There are so many challenges entrepreneurs face daily making it seem like owning your business is more of a grind than its worth. These issues many times are issues of mindset. Paraphrasing the old adage that if you change your mindset you’ll change your outcomes is a cliché, but in all clichés, there is a nugget of truth, so with that in mind here are seven different ways you can stay positive as an entrepreneur:
Make Time for Yourself: Many entrepreneurs throw themselves so fully into their business they lose a sense of identity. Make sure you’re spending time doing things you love. This reduces your stress level and allows you to refocus on your business. Furthermore, by spending time for yourself you get that endorphin rush when returning to your business – a.k.a. the chemically positive mindset.
Solve Small Problems First: Look, increasing your revenues and growing by a certain percent are certainly lofty goals and you should go for them. However, many entrepreneurs wrap themselves in these goals and the problems with achieving them. Solve the small problems first. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment if you’re able to return a customer phone call and resolve their issue. Also, little problems make big problems, so if you put out these small fires as they arise, you’ll never get the big inferno.
Thought Replacement: A great technique used by all types of professionals is to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. For example, if you start thinking about how you’ll never get growth, replace that thought with something positive – for example how much fun it was when you helped an employee solve a customer’s problem. Eventually, this action will become reflexive.
Surround Yourself with Positive People: This seems really basic, but if the people around you in your personal and professional life are cynics, you’re going to succumb to negativity. Get around excited people ready to help your company move forward. These people are ready to move your business forward because they are solution-oriented while others are just interested in finding problems.
Write Down Your Goals: These should be small goals and large goals. This will help you stay on track and always have something to work for. Many entrepreneurs get lost in the weeds of the business, but when you have goals to aspire towards, you’ll find that your mindset is solely focused on getting the job done, not the problems you’re facing.
Engage in Professional Development: Many people hate these seminars, but when you find people in a similar industry, these seminars are stimulating if you go there with the mindset that you’ll learn something. Plus, networking with other professionals means that you now have a larger customer base along with people to bounce ideas off of. Fresh voices always center the mind.
Reflect on Your Success: In many businesses, most people lose sight of what they do well because they’re trying to fix things they don’t do well. Fight this urge! Make a list of your successes, reflect on what you’ve done well. Again, you’re going to cause a rush of endorphins – the chemical of the positive mind. By doing this you’ll reinforce your skills and abilities so that you’re always ready to take on the next challenge.
Keeping a positive mindset is imperative for all entrepreneurs. Make sure that you always work in a positive state. Your attitude determines your success just as much as your actions on a daily basis. Stick with this list, and you’ll keep your mind where it needs to be.
“Remember that it is up to you to choose everyday to Get off Your Attitude and to create a positive lifestyle for yourself and others.”
Ryan C. Lowe
