Success means different things to different people, and the ways in which we become successful are as varied as the business ideas which take us there. One thing is always consistent though, no matter what sector you operate in – having the right mindset is a deal-breaker in terms of achieving what you need to. In fact, your mental strength and emotional resilience are a hugely important resource for your business.
Developing an abundance mindset can help you to overcome challenges and deal with the setbacks which are a natural part of life as an entrepreneur. So if you aren’t naturally a glass-half-full person, and you can sometimes struggle with the anxieties of trying to make a business work, how do you tune into this mindset? The truth is, positive thinking is a habit. It’s a bit like a muscle – the more you train it, the easier it becomes to flex it when you need to.
Learn to Be Grateful
In one way, being an entrepreneur almost demands dissatisfaction with the status quo. You have a sense of what needs fixing, or what you could do better than the competition. You’re striving to better your prospects and the only way is up. And while ambition is no bad thing – indeed, it’s a vital part of launching a business – you have to be careful that it doesn’t entirely stop you appreciating the here and now. Practising gratitude is a hugely important part of an abundance mindset, because it resets the focus from what we don’t have to what we do.
Many people find that starting a gratitude journal gives them a small space in the day to feel appreciative and realise how far they’ve already come – and sometimes this can be just the boost you need to get you over the next business hurdle along the way. Whether you need to find a new member of staff, rent office space or find financing to fund a business growth phase, taking a moment to look back at what you’ve already done and feeling thankful for progress so far can be transformative. Essentially, you are training your brain to think about available resources, which helps you to develop new ideas.
Boost Your Self-Belief
Learning to believe in yourself is all about considering what you can do. Think about challenges that you have encountered and overcome, problems you’ve solved and difficult situations where you came out the other side. This reminds you of the skills and resources that you have at your disposal and reminds you that you can move mountains when you need to. Self-esteem is not about possessions or job titles, it’s all about seeing yourself as capable.
Take Small Steps
When action on a particular project seems daunting, break it down into smaller, less challenging steps you can take to get the ball rolling and give you a sense of achievement. Get on top of things by staying organised and productive using tools such as the Pomodoro Technique or by making sure your day is put into a scheduling app so you have enough time to tackle what you need to. At the end of each day, review your progress against your headline mission and values and this will ensure that you stay on the right track.
