Six mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur will need to learn
When I started my entrepreneurial journey a few years ago, I very quickly realized that the path would not be easy. I struggled a lot with procrastination, imposter syndrome, comparison, and other things that could keep me paralyzed and prevent me from taking action for weeks, or even month. I still do struggle with these things, unfortunately they never really disappear. However, over time, I developed a few tactics to overcome my blocks and keep going. If you aspire to become an entrepreneur, and a successful one, here are six things you will need to learn.
- Learn to manage your limiting beliefs
(Note that I said “manage”, not “get rid of”.)
Maybe you've been dreaming about launching a creative business for a while, but you haven't done anything yet.
Or you’ve officially started your business, you have the name and the logo and all, but you haven’t really done any of the things that people actually DO when they have a business (selling, marketing, etc.)
Whatever the case may be, chances are it's because you have this nagging little voice in your head telling you things like:
- You don't have time to do this now. You'll do it later (and later never comes).
- You don't have the skills to do XYZ.
- You don't know where to start. Everything looks so complicated!
- Starting a business requires money, which you don't have.
- You have a great ideas, but if you start talking about it, somebody will steal it.
- Starting a business is risky. What if it doesn’t work?
- If you fail, you'll look like an idiot and everyone will make fun of you.
- [insert your own fears here...]
Listen, every human being has their own fears and limiting beliefs and it's perfectly normal. However, to become an creator, and a successful one, you’re going to have to manage them, or else you’ll always be stuck and find excuses for not doing anything.
Here’s one very simple trick that I use whenever my nagging inner voice (which I affectionately named Karen) tries to start inserting doubt into my mind:
Turn every “I can’t…”, “I don’t know how….”, “I will never…”, etc. into a “How can I…” question.
For exemple:
“I cant’ write” becomes: “How can I learn how to write?”
“I don’t know how to start a podcast” becomes: “How can I start a podcast?”
“This will never work” becomes: “How can I make this work?”
See what happens when you start asking yourself how you can do something? You start looking for solutions, and Google and youtube become your best friends.
- Learn to define your Why, and always get back to it
If you want to become an entrepreneur because you fantasize about a life where you would work only a few hours a week and spend your days drinking cocktails on the beach... well I'm sorry to shatter your dream. You might get there someday, and I hope you will. But before you do, you're going to have to work for it and earn it. The truth is, in the first few years, most entrepreneurs work even more than they used to on their 9-to-5, and often, they make less money.
If you don't have a compelling WHY to keep you motivated, something deeper and stronger than "I want to make a lot of money", you won't sustain the energy and the stamina you'll need to be successful.
To help you define your Why, Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why, is a good start.
- Learn to develop a habit of introspection
In order to stay connected with your WHY, it's important to take the time to reflect on your vision and your motivations. Journaling is a great way to get clear on your goals, stay focused and inspired, and track your actions and progress.
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself regularly during your journaling practice.
- What is your vision for your business? Where do you see yourself one year, five years, ten years from now?
- What are your core values?
- What does success mean to you? How much money do you want to make? What kind of lifestyle do you want to have?
- Learn that done is better than Perfect
Successful entrepreneurs are people who are willing to try new things, make mistakes, and try again. If you're a perfectionist, and you think it's your greatest quality, you need to change your mind ASAP. Entrepreneurs don't have the time to be perfectionists, because they're constantly testing, getting feedback, and learning. Whether you're creating a product or a service, you'll need to release your first imperfect version and make iterations along the way.
Always take the time to acknowledge your accomplishments and your improvements.
- Learn to develop patience and perseverance
As an entrepreneur, you'll have to wear several hats, especially at the beginning when you don't have the funds to delegate certain tasks. Often you'll have to learn how to do things that are not in your zone of genius, such as marketing or accounting. Learning new skills, developing an audience, crafting the perfect offer... these things take time. In business, there is no such thing as "getting rich quick", despite what too many marketing gurus want you to believe so you can buy their courses and coachings.
To develop patience, you can try meditation, or start a hobby that require you to use your hands and focus on the same thing for a long period of time, such as drawing or DIY.
- Learn to manage your time
Every time I work with new entrepreneurs who used to work in corporate jobs for years, I notice that one of their biggest struggles is time management. When you work in an office, your schedule is dictated by your company and your coworkers. When you start working for yourself, all of a sudden, nothing forces you to be at the office at a certain time or to eat at certain hours, and it can be extremely destabilizing. Being the master of your own time is great, but it's not easy. You'll need to learn how to set up routines and time management strategies in order to work effectively and productively. You'll also have to get rid of the idea that productivity is tied to the number of hours you put in! It's perfectly okay to work on the task just for two hours, and give yourself permission to rest or do something fun. After all, one of the perks of being an entrepreneur is to be your own boss, right?
As you can see, none of these six things I mentioned have anything to do with marketing, selling or business strategy. Because here’s the harsh truth: we can read all the books and listen to all the podcasts that will teach us how to create a successful business. But if our mindset is not in the right place, we will always find a way to sabotage our success.
