A unique mindset. It is this one most important trait that sets entrepreneurs apart from every one else. Entrepreneurs are passionate, dedicated, and they think outside the box. These unique traits aren't something we are born with. However, all of us, with some effort, can develop the mindset needed to become a successful entrepreneur. If that is your goal, consider these tips:
Face Challenges, See Opportunities
Entrepreneurs see fear as a challenge. In fact, to be an entrepreneur, you need to love challenges. Facing down challenges is how you grow and successful business people know this. All challenges are simply new opportunities. They are opportunities to grow yourself, and opportunities to grow your business.
If you’re new to this, then take baby steps and move just a little outside your comfort zone bit by bit. Try to remember the first time you got up and gave a presentation or sang in front of other people. It might have been terrifying at first, but once you'd done it a number of times, it wasn’t so bad. So when you are faced with a challenge, embrace it and step into the opportunity it presents!
Learn from Everything
Entrepreneurs see absolutely everything as a learning experience. This includes both successes and failures. To start something new means you have to embrace both the wins and the losses. It goes with the territory. In fact, it is the losses that teach you much more than your successes do. When you fail, you can analyze the failure and figure out what went wrong so that you can do it right the next time. A successful person gets their ego out of the way. They know that if a launch flops, it's another opportunity to grow.
Focus on Problem Solving
Entrepreneurs focus on solving problems. When one thing doesn't work, entrepreneur's adapt, learn, and try something else. This is how they're able to create such great products and services. It is also how they grow profitable businesses. They listen to people and grasp the challenges they're facing, and then get to work looking for solutions. A customer facing a problem will happily pay for a product or service that solves it. When one way to market their business doesn't pan out, the entrepreneur examines why and develops a more effective solution. The mindset of a successful entrepreneur is the mindset of a problem-solver.
Network All the Time and Everywhere
A successful business owner needs to know many different people in many different fields. These valuable contacts can offer you their expertise and help when you need it.
For this reason, entrepreneurs talk to everyone everywhere they go and see every person as a potential contact. This includes people outside of their industry. You never know what kind of person might be valuable to know. If you want to grow your business, get in the habit of getting out of your orbit and meeting new people.
Think Beyond the Weekly Paycheck
Workers are used to being paid for their time or what they produce, but entrepreneurs take a longer-term view. An entrepreneur doesn't work for their pay. They build on a dream and work in the development of a system that generates revenue to see that dream become a reality. In order to be an entrepreneur, you have to break out of the "working for pay" mindset.
Embrace the Risk
Entrepreneurs, by nature, are risk takers. This doesn't mean they take foolish or uncalculated risks. But with great intuition and market research, they embrace the unknown.
The truth is that nothing in life is free from risk. The hourly worker could lose their job tomorrow. Truthfully, we may not even have a tomorrow. (Okay, that is morbid. But it is true!) Anything can happen to any of us. The successful entrepreneur knows this and embraces the risk inherent in life to push into something new and live their dream.
Action, Not Words
Finally, entrepreneurs take action. Of course, they have to plan and they plan very well, but when it's time to act, they can act decisively. An entrepreneur knows that you learn as you get out there and do it, not as you sit at a desk.
If you want to learn how to build a successful business from the bottom up, check out my Systems Business Coach® small business development program. In this program I'll come alongside you and help coach you through each step of launching a profitable small business. Find out more about my full coaching program for small business entrepreneurs here: www.bbleadercoach.com.