Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset?
Michael Gerber, the author of “The EMyth Revisited, is quoted as saying, “The entrepreneur is our visionary, the creator in each of us. We’re born with that quality and it defines our lives as we respond to what we see, hear, feel, and experience. It is developed, nurtured, and given space to flourish or is squelched, thwarted, without air or stimulation, and dies.”
Mr. Gerber’s belief is that we’re born with the quality of an entrepreneur. There are many arguments for and against this idea as many people believe that entrepreneurs are made. In other words, not everyone is born with the innate ability to be an entrepreneur, yet by application of certain principles, as well as cultivating the desire to be an entrepreneur it is possible to achieve this goal.
There’s an essential point to note in Mr. Gerber’s description. Even though one may be born with the quality, it has to be developed, nurtured and given space to flourish. And we would add that for the entrepreneur to create a successful business she has to also create the entrepreneurial mindset. The bottom line in that extrinsic qualities, though valuable, cannot be the only factors in the development of the business. The thought processes; the mindset has to be trained so that the intrinsic part of the brain supports the activities that make the whole.
We should also bear in mind that many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs had to learn along the way and develop the characteristics to become successful.
Whether you have an existing business or are looking to launch a new venture, one of the most important priorities is how to develop and strengthen your entrepreneurial mindset. Here are six habits to help you cultivate the mentality of a successful entrepreneur.
6 Ways to Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Have a Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude means being able to see things in perspective and choosing to frame things in a positive way. The right attitude embraces challenges. It means you are always looking for the lessons you can learn from the challenges you face.
Learn from Failure
Disappointments and failure can be challenging to deal with, but they also present an excellent opportunity for you to learn from your mistakes. Rather than being ashamed of the mistakes you’ve made, look for the lessons in your mistakes. When you learn from your mistakes, you are given the opportunity to grow stronger. As you embrace the lessons you learned from failing, you’re able to dissect them and use them to make you become even stronger.
Embrace Your Uniqueness
Successful entrepreneurs embrace their uniqueness and seek to stand out from the crowd. When you celebrate the things that make you and your company unique, you can begin to differentiate yourself from your competitors. You never want to be a clone of another business. Take the time to learn what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong. Avoid the things that are wrong and discover how you can do even better. At the same time, you want to identify the gap so you can fill it in your unique style.
Always be Learning
The quickest way for your business to become stagnant is to reject new ways of thinking. To cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset, you have to have an unending appetite for learning new things and improving your skills. By embracing new theories, new technology, and new practices, you can expand your capabilities and grow your business.
Set Appropriate Goals
Another way you can continue to push yourself forward is by setting appropriate goals. You need to make sure that the quality of your goals is high. It is also critical that you follow through once you set them. Remember that goal-setting is only the first step. The real value is in goal-accomplishment.
Pace Yourself
Successful entrepreneurs are defined by patience and perseverance. As an entrepreneur, you have a lot to accomplish if you want to find success, but continually pushing yourself will only set you up for failure.
The most successful entrepreneurs take the time to nurture the entrepreneurial mindset to ensure that they are positioned for success.
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In my Special Report, “5 Common Reasons ‘Passion to Profit’ Businesses Fail and What To Do Instead,” I cover the importance of embracing the “Entrepreneurial Mindset.” Following is an excerpt:
“…This is different from having the basic knowledge and understanding of business. The mindset of an entrepreneur has to become a part of who you are. Over the years, I have come to appreciate that there are some simple, yet significant qualities that successful entrepreneurs possess. These include: Visionary/creative, Passionate/driven, Courageous, Action taker, Risk taker
You may already be great at building relationships and love yourself so that you can love others. The difference is that these will no longer be optional. They are qualities you’ll need on a daily basis, and whereas in the past they were made within the confines of your family or an organization with established rules, you will now be on your own.”
Totally agree, Emmanuel. And not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur either
They prefer to be employees and that’s perfectly fine.
and that’s perfectly fine, thank you Yvonne.
I agree with every point made in this post. i would also like to add that entrepreneurship is not for everyone
Love this, Yvonne! Thank you! I agree with so many principles. Thank you for this!💖
Thank you, Darlene. I’m delighted you enjoyed the article and relate to many of the principles mentioned.