9 Ways to Show More Confidence in Business

Many entrepreneurs share specific qualities that
are vital for starting and growing a business.
They are passionate, resilient, focused on
opportunities and comfortable with risks. But the
quality that might have the most influence over an
entrepreneur’s success is confidence .
You’re much more likely to approach a stranger
about your latest business idea or effectively
pitch a new client if you feel self-assured. Most
of the activities an entrepreneur participates in
every day (product launches, critical business
decisions, even board meetings) require some
level of confidence.
If you want to achieve great success, you must
believe that you are worthy. Here are some
helpful hints for boosting your confidence in
yourself and your business.
Related: Lewis Howes On Being Confident: 'Own
Who You Are'
1. Package yourself for success.
When you look the part, you’ll carry yourself with
more confidence. Dressing well communicates to
others that you are knowledgeable, powerful and
competent. When choosing clothing, remember to
dress for the occasion and your client’s emotional
comfort. Before any meeting with an important
client, research his company’s image, office
environment and internal values.
2. Correct your posture.
If your work requires you to sit in front of a desk
for most of the day, chances are your posture
has suffered. Don’t slouch when meeting with
clients, customers or colleagues. Poor posture
may make you appear insecure, lazy or
disinterested. Try to make a conscious effort to
roll your shoulders back and elongate your spine.
Keep your head in a neutral position with your
chin slightly raised.
3. Do your best and worry less.
Entrepreneurs who lack self-assurance often
stress about what others might think about them.
Negative self-talk can quickly make you feel as
though others are evaluating every error and
misstep you make. Focus on all the things you do
well and hire other experts to take care of the
rest.
Related: 3 Ways to Communicate With Confidence
4. Focus on the future.
If you find yourself being caught up in the
minutiae of daily business, remind yourself to
think about your dreams for the future. If you take
a few minutes to focus on your goals, you’ll be
able to refocus on what’s most important to you
and your business.
5. Embrace positivity.
We’re bombarded with negativity all day, every
day. To counteract the negative energy around
you --from what's conveyed in the daily news to
the comments of grumpy colleagues -- fill your
mind with positive thoughts. Show gratitude for
small acts of kindness and be appreciative of
those around you. If you make it a habit to be
positive and grateful, it will become second
nature.
6. Let go of small mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes so don’t expect to be
perfect or you’ll drive yourself crazy. Try not to
dwell on small errors. If you make a mistake with
a client, don’t obsess over what you might have
done wrong. Instead, take responsibility.
Apologize, fix the mistake as soon as possible
and move forward.
7. Continue to grow and improve.
A small accomplishment can help boost your
confidence, even if it’s not entirely related to your
business. Learn a new skill, take a class at a local
university or read a book on a subject that
interests you. If you’d like to excel at something
specific such as playing golf or public speaking,
invest in yourself and take lessons.
8. Schedule time to play.
If you put in 60 to 80 hours of work every week
and never take time to rest, you’ll eventually push
yourself toward burnout and sheer exhaustion.
Make sure you set aside time to do the things you
love in life. Escort your child or dog to the park,
take walks during your lunch break or participate
in an exercise class at a local gym. If you invest
time in your hobbies, friends and family, you’ll
feel rejuvenated and ready to conquer your next
challenge.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice.
Whenever you find yourself in an epic struggle
against self-doubt, call a trusted friend, advisor
or colleague and get his or her best advice. Often
an objective opinion will help you look at life
differently, overcome your challenges and
transform your attitude. JACQUELINE WHITMORE
CONTRIBUTOR
AUTHOR, ETIQUETTE EXPERT, AND
FOUNDER OF THE PROTOCOL
SCHOOL OF PALM BEACH

Richest African Presidents 2014

Africa is the second largest continent in the world.
It is also world’s second most populous continent
and regarded as the poorest continent. There are
47 nations in Africa, led by different leaders who
havebeen ruling for several decades. Some of
these leaders and their families are very rich and
their wealth are considered ill-gotten. They make
their wealth from natural resources of these
nations through the creation of companiesunder
the names of their families. Here is a brief
overview of the richest Presidents in Africa.
The 9 Richest African Presidents and Kings as of
2014:
9) Robert Mugabe – Net Worth: $10 Million
Country: Zimbabwe, Years in Power: 26
Robert Mugabe is the President of Mugabe. His net
worth is estimated to be around $10 million. The
dictator’s family is very wealthy. Mugabe has won
many elections, although frequently these have
been criticized by outsiders for violating various
electoral procedures.
8) Idriss Deby – Net Worth: $50 Million
Country: Chad, Years in Power: 23
Idriss Deby has been the President of Chad since
1990. His net worth is estimatedto be $50 million.
Towards the end of August 2006, he
made international newsafter calling for his nation
to have 60 percent stake in its output after
receiving crumbs from foreign companies running
the industry.
Country: Nigeria, Years in Power: 4
Goodluck Jonathan is the President of Nigeria. His
net worth is estimated to be around $100 million.
He launched a “Roadmap for Power Sector
Reform”, launched the Youth Enterprise with
Innovation in Nigeria and launched the
Transformation Agenda. He is a member of the
ruling “People Democratic Party”.
6) King Mswati III – Net Worth: $100 Million
Country: Swaziland, Years in Power: 28
The 15th richest royal in the world, according to
Forbes Magazine. Mswati III is the King of
Swaziland. He is worth more than $100 million;
down $100 million of his 2012 ($200 million)
fortune. The King has often been criticized for his
lavish spending. In 2009 summer, several of his 13
wives reportedly spent over $6 million in a
shopping spree. In the 2014 budget, parliament
allocated $61 million for the King’s annual
household budget, while 63 percent of Swazis live
on less than $1.25 per day. His luxury car
collection include a $500,000 Daimler Chrysler’s
flagship Maybach 62. And has banned the
photography of his cars.
5) Paul Biya – Net Worth: $200 Million
Country: Cameroon, Years in Power: 31
Paul Biya has been the President of Cameroon
since November 6 1982. Hisestimated net worth is
around $200 million; this figure was published by
the ForeignPolicy.com. Around 48 percent of the
citizens of Cameroon live below the poverty line.
Catholic Committee against Hunger and for
Development (CCFD) and several on-and-offline
media has placed him in the list of leaders with ill-
gotten wealth. In 2009, French online newspaper,
Rue 89, reported the Cameroon President’s
vacation was the top most expensive among world
leaders. More than that of the American President.
He was criticized for spending 30,000 euros
($40,000) per day on renting a villa.
4) Uhuru Kenyatta – Net Worth: $500 Million
Country: Kenya, Years in Power: 1
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is the President of Kenya
and the son of Kenya’s first President, Jomo
Kenyatta. In 2011, Forbes estimated his net worth
at $500 million. Most of his wealth comes from
property. With his family, the President owns
stakes in Kenya’s largest
dairy company Brookside Dairies,
media company Mediamax, Heritage Hotels,
Commercial Bank of Africa and hundreds of
thousands of prime Kenyan land. He is regarded as
man of the people due to his sociability. During his
inaugural speech, he promised economic
transformation through Vision 2030, free maternal
care and unity among all Kenyans.
3) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – $600
Million
Country: Equatorial Guinea, Years in Power: 34
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the
President of Equatorial Guinea. He came to power
in August 1979 by ousting his uncle Francisco
Macias Nguema in a military coup. He has
overseen the emergence of the nation as an
important oil producer, beginning in 1990s. This
President and his family literally own the economy,
his personal fortune exceed $600 million,
according to Forbes Magazine. In October 2011,
the United States government seized $70 million
assets of his son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang
Mangue. Though Equatorial Guinea is Africa’s
second richest nation, majority of the population
actually live under the poverty line.
2) Mohammed VI of Morocco – Net Worth: $2.5
Billion
Country: Morocco, Years in Power: 15
Mohammed VI is the current King of Morocco. He
is also the country’s leading businessman. He is
worth more than $2.5 billion, according to Forbes.
The King ascended to the throne following his
father’s death in 1999 and he immediately set
about improving upon his appalling human rights
record and alleviating poverty.
1) Jose Eduardo dos Santos – Net Worth: $20
Billion
Country: Angola, Years in Power: 34
Jose Eduardo dos Santos is the President of
Angola. He has held on to this post since 1979. His
personal estimated wealth exceed more than $20
billion, according to Cabinda Online. Around 70
percent of Angolans live on less than two dollars a
day. His daughter, Isabel dos Santos is among the
Forbes Africa’s billionaires with a net worth of $3.8
billion. She’s currently Africa’s richest woman and
also the world’s richest black woman.
- RichestLifestyle.com