Do you ever wonder how some entrepreneurs are able to quickly build thriving businesses and move from one success to the next? It seems all too easy for them.
I've found that the difference lies in their mindfulness: They have the same roadblocks and problems as anyone else, but break free from the things that hold them back by shifting their perspective.
Multiple businesses of mine have failed, and I've learned plenty of valuable lessons before I encountered successes that led up to founding my company. I truly believe that practicing incremental changes to my mindfulness -- not my expertise -- is what has helped lead me to work with top consumer brands and TV personalities. My advice for any struggling entrepreneur is to first focus on your mindset and, along with hard work, success will follow.
Here are nine ways to improve your happiness and chances of success:
- Change what you’re doing. Henry Ford once said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” When I'm experiencing failure, I challenge the approach. I analyze whether there was a problem with the execution to my original plan, and if the plan needs to be scrapped or if it simply needs to be improved. If you're not getting the result you want, try something different, even if you're uncomfortable with it. Humans have a natural resistance to change. You must realize this and push past it.
- Learn from everything. Every failure, mistake or problem -- no matter how small or catastrophic it may seem -- contains a valuable lesson. Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Focus on the failure. In 2014, I started a multi-day conference with speakers like Daymond John from ABC's Shark Tank and the incredible author and entrepreneur, Shane Snow. It ultimately failed. I was absolutely devastated. Once the dust settled, I sat down and wrote out 10 positive lessons I learned from the experience. One that I'll never forget is, "Every significant breakthrough was achieved because someone helped me. Ask for help more often."
- Understand the Law of Attraction. Whatever you believe to be true inside your mind, you’ll manifest on the outside. For years I constantly thought about, imagined and wrote down plans for forming a successful marketing agency. I believed in it down to my core. Holding that conviction -- and constantly repeating it in my mind -- was the first step to making it a reality. Positive affirmations and the Law of Attraction can align to create destiny. No matter how silly it may seem, practicing morning affirmations such as “My mind is brilliant, my confidence is strong” or “I will overcome all obstacles today” will keep these beliefs top of mind.
- Always create value. The more you give, the more you’ll get in return. As an entrepreneur, there's so much you can do for other entrepreneurs, such as providing feedback on ideas, introducing them to key contacts, etc. If you develop a reputation as someone who is there for people, you’ll be amazed at how people will find a way to help you in return. Receiving help from others has led to most of my largest breakthroughs as a founder. Ryan Rickert -- a close friend, serial entrepreneur and founder of PintPass -- has built a reputation as a resource and connector for entrepreneurs in his network. It's no surprise that his network helped connect him to MillerCoors and the MLB to set up a revolutionary stadium experience for baseball fans using their mobile app and text-a-beer feature.
- Practice gratitude. Relationships are everything. For a successful entrepreneur, gratitude is something you should communicate, especially to those who work with or for you. Let them know what a great job they are doing, and how important they are to you and to the success of your business. Gratitude also has many scientifically proven benefits.
- Practice self-confidence. The more you approve of yourself, the less you’ll need approval from others. The practice of emotional hygiene is essential when times get tough. Rather than beat yourself up for falling behind or failing, show yourself some compassion. Rebuild your self-esteem by telling yourself what you would tell a close friend: You will soon be back on top. It's only a failure if you do not learn and improve after experiencing a negative outcome.
- Realize that everything is connected. The situation you are in today is preparing you for tomorrow. Life is cumulative: You are the sum total of all your experiences up to this point. The same is true for your business. If you are going through some tough times or dealing with setbacks, think of it as preparation for your future success. You can learn lessons from the most bizarre places and situations if you look closely enough.
- Believe that there’s always a way. Things aren’t as bad as they seem. Michael Jordan once said, “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.” Panicking or giving up is never the answer. Stay calm, consider your alternatives, get advice from people you trust and seek out new ideas you hadn’t thought of before.
- Create your own destiny. What you make of your life is up to you. Only you can make a difference. The first step is knowing where you want to go and what you want to achieve. You need a goal, a long-term vision, so you can figure out the roadmap to get there. Ensure that all of your actions are a part of the roadmap to reaching your ultimate goal.
Understand that your success is facilitated -- or restricted -- by your thoughts and frame of mind. The key to achieving entrepreneurial greatness lies in your mindfulness.
