As soon as I started experiencing some success in business, I got my first hate email, my Imposter Syndrome started rearing it’s ugly head and I was starting to lose confidence in myself. This was in spite of the outward success I was having.
I used to think I was crazy, but the more I coach business owners the more I realize that this is actually quite common. The reality is our minds are our own worst enemies as we build a business (or do anything of importance). That’s why it’s important that we actively work on creating a mindset for success.
I’ve also noticed that overcoming these uncomfortable feelings doesn’t require huge sweeping changes but rather small tweaks. Here are three small ways you can tweak your mindset for success.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Having a good sense of humor is just one small tweak you can make to cultivate a mindset for success. For example, in that hate email I got earlier this year, the sender called me just another sleazy internet marketer trying to take people’s money.
For example, in that hate email I got earlier this year, the sender called me just another sleazy internet marketer trying to take people’s money. Obviously, I know this isn’t true. So what did I do? I made it my Halloween costume and put it on Instagram.
This did a couple things. First, it made me feel better because I was having fun with my costume. I mean, I looked absolutely ridiculous with money taped all over my blazer while I threw fake dollar bills in the air. I got a good laugh out of it and so did my social media followers.
Second, I turned it on it’s head and used it for my own marketing. I used it as an opportunity to teach business owners how to deal with haters. Win win.
Practice gratitude.
Another great way to tweak your mindset for success is to practice gratitude. In fact, on the days when I’m not feeling remotely confident, gratitude is the only thing that pulls me out of the funk.
One thing I’ve done is to create a running list of things I’m grateful for about myself and my business. I also list off any accomplishments I’ve had. Whenever I feel like I’m in a funk, I take the list out and review it.
While this sounds completely cheesy, it works. Sometimes we literally have to remind ourselves of the great work we’ve already done in order to continue moving forward.
Find the lesson in failure.
They say that the only difference between people who are successful in business from those that aren’t is that successful people fall nine times and get up 10.
One of the reasons they are able to do this is because they don’t spend too much time dwelling on failure. Instead, the make an effort to find the lesson in the failures and move on.
While this is not an easy thing to do when you’ve fallen flat on your face, find the lesson in the failure does soften the blow because you stop pitying yourself.
In fact, if there’s just one way to tweak your mindset for success that will make the most impact, it’s probably this one simply because failure is inevitable.
