303: Why Women Entrepreneurs Get Discouraged and How to Keep Going: Fan Favorite Replay

Hi there. You’re listening to the Leading Lady Podcast. I’m your host, AliceAnne Loftus, and I’m a certified professional coach specializing in leadership and work-life balance. I work with clients to shift their limiting beliefs, insecurities, and self-doubt. This podcast will be filled with tools and strategies to help high-achieving women like you feel connected, empowered, and in the lead of your life, both personally and professionally. Let’s transform your life starting now. Lead yourself. The rest will follow.

Hi there, leading ladies, and welcome back to the Leading Lady Podcast, where we talk about leadership, business, and the real-life journey of being a woman entrepreneur. I’m your host, Alison Loftus, and today we’re diving into a topic that every single woman in business has faced at some point or another: discouragement.

I tell you, there is probably not a day that goes by that I don’t get a text or a phone call or an email that says, “Alison, I am so ready to quit. I am so discouraged. I don’t even know why I’m doing this anymore.” And let’s be real—entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. It is an emotional rollercoaster. It’s filled with highs and lows, wins and setbacks, clarity and confusion.

And for us women, there are even more layers to navigate because we’re often juggling multiple roles, managing expectations—both our own and others’—and carrying the weight of wanting to, dare I say, do it all.

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Why Do Women Entrepreneurs Get Discouraged?

So why do we get discouraged? And more importantly, how do we stay focused on our mission, vision, and values when it feels like everything is working against us?

Let’s acknowledge some of the biggest reasons we hit that wall of frustration.

1. Unrealistic expectations
We put enormous pressure on ourselves to be successful right away. I don’t know anyone who just woke up one day and said, “I’m going to be successful today,” and boom—it happened. So when things take longer than expected, we start questioning if we’re even on the right path.

I see this time and time again—especially with new businesses, but really anytime there’s a new product, service, or launch. If it doesn’t take off the way we envisioned, we immediately see it as a flop. Sometimes we have to step back and recognize that it might take time for the market to understand what it is and why they need it.

2. Comparison and self-doubt
We live in a social media world, and it makes it look like everyone else has it all figured out.

Even yesterday, I had three different people message me saying, “Alison, you are killing it. You are on fire. You have your act together.” And I’m like, really? Because I feel like a dumpster fire right now.

What we see is a snapshot—what people want us to see. When you compare yourself to that, you’re starting at a disadvantage because you don’t know the full story—the work, the frustration, the failures behind the scenes.

There’s healthy comparison, and then there’s comparison that does not serve you. When you go down that rabbit hole, you lose what makes you unique. That’s where self-doubt and imposter syndrome grow.

So ask yourself: is this comparison helping me uplevel, or is it making me doubt myself?

3. Lack of support
Women are natural caregivers. We pour into our families, friends, and businesses. But without a strong support system, we end up drained trying to do everything alone.

You cannot do this alone. You are not meant to do this alone.

One of the greatest relationships you can have as an entrepreneur is with your partner. Someone once told me one of the biggest business decisions you’ll make is who you’re married to. For me, having a supportive partner made a huge difference.

And it’s not just your spouse. Friends, even if they don’t fully understand, can still support and encourage you. And building business friendships—people who get it—can be a game changer.

Your support system doesn’t come from just one person. You need a variety of people and perspectives who can encourage you in different ways.

4. Fear of failure
Let’s be honest—nobody wants to fail. But sometimes we’re so afraid of making mistakes that we stop taking action altogether.

I’m a recovering perfectionist. I used to drag my feet because everything had to be just right. Now? I build the plane while flying it.

Failure is part of the process. It’s how we learn, grow, and improve. Shifting from a judgment mindset to a learner’s mindset is key.

5. Burnout and overwhelm
We often think if we just work harder, we’ll finally get ahead—but instead, we run ourselves into the ground.

Burnout is real. We become exhausted, uninspired, and disconnected—and we forget why we started in the first place.

If any of this sounds familiar, hear me: you are not alone, and you are not stuck.

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How to Stay Focused in Your Business

Let’s talk about how to push through discouragement and keep moving forward.

1. Reconnect with your why
When things get tough, go back to why you started. What impact do you want to make?

Your why is your anchor. If you’re feeling lost, revisit it. Write it down. Say it out loud.

2. Stop the comparison game
No one else has your journey. No one has your experiences, your perspective, or your lessons.

You don’t know if what you’re seeing is someone’s chapter one or chapter twenty. Focus on your progress and celebrate your wins—no matter how small.

3. Build a strong support system
Entrepreneurship can feel isolating, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Surround yourself with like-minded women. Find a mentor. Join a network. Invest in a coach.

The right support will remind you that you’re not crazy—and that you are absolutely capable.

4. Shift your perspective on failure
What if failure wasn’t something to fear, but something to learn from?

Every successful entrepreneur has failed—probably multiple times. The difference is, they don’t stop.

Failure is not a sign to quit. It’s a lesson and a stepping stone.

5. Prioritize your rest and your joy
Yes, you’re building a business—but you’re also building a life.

If you don’t take care of yourself, your business will suffer.

Schedule rest. Do things that bring you joy. The more fulfilled you are personally, the more successful you will be professionally.

6. Take the next right step
When you’re overwhelmed, you don’t need to have everything figured out.

Just take the next right step. One small action in the right direction is still progress.

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Final Thoughts

You are capable. You are worthy. And I encourage you to keep going.

If you’re feeling discouraged right now, hear me: you are not alone. You have everything you need to make your dream a reality.

You have everything you need, and everything you have, you need.

Success isn’t about never struggling—it’s about continuing despite the struggle.

Take a deep breath. Shake off the self-doubt. Remind yourself that you’re building something incredible.

Say this out loud:
I am exactly where I need to be, and I will not give up on myself.

Thanks for tuning in for another episode of the Leading Lady Podcast. You can find all of the links and information mentioned in this episode on the website. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any future episodes. And while you’re there, it would mean the world to me if you would take a few seconds and leave an honest review. This helps other high-achieving women find inspiration, connection, and strategies to live and lead with purpose and intention. See you here next week.