Becoming the Real Deal – Part IV

Never before has there been a time so ripe with potential for those of entrepreneurial spirit. We have educational resources–more than we can use in a lifetime–only a click away. We can find and connect with like-minded individuals around the globe in seconds, using 140 characters or less. Fertile ideas are lying around everywhere, any of which can grow at any moment, given the right nurture and the right conditions.

It is the first time in history that we do not have to ask permission to create.

Thomas Edison said,

“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

Many are still waiting for permission to become the Real Deal. Some are waiting for the foolproof formula, some waiting to complete the next perfect webinar, some for an experienced mentor to tell them exactly how to do it. They want someone to hand them magic pixie dust that makes stuff happen.

I hate to tell you. There is no magic pixie dust. No one has it. No one sells it. Even if you had a magic formula, you would only know it after the magic happened. Going forward? It is always crap shoot.

The real potential–the real magic that will make things happen? Is found right between your ears. It lies in how you think. Our businesses become a reflection of what goes on inside our heads. Truly the largest obstacle in entrepreneurship is not found in our circumstances, not the economy, not in perfect cash flow, but in our self-talk.

When you wake up in the morning, what do you say to yourself about the day? What voices crowd your thinking? What voices might be hindering you? Who or what is forming your path? Remember many of the voices in our heads are coming from outside our heads.

Your worldview is how you think–how you view reality. Your worldview informs your behavior and determines whether you feel confident, whether you feel the world is a safe place, and how well you connect with other people. It does not fashion our experience but interprets the experience for us. The voices in our heads are a formidable force. We behave according to what we believe. It is important to test the veracity of these messages and know where they come from.

It has been said a gazillion times that if you want to become the Real Deal, you need to change how you think. Think and grow rich, right? Visualization is and old technique and not without merit. But even if you can imagine your perfect skinny self, your bathroom scale does not lie. Even if we can imagine ourselves wealthy, our bank statement does not lie.

There has to be a better way to create our desired reality, and tame our inner beast. Here are three good ways to train those scary creatures:

Get some perspective. If you talked to your best friend the way you talk to yourself, would you have a best friend? Would your best friend say you were dumb? Would your best friend say that you are a loser because you did not win the contract? Of course not. You could be sabotaging your own success. Step out of your head for a moment and get some perspective. Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself as you would talk to your best friend.

Know that action precedes feeling. So you do not feel brave. Welcome to the Club. (I am Weanie Club President. If you only knew how far I have come, you would be compelled to send fan mail and donations to my address here.) In 1880, William James was one of the first psychologists to discover that our emotions follow our behavior and not the other way around. (Lest you think he is old school, know that his two-volume tome The Principles of Psychology is still required reading for students in behavioral science.) His favorite way of putting this phenomenon was,

“You do not run from a bear because you are afraid of it, but rather become afraid of the bear because you run from it.”

In other words, if you want to be brave, do the things that brave people do. You will find more courage. If you want to be more loving toward that certain person that irritates your socks off, do the things that loving people do. You will find that you at least like them a little more than you did before.

Change your focus. Stop setting yourself up for failure. Setting realistic goals is tough enough. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the immensity of the mountain we must climb, and we get stuck at base camp. James Clear has written a marvelous article teaching us to focus not on the end goal, but on the daily habits that make the end goal possible. Not only can you be successful in this approach, but it is sustainable even after you reach your goal. Inch by inch, everything is a cinch. 

You, the entrepreneur, are the biggest asset in your business. Don’t wait for the alchemy of success. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to be all you can be. Success is not found in wishful thinking, but in taking action, even if it is only small steps each day.

Pay attention to your inner beasts. Take care of them, harness them, and train them into action. They will empower you to be ready for every opportunity, and in turn, help you become the Real Deal.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

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Why do we at etc!graphics inc, a graphic design company, care about your business strategies?  Because no matter how beautiful we make your visuals, your graphics will never make more sense than the clarity of your own vision. The clearer your target, the more lucid your marketing will be, and the better connection your visual graphics will make with your target customer. We want to help you become the best you can be. Join us all this month as we share ways to help your small business sustain and grow in a crowded marketplace. Etc!Graphics is devoted to helping you, the small business owner, think like a marketer.