Take action and embrace failure — Take small steps towards your goals and learn from mistakes. Failure is part of the process, and learning from it can help you build resilience and confidence. For example, if you want to start a business, start with a small project or side hustle and learn from any mistakes made along the way.
Starting something new is scary. Learning to believe in yourself can be a critical precursor to starting a new initiative. Why is it so important to learn to believe in yourself? How can someone work on gaining these skills? In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders, authors, writers, coaches, medical professionals, teachers, to share empowering insights about “How To Learn To Believe In Yourself.” As a part of this series we had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Good.
As an accomplished Company Director and Board Member, Mark has amassed over a decade of experience in marketing, management and leadership within the highly competitive online gaming industry.
Mark was responsible for the revenue growth and P&L performance of a business portfolio that included some of the most recognisable brands in the industry. Within six years, he helped achieve an eight-figure exit for the owners, a testament to the innovative and results-driven strategies that were implemented by him and his teams.
His track record of success has been built on a passion for innovation, a results-driven approach and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic, challenger environment and has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Currently, as the Founder and CEO of Golden Gorilla Media, Mark continues to provide expert consultancy services to businesses in the online gaming industry, leveraging his extensive experience to drive sustainable growth, innovation, and compliance.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up in a middle-class town in the North of England. My parents were both very focused on education and instilled in me a love of learning and development from a young age. But I was also a bit of a troublemaker and regularly got into mischief with my friends. I think that rebellious streak actually served me well in my later years in business, as it helped me take risks and not be afraid to go against the norm.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
I have to say that my passion for gaming and digital marketing was really sparked by my father. He was always very supportive of my interests and encouraged me to pursue my passions, no matter what they were. As I got older, I started to see the potential for marketing and business in the digital space, and I knew that’s where I wanted to focus my career. Of course, there were also plenty of influential mentors and colleagues along the way who helped shape my path and gave me guidance and inspiration. But I have to credit my dad for planting that initial seed of curiosity and excitement about the possibilities of technology and creativity.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I remember one time when I was starting out in my marketing career, and we made a hilarious mistake that still makes me laugh to this day.
We were put in charge of sending out a mass survey email to our client base. Instead of dynamically inserting the customer name into the email content, we inserted their customer number.
To make matters worse, the email contained an opening line;
[Customer Number], you are more than just a number to us.
I had to send a follow up email to the full client base straight away, and I spent the next few days apologising profusely to my colleagues for the mistake.
But, as embarrassing as it was, that mistake taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of double-checking our work and taking the time to ensure that we’re sending out the right message to the right people.
From that day on, I made sure to be extra careful when hitting that send button, and we never made the same mistake again!
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
One of the most interesting and exciting projects I’m currently working on is the development of a CRM product for a client. The goal is to help them better leverage their extensive customer database to cross-sell, up-sell, reactivate, engage, and extend customer lifetime value. It’s a complex project with many moving parts, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact it can have on the client’s business.
By implementing this CRM product, our client will be able to better understand their customers’ needs and preferences, personalise their marketing messages, and ultimately increase revenue and customer loyalty. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of technology that can help businesses grow and succeed in today’s competitive market.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. This will be intuitive to you but it will be helpful to spell this out directly. Can you help explain a few reasons why it is so important to believe in yourself? Can you share a story or give some examples?
Believing in yourself is crucial because it sets the tone for everything in your life. When you believe in yourself, you’re more confident and resilient, which helps you face challenges and overcome obstacles. Belief in oneself enables you to take more risks and try new things, which often leads to personal growth and success.
When you don’t believe in yourself, you limit your potential and miss out on opportunities. You might give up too easily or be afraid to take a chance, leading to stagnation and dissatisfaction. On the other hand, believing in yourself allows you to pursue your dreams and reach your full potential.
For example, when I was starting my current business, there were many obstacles to overcome, but my belief in myself kept me going. I had confidence in my skills and experience, and that helped me take the necessary risks to grow the business. As a result, my company has helped numerous clients achieve their marketing and growth goals, and I’ve been able to launch a successful new phase of my career doing something that I love.
What exactly does it mean to believe in yourself? Can I believe that I can be a great artist even though I’m not very talented? Can I believe I can be a gold medal Olympic even if I’m not athletic? Can you please explain what you mean?
Believing in yourself means having faith in your own abilities, talents, and potential. It’s about having confidence in your decisions and actions, and knowing that you have what it takes to achieve your goals. However, it’s important to note that believing in yourself doesn’t mean that you will automatically be successful at everything you try. It simply means that you have the determination and resilience to keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenges or setbacks.
In terms of being a great artist or a gold medal Olympic athlete, it’s certainly possible to believe in yourself and your potential to achieve those goals. However, it’s also important to be realistic about your abilities and take the necessary steps to develop your skills and improve. Believing in yourself is just the first step — you also need to put in the effort and hard work to make your dreams a reality.
Was there a time when you did not believe in yourself? How did this impact your choices?
Of course, there have been times when I didn’t believe in myself. Who hasn’t? Sometimes we doubt our abilities and question our decisions, especially when facing challenging situations. In those moments, it’s easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk and let it influence our choices. But I’ve learned that it’s important to recognise and acknowledge those doubts, while also reminding myself of my past successes and accomplishments. When I have doubts, I try to focus on the bigger picture, set achievable goals, and surround myself with positive and supportive people. At the end of the day, I believe that the biggest obstacle to achieving our goals is often ourselves. So, it’s important to believe in ourselves and our abilities, even when it’s hard.
At what point did you realize that in order to get to the next level, it would be necessary to build up your belief in yourself? Can you share the story with us?
Many people come to a point in their lives where they feel stuck or stagnant in their career or personal growth. They may feel like they’re not reaching their full potential and don’t know what to do next. This is often a sign that they need to build up their belief in themselves and their abilities.
For example, I had been working in the same job for over a decade, the business was now under new ownership, and I felt like I was no longer growing in the role. I started to doubt my skills and abilities and felt like I was not taking on new challenges.
By building up my belief in myself, I decided to move on and switch careers, to work for myself. It has been a gradual process, but now I start to see the positive impact of believing in myself, I never want to go back to doubting my abilities.
What are your top 5 strategies that will help someone learn to believe in themselves? Please share a story or example for each.
1 . Recognise and challenge negative self-talk — Identify negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. For example, instead of thinking “I’m not good enough”, replace it with “I have the skills and knowledge to succeed in this”.
2 . Visualise success — Imagine yourself achieving your goals and visualise how it feels. This can help you build confidence and belief in yourself. For example, if you want to give a successful presentation, visualise yourself delivering it with confidence and receiving positive feedback.
3 . Set realistic goals — Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable ones. Celebrate each accomplishment along the way, which will help build confidence and belief in yourself. For example, if you want to run a marathon, start by running a 5K and work your way up.
4 . Surround yourself with positivity — Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you. Negative people can drag you down and make it harder to believe in yourself. For example, join a support group, a mastermind group, or find a mentor.
5 . Take action and embrace failure — Take small steps towards your goals and learn from mistakes. Failure is part of the process, and learning from it can help you build resilience and confidence. For example, if you want to start a business, start with a small project or side hustle and learn from any mistakes made along the way.
Conversely, how can one stop the negative stream of self-criticism that often accompanies us as we try to grow?
Practice self-compassion and treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would give to a friend. Remember, growth is a process, and mistakes and setbacks are a natural part of it. Focus on your strengths and achievements, and use them as a foundation to build your self-confidence.
Are there any misconceptions about self-confidence and believing in oneself that you would like to dispel?
One common misconception is that believing in oneself means never doubting oneself or never experiencing failure. In reality, self-belief is more about having the resilience to bounce back from setbacks and use that experience to grow and improve. Another misconception is that self-belief is solely an individual trait, when in fact it can also be influenced by external factors. Self-belief is not a static or fixed trait, but rather something that can be strengthened over time through actions and practices.
What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome — that nagging feeling that we’re just not good enough, that we don’t deserve our successes, and that sooner or later, we’ll be exposed as frauds. It’s a common experience, and one that can be really tough to overcome. My advice? Start by recognising that you’re not alone. So many people — even highly successful ones — struggle with imposter syndrome. Then, challenge your negative self-talk by focusing on your strengths and accomplishments. And finally, embrace the discomfort that comes with growth and learning — after all, none of us are perfect, and that’s okay! Remember, you’re capable of achieving great things, and you deserve to be where you are.
Ok, we are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
As someone who has been fortunate enough to experience success in business, I believe in the power of giving back and creating opportunities for others. If I could inspire a movement, it would be to encourage more people to mentor and support those who are just starting out in their careers or facing challenging circumstances. Whether it’s offering advice, sharing experiences or providing resources, we all have something to offer and can make a positive impact on someone’s life. By empowering others to achieve their goals, we can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond our own immediate circle of influence. Ultimately, it’s about recognising that we are all connected and have a responsibility to lift each other up, both personally and professionally.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them 🙂
That’s an interesting question! While I’m sure there are plenty of high-profile individuals who would make for an interesting conversation, I think the person I would most like to have a private breakfast or lunch with is someone who has made a significant impact on the world in a more understated way. Perhaps an unsung hero who has dedicated their life to serving others, or a local business owner who has overcome tremendous obstacles to build a successful enterprise. Sometimes the most inspiring and transformative conversations can come from unexpected places.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.