You’re a small business owner, and you’re working hard to design a better business and a better life. And while you’ve experienced some success, you’re still your own toughest critic. Too often, you start beating yourself up in your head.

“I’m not moving fast enough. I’m not making the right choices. I’m not a ‘real’ entrepreneur without the fame or followers I see from others in the media. I’m not capable enough. I’m not smart enough. I don’t have the fancy degree or pedigree.”

And in your worst moments, that inner critic goes even further: “Maybe I’m stupid.”

No, you’re not. But all of us have moments of doubt and making mistakes. The problem is that people never talk about these things in public. That makes us think we’re the only ones who feel the way we feel.

The thing is, your journey is unique, but one part of it is NOT: We all have moments of stepping in stupid.

Just because you don’t have an MBA from Harvard or a million followers online does not make you less than.

Just because things are hard does not make you bad.

We are not surrounded by enough stories that sound like us, shared by people who share our backgrounds.

As small business owners, we love hanging out with people who won’t bullshit us. But that also means we need to stop bullshitting ourselves and stop apologizing for our backgrounds or doubting our abilities.