In the opening blog for this success habit series, I shared that being an entrepreneur has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.  It’s also been one of the most rewarding.  

My start as an entrepreneur was not easy.  

If I’m honest, I didn’t decide to be an entrepreneur; I decided to make a change in my life and fell into being an entrepreneur.  

I wasn’t prepared for the emotional roller coaster.  I didn’t anticipate that being an entrepreneur would bring all my self-doubt and insecurities to the surface.  

This is why mindset is one of my success habits.  

 

Don’t do it alone.

The first thing that surprised me when I made the transition was how lonely it was to be an entrepreneur.  I came from a corporate environment where I had colleagues to bounce ideas, discuss challenges, and brainstorm ways to handle staff issues.  Suddenly, I was alone.  

I felt in over my head and had no one to talk to.  

I was setting goals but missing deadlines and struggling.  The only one who knew was me.  They were my goals and deadlines, after all.  So I’d revise my plans and move on.  

It wasn’t until I joined a program where we learned productivity tools, set goals, and had mentors that I started to find my footing.  I realize now that that program allowed me to connect with like-minded people who were also struggling.  It also had built-in accountability.  

My recommendation, join an accountability group or work with a coach.  Find a community to get support, help, and accountability.  

The power of the unconscious

I’ve already mentioned that one of my challenges was how loud my inner critic got. 

I remember that we had to do an inventory count on the first day of taking over the business we had purchased.  I’m a designated accountant and have done inventory counts as part of my co-op. 

So, I started the count. 

I found product that was in stock but needed to be added to the inventory list.  I brought it to the seller’s attention, who told me I was doing inventory wrong. 

Instead of standing up for myself, I turned inwards and did it his way. 

The seller was to coach me on the business for a few months after the sale.  Within weeks, I felt incompetent and small.  I stopped all consulting hours with him, but the damage was done.  I was already experiencing self-doubt. His actions just added fuel to the flame. 

It would be years before I started to dive into personal development.  Years before I learned how our unconscious controls 90% of what we do and our unconscious is filled with all our beliefs, including the beliefs we built when we were young. 

It wasn’t until I started working on my inner self that I would shed those beliefs and get stronger. 

Today, I regularly reach out for support to clear beliefs that don’t serve me, adjust strategies that don’t work, and more. 

I believe in systems and processes, but I believe they will only get you so far.  To get to the next level, you must clear up the noise that holds you back.  

Set yourself for success

I have the most success in my day and week when I start the day right. 

This means waking up and setting my mindset right first. 

I do this through a morning routine; I call victory morning.  

In my routine, I do things to support my mind, body, and soul. 

I do personal development, journal and meditate, and a little workout.  I then get ready for my day.  Once I’m at my desk, I set my intentions for the day and determine my top 3 objectives. 

I then get to work. 

This practice helps me start the day knowing I took care of my inner leader first.  I start the day by clearing out the noise, putting the right mindset in place, and feel empowered to tackle the day. 

My process will not be your process.  The key is to find what will work for you and your schedule.  Maybe yours will be an evening process, or it will be broken up over the day. 

Whatever works for you, do that.  But I recommend you find a process that allows you to get into the right mindset at the start of the day. 

Improving my mindset has made a massive difference in my success and, most of all, my resiliency. 

What do you do to help your mindset?  

I think anything is possible if you have the mindset and the will and desire to do it and put the time in.

Roger Clemens

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