290. I'm Sorry, But Someone Had to Say It (On Apologizing For Everything)

I recently apologized to my shower handle.No, really. I turned off the water before rinsing out my conditioner, reached back to flip it on again, and instinctively said sorry to a cold, metal, completely inanimate faucet. And that moment stopped me dead in my tracks, because if I'm apologizing to shower handles, what else am I unnecessarily apologizing for in my life and business?This episode is a little different. I'm reading you an essay I originally published on my Substack, Beyond Business, because I genuinely believe so many of you need to hear it, not just read it. It's something I was almost too scared to put out into the world. But here's what I know: the over-apologizing so many of us do, especially as women in business, is costing us. It's costing us deals, visibility, clients, confidence, and the kind of success we've worked incredibly hard for.In this episode, you'll hear…Why so many of us learned to over-apologize long before we ever started a business, and how that pattern is still running the showThe jaw-dropping (and infuriating) moment at a law firm that made me feel like my ambition was something to be ashamed ofWhere over-apologizing shows up in your business, including in your marketing, your pricing conversations, and how you manage your teamA reflection prompt to help you identify where you might be apologizing unnecessarily, and what to do about itClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.EPISODE RESOURCES:Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond BusinessGrab a copy of Sam's book, When I Start My Business, I'll Be HappyIf you have a question you’d like Sam to answer on a future podcast episode, you can submit it here.Click here to be notified when new episodes of On Your Terms® come outCONNECT:Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's SidebarFollow Sam on InstagramFollow Sam on YouTubeSubscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond BusinessTake Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"DISCLAIMER