt. In a culture that often prioritizes confidence and decisiveness, Amy suggests that self-doubt might actually be an asset if we know how to wield it. Entrepreneurs and creatives alike face societal expectations to succeed without hesitation, but Amy reminds us that doubt is an inherent part of the journey.
The Similarities Between Creatives and Entrepreneurs
One of the standout moments in the episode is Amy’s insight into the similarities between entrepreneurs and artists. “Whenever you are going to make something from nothing ... you are taking fresh creative risks,” she observes. While entrepreneurs may be focused on financial success and artists on the purity of their creations, both are driven by a need to create something meaningful. This shared experience of “making something from nothing” bridges the perceived gap between these two worlds.
Entrepreneurs often view themselves as separate from the “creative types,” yet Amy challenges this mindset. She believes that embracing the entrepreneurial spirit as a form of artistry can help leaders approach their challenges with a more open and creative mindset.
As she explains, “We live in cultures that are often throwing a lot of negative energy our way. People are looking for others to fail.” Understanding that this energy exists in both art and business can equip leaders with resilience and perseverance.
Owning Your Risks to Drive Success
Amy discusses the importance of “owning your own risks.” She shares how stepping out of traditional organizational roles forced her to take full responsibility for the risks she was willing to pursue. “The risks are there regardless. Are we going to own them or not?” she asks, emphasizing the empowering nature of this choice. Amy’s advice is clear: true leadership and creativity require not just accepting but embracing the risks involved.
Owning risk can be daunting, especially in the face of self-doubt, but it is essential for growth. By taking ownership, we stop waiting for permission or validation from others and start charting our own paths. For Amy, this shift came when she left a traditional career and stepped fully into her creative life, where she could shape her journey on her terms.
Entrepreneurs and leaders can take a page from her book by viewing risk ownership as a powerful tool for personal and professional development.
Failing Bigger: The Road to Greater Growth
Another powerful takeaway from Amy’s story is her concept of “failing bigger.” Rather than shying away from failure, Amy sees it as a necessary step in pushing one’s creative and professional boundaries. She explains that part of her process involves finding the “next thing you’re scared of” and intentionally working toward it. This idea of pushing limits and accepting failure as part of the journey resonates deeply with anyone who has had to reinvent themselves or tackle a new challenge.
For leaders and entrepreneurs, failing bigger means setting more ambitious goals and stepping outside of their comfort zones. It’s about reframing failure as a learning experience rather than an endpoint. By adopting Amy’s mindset, they can view failure not as a setback but as evidence that they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
The Value of Community in Creative and Entrepreneurial Pursuits
Lastly, Amy emphasizes the importance of a supportive community. “Writing and creating can be a very, very lonely endeavor,” she admits. Being part of communities that offer respect and encouragement has been instrumental in her journey, and she advises others to seek out similar support. The process of entrepreneurship, like the creative process, is demanding, and having a network that understands these unique challenges can provide a sense of belonging and motivation.
For entrepreneurs, this might mean connecting with fellow business leaders or joining a mastermind group. For creatives, it could mean participating in writing or art communities.
The key is finding people who resonate with your vision and can help lift you up during challenging times.
Five Key Takeaways
Embrace Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is a natural part of the creative and entrepreneurial journey. Instead of fighting it, learn to manage it.
Take Action: Reflect on an area where self-doubt is holding you back. Write down how you can use that doubt as motivation instead of a barrier.
Recognize the Creativity in Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs and creatives share the same goal: bringing ideas to life against the odds.
Take Action: Approach a current business problem with a creative mindset. Brainstorm three unconventional solutions, even if they seem risky or unlikely.
Take Ownership of Your Risks
The risks in your journey are unavoidable. Choosing to own them gives you control over your path.
Take Action: Identify one major risk in your current project or business. Outline a plan to face it head-on instead of deferring it or waiting for external validation.
Challenge Yourself to Fail Bigger
Push beyond your comfort zone, and embrace the potential for bigger, more meaningful failures as stepping stones for growth.
Take Action: Set a bold goal this week that challenges you to fail bigger. Document what you learn from the process, regardless of the outcome.
Build and Lean on a Supportive Community
No journey is successful alone. Find or create a community that will lift you up during challenging times.
Take Action: Join a new group, networking event, or online community relevant to your field. Share your goals and connect with others for mutual support.
Connect with Amy Bernstein
To learn more about Amy Bernstein and her work, visit her profiles and explore her books and projects:
Amy L Bernstein's forthcoming book for creatives from all walks of life is Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration. The book is available to pre-order on Amazon.
Learn more about Amy at her author website.
Or explore her book coaching services here.
Embrace Amy’s wisdom and make self-doubt your ally in the journey toward your next big idea. Keep challenging yourself, and remember to lean into the process—because the best growth happens just beyond our comfort zones.
Check out the full episode here:
And the full video here:
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