When you think about an entrepreneur mindset, I see no distinction between planning to earn an extra couple of hundred bucks a month or finally making enough money to quit your mind-numbing 9 to 5 job to earn a full-time living with your small business start up.
Starting a business and watching it grow is a satisfying, yet a challenging and demanding experience. Entrepreneurs make it easier by learning to make better decisions. Making better decisions is simple when you've got the right business mindset. The will to win is not enough though. Many entrepreneurs start their day with outstanding ideas and plenty of energy. But by the end of the day, depending on what happened, they often feel excited, beat down, or more likely a combination of these two extremes.
The entrepreneur mindset has a steep learning curve, especially if it's your first attempt. Any small business start up is hard. Small business is not for the faint of heart, but hey, countless entrepreneurs have accomplished it before you, so… if it's what you want to do, why not you?
Maintaining a good attitude while you develop your product or service is your secret weapon for success. Self-Control is another vital tool.
Note: An excellent entrepreneur mindset by itself will not make it easier to do well if you haven’t acquired the primary skills associated with lifelong learning… staying curious, mentoring and being mentored. Whenever you bundle knowledge, business mindset, and fast action, the results can amaze you.
Easier said than done, right? You bet. Well done, your small business is a labor of love. It won't even feel like work. Here’s five ideas to help you cultivate and maintain a beneficial and profitable way of thinking. Embrace these ideas now so you're able to make the right choices and achieve the success you want. Here’s how.
Entrepreneur Mindset Tip #1 | The Law of Attraction: We Attract What We Focus On the Most.
Another way to say it is we become what we think about all day long. It’s extremely important be in business for the right reason. Whatever you do for your customers must provide genuine value for them. When they benefit from getting your product or service people are attracted to you. You enjoy doing the work for them. The work isn't easy, but that’s exactly why they are attracted to you and the reason they’re paying you.
Be careful because if you come across as being desperate for money, or needing your small business to become a speedy success, you send mixed messages and negativity to your customer. People always pick up on it and you won’t get the results you'd like.
Read or listen to these books for further information on the law of attraction.
- ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill
- ‘As a Man Thinketh’ by James Allen and
- ‘Key to Living the Law of Attraction: A Simple Guide to Creating the Life of Your Dreams' by Jack Canfield
Take the time to figure out what you'd like to do and the reasons why you want to do it. Next, establish your goals and objectives. Write them down. Refer to them frequently to help you stay on target. Many people work with a journal using pencil and paper. Some use Evernote on their smartphone or tablet. How doesn’t matter, successful people do this. You should too.
Self-confidence is essential to any entrepreneur. The power of attraction is absolute. The good news is… out of 7 billion people on the planet, you'll likely be able to locate enough people, who like you, trust you, and will buy from you.
Entrepreneur Mindset Tip #2 | Associate with Successful, Interesting, Encouraging People
You shouldn't underestimate the impact people close to you have on your ability to succeed. Create your own Inner Circle. It’s been said that your income is the average of the five people you spend the most time with. For the most part, I've found that to be true.
When people around you see you as enthusiastic and authentic, you'll attract raving fans who are in your corner to motivate and, believe in you. They want you to succeed. Feelings and perceptions are contagious, so be your enthusiastic self.
Consider how good you feel when you get a compliment from a complete stranger. Multiply it times 100 to indicate the power of successful friends, family and coworkers. Multiply it times 1000, if not more, using your online persona’s reach… often known as the ripple effect. The ripple effect is like networking in a way… It requires engagement both ways.
Entrepreneur Mindset Tip #3 | Create Affirmations
Creating affirmations is not new-age mumbo-jumbo. Positive affirmations are a proven way to get people through challenging times in their lives. Affirmations can help you internalize what you’re trying to become. And it’s not fake it till you make it. It's a lot deeper than that.
Remember the child's story about the little engine that could? Going up a mountain the little engine said “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” On the happy way down, it was; “I knew I could. I knew I could. I knew I could.” There's an example of a positive affirmation.
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For a grownup example, try saying: “I am developing a rewarding and profitable business by helping my customers [insert your product/service here].” Countless successful people in business use affirmations to achieve their dreams. Virtually all successful entrepreneurs write their affirmations down.
Keep track of them in a diary or in an app like Evernote. Stick Post-It Notes on the bathroom mirror so you notice your affirmations each time you're in there. You could keep an audio journal or listen to uplifting MP3s. Create your own “Dream Board” by using images and pictures which help to envision the results you want.
How do you discover the best affirmations for you? Write down a list of your talents, weak spots, and things you will or will not do. Think about your list. Prioritize them. After that, turn them into personal affirmations.
For instance, if you always feel unorganized, then your affirmation might be:
“I am organized and in control. Anything and everything I need is in its special place.”
Repeat your positive affirmations several times a day and feel the power of positive thinking. Keep in mind, it’s never good enough to merely say it. Picture yourself being organized and in charge of your business. Experience how good it feels to know where you left that valuable paper or know when your next meeting is.
Entrepreneur Mindset Tip #4 | Lasso Your Negative Nay-Saying
Tie all of those negative thoughts up like a rodeo cowboy ties up a calf. We all let pessimism slip in at times. Undesirable thoughts and feelings can take us off target and sabotage our results. Here’s the thing, catching negativeness takes awareness, practice, and persistence. You will get better at noticing when these unproductive thoughts occur with practice… Trust me. You can do this.
Any time you’re thinking negative thoughts or emotions are sneaking into your mind, look for a way to switch them off. For most people affirmations are a good way to transform detrimental thoughts into constructive ones.
One of the most effective ways I’ve found to kill negative feelings is to disrupt yourself. Take a break. Get up and find a change of scene if you possibly can. Go outside in the fresh air, take a stroll, or listen to music. All of these can help improve your state of mind. If you can't get up or take a walk, use the next tip.
Entrepreneur Mindset Tip #5 | Be Grateful
Gratitude is among the most effective and beneficial tools for success. Always be thankful for all of the extraordinary people and wonderful things in your life. There's nothing wrong with aspirations for a better life. When you enjoy and value what you have already, the obstacles you encounter appear to be much less significant.
Why not keep a daily gratitude journal? That way, any time you’re struggling with problems, a quick reminder of all the amazing things in your life will pick you up and help you feel like you can overcome anything. Another advantage is, an attitude of appreciation can help you maintain better perspective. Challenges become opportunities instead of road blocks.
Success is a journey, not a destination. The entrepreneur mindset is often two steps forward and one step back. Your small business start ups success is within your reach if you don’t give up. Many others before you have came out on top. You can too. The entrepreneur mindset and attitude is the foundation you can use to accomplish anything you set your sights on. Start using these five success strategies to build a better business and live a happier, more satisfying life. After all, isn’t that what your life is all about?
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