How entrepreneurial thinking can help you in everyday life

As I stepped out of my corporate shadow I got hit by a wave people calling themselves entrepreneurs. Everyone in this new world seemed to be one. Wow, is there really that many I thought to myself. Are they really that successful I wondered.

I used to think being an entrepreneur was about being a Dragon in a Den, or having success factors of Richard Branson. I didn’t associate the concept with everyday people just trying to do their thing.

The official definition of entrepreneur is ‘ a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit’. So, entrepreneurship is not about the outcome of the action, the success, but the intention of the action, the hope of success. I like that the offical definition includes hope. Because, as much as you can plan, have the best teams around you, you also need a lot of luck and perfect timing. Hope helps you get through the days when things aren’t. going to plan.

Three years down the road and I’m in a different place. Being an entrepreneur is much more than a grand title. It’s an attitude and a way that things get done. And that attitude and approach can be used in everyday life. So entrepreneurial thinking isn’t exclusive for the 5% super successful in this world, it’s an attitude that anyone can adopt to make life a bit better.

These are some of the things I’ve learnt since starting venturing into this new world

1. Working on your business, rather than being in your business

You hear this one a lot. And it makes sense. (Even though it can be slight irritant to hear over and over). How much time do you get lost in the doing and delivering without looking up and around to check in on what you should be doing. That’s you being in your business. You aren’t giving yourself space to think about, what you are doing, why, where its heading - any long term thinking.

In your job, in your life, how connected with what you are doing do you feel? How much time do you take to check in - are you just in your job, doing it. Or are you spending time thinking about the bigger picture, where this is all going, why you do what you do, what you want out of it.

2. Reframing things that happen so that they are a learning opportunity

In the book Designing Your Life, Bill Burnett talks about reframing dysfunctional beliefs so that the things you believe just are, turn into a positive learning belief that can help you think differently about what is. By reframing things that happen to you, you begin to have a different perspective on your situation. You can reframe anything that happens.

“Dysfunctional Belief: To be happy, I have to make the right choice. Reframe: There is no right choice—only good choosing.” Bill Burnett

3. Playing big - from inner critic to inner mentor

In her book, Playing Big Tara Mohr talks about turning the inner critic into the inner mentor. So all that chat internally that is making you feel crap, or meaning you don’t do things, all the ‘I cants’ is your inner voice, which can be the critic that keeps you in place, keeps you safe, keeps you stuck. By using your inner voice as mentor you can begin to understand what is holding you back, so you can work on it and move forward.

Getting rid of the martyr inside us that thinks poor me, its unfair, the world is against me, who blames everybody else. And changing it into how can I grow, what can I do right now to make things better for me (and others) . That’s the inner mentor at work. And by changing that thought process you naturally step up. You start to play a big bigger than you did the day before.

4. Outsourcing and asking for help

You cant do everything yourself when you are starting a business. So you have to find ways for others to help you. It’s got to be part of the start up plan.

Knowing what you are good at, and what you are not good at and working in that frame of reference helps you move much quicker. You know what help you need and for what purpose. You know how much it’s worth to you.

So. Are you struggling through something thinking you need to have all the answers and find the solution on your own? Is there something that you just cant crack and things are getting stuck because of it. Maybe its time to get help.

There is someone out there to help you do anything and everything - you don’t need to struggle alone. Someone has already gone through that struggle and as a result now is ready to help you. So start asking for help and get things shifting quicker.

5. Seeing failure as part of the progression

Failure means you’ve tried something. That’s what entrepreneurs think. Failure means you’ve taken action, you now have experience and you’ve now got something that you can learn from. If you haven’t failed you haven’t tried.

When was the last time at work you were congratulated for failing? We are programmed that failure is shameful in organisations. The people who fail at things are seen as failures themselves. Time to reframe our view on failure!

6. Everything is about learning and growing and becoming stronger

You can always be learning, you can always grow. You have to invest time and energy into working on yourself. You have to consciously want to change, learn and grow. When you feel yourself slip into old habits, negative spin or moaning, you can catch yourself and work your way out of that feeling. It’s like constantly jumping back on the tread mill to keep yourself fit and alert. Noone is a complete piece of work, everyone is work in progress.

7. Using empathy can help you have a different perspective on how you feel

When someone is irritating you, causing you strife, making you feel bad, switch on your empathy to get a different perspective. Where are they coming from? Is this personal and about you, or is it about them? People’s behaviour is so much more about them. When you believe this it becomes easier to deal with people. If someone is rude to you perhaps they are having a bad day. If someone is late perhaps they slept in, because they’ve been awake all night, because they ar worrying about things. If someone hasn’t called you for a while, maybe they are going through a hard time and dont feel like they can talk at the moment. It’s not always about you - unless you are knob, then it’s totally about you - and then you need to do the work to unknob yourself.

8. Being kind and helping each other move up

Biggest thing I noticed. People really want to help you succeed in the entrepreneurial world. It feels like everyone is in it to help everyone else. I experienced huge kindness. People giving me their time, their knowledge and their contacts. And I try to do the same now. It’s all about passing it on and everyone helping each other move up. Collaboration is rife. It makes it fun. You meet amazing people. Kindness is king (and Queen). Wouldn’t it be a brilliant world if everyone in your organisation was in it for each other. And how ironic that in an organisation where you have nothing to loose by being kind and collaborating that you are encouraged not to. Politics is rife. And yet in the World where you can loose clients to others, where time is money, where you have our own shit to sort out - you feel kindness.

Just the beginning of the lessons learnt in this brave crazy world. I realise I could write a blog on all of those 8 points. And I’m sure there are plenty more lessons. Id love to hear your thoughts - please share in the comments below.

We can all be entrepreneurs, without taking risks with the hope of profit. We can be entrepreneurs of our life, taking actions, in hope of fulfilment!

Thank you for reading

Eleanor

Lets work together to help you start something new