The Hidden Emotional Challenges of Female Entrepreneurs 40+ (and Why You Shouldn’t Face Them Alone)
A few years ago, I met Lisa, a brilliant woman in her mid-40s who had poured her heart and soul into her business. She had years of experience, a wealth of knowledge, and a deep passion for what she did. But despite all of that, she was stuck.
Lisa came to me feeling frustrated. She had reached a plateau in her income, hesitated to raise her prices, and found herself saying yes to the wrong clients just to keep things moving. Worse, she felt drained—constantly working, yet never quite feeling like she had “made it.”
“I should be able to figure this out,” she admitted.
Like many women, Lisa thought she just needed to push harder, work longer hours, and be more disciplined. But the real issue wasn’t her business strategy—it was what was happening beneath the surface.
The Emotional Roadblocks That Hold Women Back
Many women over 40 who start or scale their businesses encounter emotional challenges they never expected, including:
1. Fear of Visibility and Self-Doubt
Lisa had incredible expertise, but deep down, she struggled with putting herself out there. “What if people judge me?” she worried. Instead of confidently promoting her services, she stayed small, afraid of drawing too much attention.
2. Imposter Syndrome (Even With Years of Experience!)
Despite her track record, Lisa felt like she wasn’t really an expert. She would compare herself to younger entrepreneurs who seemed to have it all together and wonder if she was too late to the game.
3. The Pressure to Do It All
Lisa wasn’t just running a business—she was managing a household, raising teenagers, and juggling countless responsibilities. She felt like she had to prove she could handle everything on her own, even when she was exhausted.
4. Money Blocks That Kept Her Playing Small
Lisa hesitated every time she needed to charge what she was worth. She had absorbed beliefs growing up that asking for more was “greedy” or that money was hard to earn. So she undercharged, over-delivered, and felt resentful.
5. Fear of Outgrowing Others
She also worried about what success would mean for her relationships. “What if I make more money than my husband?” “What if my friends don’t relate to me anymore?” These fears kept her stuck at the same income level for years.
The Real Struggle: Investing in Herself
Lisa knew something had to change, but when she thought about investing in coaching, she hesitated.
“I don’t know if I can afford this,” she told herself, even though she had spent thousands on business tools, courses, and marketing that never truly moved the needle.
At times, she would say, “I need to talk to my husband first,” but deep down, she knew that was just an excuse. She wasn’t actually asking for permission—she was stalling. She didn’t realize that this was really fear – fear of success and fear of failure.
Her hesitation wasn’t really about money. It was about self-worth.
Somewhere along the way, she had internalized the belief that she wasn’t worth investing in. That spending money on herself—on her growth, her success—was selfish or unnecessary.
But the truth was, her business was a reflection of her. If she didn’t see herself as worthy of investing in, how could she expect clients to invest in her?
Deep down she knew she was meant for more, but how to get there? She wondered how she would ever get what was inside her out to the world. Even more, she knew she had a message, but wondered whether anyone would value what she had to say.
Why Fixing It Alone Doesn’t Work
Lisa had tried to push through these struggles on her own. She read books, listened to podcasts, and even attended a few workshops. But nothing changed—because knowing what to do and actually doing it are two very different things.
Here’s why going it alone doesn’t work:
We all have blind spots. No matter how self-aware you are, you can’t always see what’s keeping you stuck. You can’t do brain surgery on yourself. You need an outside perspective to help you recognize and shift deep-rooted patterns.
Your brain is wired for safety, not success. If you have fears around visibility, money, or success, your brain will unconsciously sabotage you to keep you “safe.” Simply working harder won’t break these patterns.
Isolation keeps you stuck. Without support, it’s easy to second-guess yourself, procrastinate, and let fear run the show. Having the right mentor or coach keeps you accountable and focused.
Lisa’s Breakthrough: The Power of Inner Work
After months of sitting on the fence, Lisa finally took the leap and invested in herself.
We uncovered and rewrote her limiting money beliefs, allowing her to confidently raise her prices without guilt.
We worked through her fear of visibility and started marketing her business in an authentic way.
I helped her craft and set clear boundaries around her time, finally freeing herself from the burnout cycle.
Most importantly, she learned to trust herself, embrace success, and enjoy the journey instead of constantly striving for “enough.”
Within six months, Lisa had doubled her revenue—not by working harder, but by aligning her mindset with her goals. More importantly, she felt lighter, happier, and in control of her business and life.
Are You Ready to Break Free?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like something is holding you back, know this: It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter from the inside out.
The most successful entrepreneurs don’t do it alone. They invest in their inner growth just as much as their business strategy. So if you’re tired of spinning your wheels, ask yourself: What would change if I had the right support? Because the truth is—your success is waiting. You just need to be willing to claim it. Book your session today at breakthroughwithcarla.com
