Maintaining Your Business Mindset

Recently I was interviewed by Karen Williams of Self Discovery coaching, during which we spent considerable time discussing success and how it correlates to ones mindset.
Mindset intrigues me, Earl Nightingale said “We become what we think about”. So understanding how to adopt and maintain a positive business mindset is critical to our success- why? Because its one of the biggest factors that prevents many business women from marketing themselves effectively.

It was about three years ago that I first heard the term ‘business mindset’, mentioned by one of my mentors - it really made me sit up and listen as I heard her explain,
“The difference that really makes the difference between women who run their businesses successfully and those who have some intermittent success is their business mindset……….”
“……..It’s their attitude or approach to running their business that really makes the significant difference.”
She continued to describe this as the difference between those who ‘play at having a business’ and those who go out there and really make it happen. It was the bit about those who ‘play’ at business that struck a chord with me. I was guilty, I hadn’t taken things a seriously as I could’ve up until then, coming from a back ground in education I had little business knowledge and I had hoped that I would meet a few contacts thorough networking, they would refer me to friends and colleagues and my business would take off, I’d do a little bit of advertising (in all the wrong places I might add) and that would be sufficient.

So when my mentor talked about investing time, effort and money right from the start I knew I had to go back to basics, review my business plans, at least I had them! And start over like a professional not an amateur.
Every business decision you make today will affect your business tomorrow, with this in mind let me share with you my top 3 tips for creating a business mindset.

1. Start with the end in mind. You have to know where you are going if you are ever going to get there and to do this you need to think strategically and plan, plan, plan. Ask yourself, what specifically you are trying to create. Yes, you might have a great vision for your business but something I find that frequently gets overlooked is that you are ultimately in business to make a profit. Are you choosing to ‘play’ at being in business and just making a little extra pocket money or are you taking this venture seriously? Jot down your thoughts.

2. Act strategically. Why are you doing precisely what you do? Are you going with the flow just because everyone else appears to be? Or are you deciding what actions to take to bring you the best results? Every action you take needs to be focused.
You need to clearly define the results you are aiming for and question the choices are you making. Don’t just go along to the next networking event because you feel you ‘should’ or ‘ought’ to. Instead go along with a clear objection in mind, think of your actions strategically, otherwise you could be leaving money on the table. Ask yourself these questions.
Is this action good use of my time?
Are the actions I am taking leading to new clients or a financial reward?
Will this activity lead to where I ultimately want to go?

3) Learn from your mistakes. We all make them, take Thomas Edison and his famous experiments to invent the electric light bulb as an example. He didn’t perceive his copious attempts as failures but as advancements towards his ultimate goal.
What a powerful mindset to have?
Model Edison's approach and you will achieve so much more. So make new mistakes, but refrain from making the same mistakes and celebrate your successes.