Building a business abroad can feel as scary as moving abroad did. Val has found that international professionals usually get stuck because of the beliefs they carry, not because they lack experience, ideas or knowledge. She goes through five common beliefs and how to reframe each one.

The 5 beliefs

1. "I need to figure things out before I can start."
   Preparation has a limit. After that you're just consuming information instead of acting. Ask yourself what you could test in practice to get an immediate answer. That might be speaking to three potential clients, sharing your offer or becoming visible on LinkedIn.
2. "It took me years to rebuild my life abroad, and I don't want to start from scratch again."
   You aren't starting from scratch. You're building on years of experience and skills you can transfer. Write down three past transitions you navigated and what each taught you.
3. "I'm not a salesperson."
   Think of sales as a doctor's diagnosis. You ask questions, reflect back what you understood, suggest a course of action and ask for a simple decision. It doesn't take a particular personality. First, be honest about whether you trust the value of your work.
4. "My network is scattered across countries."
   Connections in many countries can be an advantage, especially for an online, service-based business. List the people you've worked with, reconnect with them and build relationships rather than chasing sales.
5. "Why would anyone choose me with so much competition?"
   Competition shows there is demand. Your edge comes from combining your experience, personality, expertise, perspective and type of client.

Key takeaways

• Notice your beliefs and treat them as thoughts, not facts.
• You don't have to fake confidence. Take a small step that's a bit uncomfortable, like talking to a stranger about what you do or writing your first post.
• Ask yourself what you could do differently this week.

Resources & Links

The Business Building Sprint (November): three live workshops on Zoom, max 20 people each, €39 each. You can join one or all three.

1. Workshop 1: Nail your positioning.
2. Workshop 2: Find your first 10 potential clients.
3. Workshop 3: Build an offer people can actually buy.

You will get your money back from the Sprint if you later join the group program in January.

• Apply to the Spark Your Expat Business program.
• Book a free clarity call and let's explore working together 1:1
• Get the checklist to see if you're ready to start your business, and which steps to take first

Connect with Val:

• Linkedin
• Instagram