Being an entrepreneur sounds flashy, doesn’t it? To intrepidly chart your course, work for yourself and break through the mold to provide something unique to the market is the poster board image of an entrepreneur. However, the public rarely sees the winding road along the way, and the insight David Azzato can offer is more important now than ever before.
If
you’re an entrepreneur, your path will likely be fraught with ups and
downs, moments of delight and
frustration, and periods of conviction and doubt. But one
characteristic that is a constant for all entrepreneurs is their
tenacity — entrepreneurs keep going.
Easier said than done, right? Let’s look at some of the ways to maintain an entrepreneurial mindset through any stage of business.
Revisit
Your Roots
As
your business grows, anything and everything pops up to get your
attention. This new logo here, customer outreach there, product
assessment, marketing, hiring — the list can go on and on.
However,
for an entrepreneur to have the focus and fuel to realize the highest
potential and go the long haul, they must answer: “Why?” Why are
you providing this service? Why are you making this product? Why are
you bringing this idea to the market?
In
other words, what is your motivation for doing what you’re doing?
As
tasks, responsibilities and other facets of the business get your
attention, it’s imperative to return to the “why” from time to
time and assess whether you’re still in line with that motive. If
you’re not, you have two choices. The first is to adjust your
actions to realign with this motive, and the second is to tweak your
motive.
Neither is wrong; finding your way back to the fire that got you started in the first place is great. However, redefining your motive as you’ve learned and grown in your business also makes a lot of sense. David Azzato says that whatever the case may be, articulating and focusing on why this entrepreneurial pursuit is important to you will help you maintain the clarity to trail blaze further.
Manage
Your Time and Avoid the Busy Trap
The
most crucial currency an entrepreneur has is time. With harnessed
time, the entrepreneur can channel their creativity, ingenuity, and
grit into bringing an idea to life. Without time, an idea stays an
idea.
Therefore,
take a look at how you’re spending your time. What takes up the
most time? What area needs more time? Should you begin your workday
earlier, or would it benefit you to start a little later?
Most
importantly, where is your time being drained? Are you needlessly
pouring time into non-essential tasks?
Entrepreneurs
thrive on getting things done; however, sometimes, the things you’re
getting done aren’t necessary. The jolt of accomplishment propels
you to keep completing non-essential tasks, which leads to the busy
trap — you’re caught in a cycle of “accomplishment” but
ultimately not progressing.
Step
back and see where your time is being allocated and how it can be
optimized. A shift in time allotment may be the crucial adjustment
that recalibrates your mindset and frees you to reach the next level.
Cultivate
Optimism
There
is a range of interpretations when it comes to the term “optimism.”
Some people see optimism as naiveté, blinding an individual to the
reality of a situation, particularly when challenges or difficult
conditions are present.
This
is not the optimism being referred to here. An entrepreneur should be
realistic and honest with circumstances. However, an optimist is not
defined by those adverse circumstances but instead will choose to
look for a way through them.
In other words, a pessimist looks for the “cannots,” while an optimist looks for the “hows.”. David Azzato underlines how important it is to get out of this mindset.
Whatever
the season, entrepreneurs benefit greatly from leaning into optimism.
Rather than looking for why you can’t do something, harness the
creativity and skill that got you this far. How can this obstacle
benefit you and your business? How can you grow personally and
professionally from it? What are some other options for going through
or around this challenge?
Difficulties
will arise and confront your resolve as an entrepreneur; an
optimistic spirit will give you the energy to look for opportunity in
any valley.
Finding
the Adventure in the Job
When
your new idea first struck, everything was a rush. Perhaps the
business took off quicker than you could handle, and you felt
excitement and energy as you had to catch up to it. The
entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well, and the flourishing of
your idea felt like an adventure.
Then
monotony may have set in. Best practices were established, processes
were implemented, and routine became the norm. Where did the
adventure go?
Well,
it’s always there for you to uncover. The entrepreneur mindset is one
of innovation, challenge, novelty, and discovery. Though the early,
exciting days might be gone, it’s up to you if the most exciting days
are yet to come.
Try
new things and inspire team members to do the same. Cultivate an
environment of sharing ideas. Encourage bending the rules — safely
and ethically — and questioning the norms.
Being
intentional about maintaining a workplace of adventure and
possibility will help to fan the flames of entrepreneurship.
Radically
Change One Thing
A
company anchored by an entrepreneurial spirit is comfortable with
discomfort and risk.
When
you were first starting out, your path and terrain were relatively
unknown. You had to take chances and become used to not knowing what
would and wouldn’t work. You had to be nimble, learn and adapt —
time and time again.
David Azzato also says that if you want to keep the fire of entrepreneurship burning, you have to keep discomfort and risk prevalent. So, today, radically change one thing. Banish meetings for a week. Add thirty minutes to everyone’s lunch break for the rest of the month. Commit to doing one good deed for one co-worker every day. Have an afternoon where everyone works together, but without computers or smartphones.
Shake
things up, and make sure you feel a bit uncomfortable with the
change. Maybe it will spark a feeling from “back in the day.”
Trust
Someone Else’s Hands
One
of the biggest risks you can take as an entrepreneur is to let go.
You love to be in control and steer the ship, but an entrepreneur’s
responsibility is to ensure the products and services are provided
accurately and that customers are delighted. Sometimes, the best
thing you can do is delegate an important task to someone else.
This
can have a powerful effect on the business and your entrepreneur
mindset. First off, your co-worker will hopefully be the best person
for the job. You have your strengths, but so does everyone else.
Ideally, you’ve surrounded yourself with people that compliment you
and make the business better.
Secondly,
this delegation fosters a collective entrepreneurial spirit. You’ve
encouraged a team environment and challenged someone to rise to the
occasion and try something new. This generates excitement and trust.
Lastly,
you’ve encouraged an entrepreneurial mentality on a personal level.
You’ve let go of the reins and thrown yourself into uncertainty.
Delegation
is one of the most powerful entrepreneurial decisions you can make.
In collaboration with the right people, your business can reach
heights beyond the reach of just yourself, all while riding the
exciting wave of the entrepreneur’s mindset.
Make
Sure You’re in the Right Circles
You’ve
heard it time and time again: you are the product of those with whom
you spend your time. Whether you like it or not, the people who
surround you have a very significant impact on who you are.
Spend
your time with optimistic, dedicated, and encouraging people, and
you’re more apt to be propelled towards positivity. Surround yourself
with individuals who criticize, mope and find excuses and you’ll
likely be limited in your growth.
Assessing
and adjusting with whom you spend your time can have a massive effect
on your entrepreneurial mindset. Maybe someone on your team is
fixating on problems rather than opportunities. Have a conversation
with that individual and see if they’d be willing to grow out of
these energy-depleting habits. If they’re ultimately not a match
for the positive environment you’re aiming to cultivate, it may be
time to part ways.
This review of the people in your life goes beyond the workplace, according to Mr. Azzato. Maybe you need to set up healthy boundaries with certain family members. Perhaps a particular friendship is currently toxic and needs to be addressed.
Take
a good, hard look at the circles in your life and emphasize those
that lift you rather than those that bring you down.
Find
a Mentor
Wherever
you are in your enterprise, someone’s been there and done that.
Sure, they didn’t have your exact set of circumstances, but they
experienced something parallel and have accumulated knowledge and
wisdom.
Search
for mentors who can offer insight, guidance, and encouragement on
your path. They may have the exact advice you need when facing a
particular problem, or they might inspire you to proceed in a new
direction.
An
unbiased individual with a wealth of experience can help you grow and
challenge you to maintain an entrepreneur’s spirit. When things
come full circle, you may one day find that you’re the mentor to a
burgeoning entrepreneur.
Take
Inventory of Your Consumption
Everyday messages are competing for space in your mind, major entrepreneurs like David Azzato have to deal with an influx of messages every singe day. TV, movies, books, advertisements, social media, and music constantly tell us what to believe and how to be. Being wary of the messages you receive and cutting out those that don’t serve you can do wonders for your mindset.
What
are you taking in regularly? How does what you consume make you feel?
Are you being inspired, or is your spirit being dampened?
Take
inventory of your consumption and isolate that which doesn’t build
you up. Then, replace those negative sources with an encouraging book
on entrepreneurship, an inspiring film, or an uplifting song.
Becoming
cognizant and more selective about what enters your mind is one of
the best things you can do to maintain an energetic entrepreneur
mentality.
Take
a Break
Sometimes
the best thing you can do to refocus yourself is nothing. That is,
choosing to do nothing. A deliberate break from the business or your
routine can do wonders for your mindset. Rest is critical for your
health and, therefore, your enterprise’s health.
Now,
rest can take many forms. Sufficient sleep should always be a top
priority for you, so if you’re sleep-deprived, re-energize by
sleeping first. Rest can also be going for a walk, taking a vacation,
watching a favorite television show, having tea with a friend, or
anything else that gives you a genuine boost.
Make
sure to take breaks to re-charge so you can give it your all when in
business mode.
Double
Down on Focusing
We
live in a world replete with distractions. There are e-mails, texts,
calls, social media, and broadcast media, but there’s also the
wandering mind wondering what the rest of the world is doing.
Specifically, what someone else in your field is doing.
Competition
within reason is a good thing, but envy and boasting only hold you
back. When your mindset shifts to the activity of others in a way
that hinders your success, double down on focus. Turn off
notifications, delete certain apps, and set other boundaries to
dedicate yourself without distractions to a task. This can be for a
few hours or for a much longer duration of time.
Rarely
do people dive into a project and remain there, attention undivided,
for a lengthy period. If you’ve been struggling with keeping an
entrepreneurial mindset lately, try radically turning off all the
noise and focus intently on your goals.
Care
for Your Body
This
may perhaps be the simplest point in this article, yet for many, one
of the most difficult ones to implement.
The
mind and the body are inextricably linked. If you’re eating well,
exercising regularly, and getting sufficient sleep, your mind is
given its best opportunity to think clearly and calmly. With a poised
mind, you’re able to be creative, nimble, and focused on your
entrepreneurial pursuits.
Conversely,
if you’re eating junk food, rarely being physically active, and are
consistently sleep-deprived, you are significantly keeping your brain
from operating at an optimal level. You may be sluggish, sleepy, and
unfocused, leading to a lack of motivation and inspiration.
Changing
how you treat your body may be the one adjustment in your life that
will make all the difference. Cut back on alcohol. Walk thirty
minutes a day. Double your consumption of vegetables. Commit to eight
hours of sleep a night.
Take
caring for your body seriously. You may be surprised how much easier
it is to nurture an entrepreneur’s mindset when you’re supporting
the brilliant machine that is your body.
Know
When to Chart a New Course
You are not your business. You are not one idea, one venture, or one pursuit. An entrepreneur is an innovator and a seeker, characterized by trying new things and charging forward into unknown terrain. David Azzato says this is one of the most important things for emerging entrepreneurs to learn.
If
you decide that you’ve arrived at the end of the road for a
particular project, leave it behind. Learn from the experience, chart
a new course, and progress. The entrepreneur’s mindset is not found
within any success or failure. It’s found within every step forward
you take.
So
pick a direction and keep on keepin’ on.
Share
Your Experiences
Ideas
and businesses come and go, but you as an entrepreneur remain.
Whether you’re just starting or have been retired for years, sharing
your experiences with others keeps the entrepreneur mentality at the
forefront.
As
you articulate your experiences to others, you’ll reflect on how
you navigated your course and gain new insights. Others will have
questions for you and want to share their experiences as well. These
conversations encourage you to dive into the ups and downs of each
other’s unique entrepreneurial paths. You may even be inspired to
embark on a new adventure.
The
entrepreneur’s mindset is alive, well, and vibrant in today’s world.
If you ever doubt that, just find another entrepreneur to talk to.