Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign hi there and welcome back to the Confessions from the Home Office podcast. I'm Wendy Hill and each week I bring an episode to you about marketing or stories about working from home. I've been working from home now, running my marketing agency for 20 years, so there's always a story to share.
[00:00:27] Today I want to share a few things about mindset, especially for business owners and especially for business owners who work from home.
[00:00:33] Whether you're just starting your business ownership adventure or you've been at this for a while now, having the right mindset can make all of the difference.
[00:00:42] And so what do we mean about mindset? You may be thinking, has Wendy been reading too many self help books recently?
[00:00:50] And I'll admit a few years ago I thought mindset was kind of woo woo, and maybe, maybe just a little out there, maybe we should just keep our head down and plug away. But then when you really start going through some things and you think about what works and what hasn't worked and what's helped move you forward and what hasn't, mindset's kind of that topic that keeps popping up.
[00:01:14] So if you say what really is mindset in simple terms, it's kind of all the beliefs and the thought patterns that shape how you perceive the world and how you respond to hard things.
[00:01:25] And when challenges come up, having a positive and growth oriented mindset is really important.
[00:01:32] I want to walk you through six key mindset shifts today that can lead to greater success.
[00:01:38] The number one is reframing failure as a catalyst for growth.
[00:01:44] So one of the biggest mindset hurdles many business owners face is the fear of failure. You know, those thoughts that creep into your head if you've had a rough conversation, a rough meeting, less sleep than you need to, or you're just kind of feeling rundown, We've all been there can really be paralyzing, preventing you from taking risk or trying new things. But what if you reframe that fear? And when I say reframe, like what if you look at it from another angle? What does that mean? Instead of viewing failure as a negative outcome, try to start seeing seeing it as something you can learn from and grow from instead of just kind of sitting around in the mess.
[00:02:21] So I was doing some research on some companies that have had problems in the past and ended up being really successful. And one of them is Airbnb.
[00:02:30] So the founders couldn't get any type of traction running out air mattresses in their apartment. The idea was kind of weird and seemed odd to people, and bookings were slow but instead of giving up, they talked to people, they got feedback, they improved their platform and they worked on their messaging and they even went door to door in New York taking professional photos for hosts to boost their listing quality.
[00:02:54] And they kept working and working and the persistence and the willingness to just adjust and make some changes turned in turn that idea that was really struggling into a global brand.
[00:03:05] Now I want you to think about your own business. Maybe you launched a new service, maybe you ran a promotion, maybe you opened another location or even opened a brick and mortar after you've been working from home and it just didn't perform the way it expected.
[00:03:20] That's not failure, that's really feedback. I want you to think about what worked, what didn't work, what and what you can improve.
[00:03:28] So growth often comes not from getting it perfect the first time, but being flexible and being open and not having blinders on trying to learn and learn quickly and trying it again with more clarity.
[00:03:44] The second mindset shift is going from. From I can't talk today. Going from perfectionism to good progress.
[00:03:54] So a lot of people get stuck in the trap of perfectionism. So thinking everything has to be completely flawless before they launch a product or service.
[00:04:04] And this really can lead to procrastination. And I want you to think about going from being perfect to progress. If you hear that noise in the background, my psycho printer just decided to start printing things from several days ago. So I apologize.
[00:04:20] I want you to think about a business owner who has a great app idea and they just keep delaying the release because they want it to be perfect.
[00:04:28] And if you can release something that works and works well and try to get feedback from users, this could make the app even go farther.
[00:04:40] I also want you to think about all these people who are out creating courses.
[00:04:45] So you know they may delay the launch because they need just one more module or are the graphics exactly the way they should be?
[00:04:53] Really? Will you have less of an impact by spending more time on things people probably won't even notice? I doubt it.
[00:05:01] I recommend that you set small goals instead of aiming to launch a huge perfect website.
[00:05:09] Maybe you just first launch a simple landing page and think, I did that. I checked it off. This helps you build momentum, gives you a little more confidence.
[00:05:20] You start to feel better when you start checking things off and give yourself deadlines. The worst thing you can ever say is, oh, after the holiday weekend, I'm going to dig back into it and get to it over the next couple of weeks. No, just carve out some time in the Next day or so and get it done.
[00:05:37] So here's the third mindset shift. Moving from isolation to connection.
[00:05:43] Working from home can feel really lonely, especially when you're a business owner and you're not part of a company team and you don't have regular people that you're checking with, checking in with all the time.
[00:05:54] I've had to work really, really hard at this. I've worked at home for years, clients to talk to. Of course, my children were here with me when it was just three of us living here.
[00:06:05] And so there was always something to do, always something going on.
[00:06:08] But you need a network of people you can talk with, ask questions to vent to here and there and just be there for each other.
[00:06:16] I've had to make building a network a priority because it's not something that naturally I want to do.
[00:06:23] That includes staying in touch with people, regularly, making new connections, and then staying in touch with those new connections.
[00:06:30] You really need to build a network and seek support, and it will give you some motivation and perspectives that you know you've needed.
[00:06:38] Every time I leave a coffee meeting or a lunch or happy hour with someone that I am friends with, I feel happier. My pace has picked up a little bit and I've learned something.
[00:06:50] And a lot of times I try to think, is there any way I can get out of this? Maybe I don't want to go. Maybe if I just stay here and work, that would be the best thing that I should do today. But when I make myself go, I always feel better. I'm just naturally more introverted than extroverted. And so this is something I've had to make myself do. And you would think, I have a podcast, I've had a business. How have I made this work? I've had to make myself do a lot of things. Once I start working with people, we have a great relationship. But getting out there and really putting myself out there to make those relationships and take the initiative of meeting new people and exploring new relationships, that's hard for me to do.
[00:07:32] So if you're thinking about, well, how can I do this?
[00:07:35] You know, I'm heads down working all day, or I'm busy just working with customers, how am I going to meet anybody else? You could join like an online forum. You could look at meetups online. You could look at eventbrite, you could attend webinars or workshops in your field. You could go to like a small statewide trade show, regional trade show.
[00:07:55] You're just really trying to figure out how to expand your circle.
[00:07:59] And one Connection can lead to a collaboration or, or a referral.
[00:08:04] And if so, if a client ever has an event and mentions it to you, even if it's something you're not working on and they ask you to go, go.
[00:08:11] You never know who you might meet.
[00:08:14] And I've met some good friends through social media and I know you think you could think that's crazy, you're just sending people dms. Well, if I follow someone and I see we have things in common or we're both liking the same things on Instagram and it's a consistent thing. I've sent people DMs before and I've met some really great friends locally and not locally that way.
[00:08:39] And locally I've met people for coffee, ended up with a couple of great friends and some more work. You just never know.
[00:08:46] So if you're struggling with this, send me an email. I'm happy to talk to you about it.
[00:08:51] The fourth mindset shift is going from a scarcity to abundance. A scarcity mindset is that belief that your resources, like your money, your clients, your opportunities, your time, everything's going away. It's limited, it's short supply. I'm going to lose all my clients, I'm not going to have any money to pay my bills next month.
[00:09:11] There are no more new business opportunities out there because of the economy. Those are the types of things with a scarcity mindset.
[00:09:17] When you're operating from this mindset, you might feel like everything is your only shot. This is my last chance to get a client this year. This is the last chance to increase my billings or you know that someone else's success means less success for you.
[00:09:33] And it kind of leads you to have these fear based decisions like I can't charge this much to this client, they'll never buy off on it, and then I won't have anything or I need to say yes to this, this potential client, even though I see a lot of red flags or I don't need to invest in this right now because I need to save that money for bills, when in reality there's probably not much of that going on.
[00:09:56] And what is the chance of you losing everything?
[00:09:59] A lot of times it's very slim.
[00:10:03] So at the other end of the spectrum is the abundance mindset. It's the belief that there are enough resources, opportunities and success to go around.
[00:10:12] Instead of operating from the fear or lack of something, you approach your business with confidence, you're generous, you have more of a long term perspective with things and you trust that your skills have value, that the right clients are going to come along when they need to, and growth is possible even if it's not going to be super fast.
[00:10:31] So that mindset will show up when you say things like, there's more than enough work for everyone in my industry and the right clients will value what I offer and be willing to pay for it.
[00:10:41] Or maybe it's something like I'm open to collaboration with others. It doesn't take away from my success.
[00:10:49] Their audience gets to learn about me and my audience gets to learn about them, and I think that's a great thing.
[00:10:56] Or maybe it's I'm going to invest my business in my business now and it's going to pay off down the road.
[00:11:02] When you have an abundance mindset, you make decisions from a place of clarity. You're clear about things and possibility and you're not in that panic anxiety mode.
[00:11:13] You price things confidently, you start to delegate strategically, and you get into a pattern of continuing to do that. And you pursue partnerships and opportunities that align with what you're wanting to do.
[00:11:25] And you stop comparing yourself to others and focus on what growth looks like for you.
[00:11:31] And But I'll tell you, this is hard to do when there's kids and bills and so many other things going on in your life.
[00:11:37] And it was tough when it was just the kids and me and single mom and everybody's depending on me.
[00:11:44] But I promise you, if you will slow down a little, breathe a little and realize everything's going to be okay, things will start to shift slowly.
[00:11:53] There is plenty of work out there for everyone, and I'm especially talking to the marketing people out there. Drive down one major road in your town. There's enough marketing clients for a handful of marketing consultants, I promise.
[00:12:08] So think about this. So let's just take for example, like two coffee shops. They might see each other as competition, but what if they collaborated on a community event? They could end up attracting more customers than they would eventually individually, and it could be a great thing for both businesses.
[00:12:25] Supporting others in your industry can benefit to you. Maybe you should share resources. Maybe you can cross promote each other's businesses.
[00:12:32] There's a group of women that if I see a LinkedIn post from them, I share it. If they put out a podcast episode or they're a guest on a podcast, I share it.
[00:12:43] Are they having an event or are they attending a big event and they're just wanting other people to know about it? I'll share it. Do they have a new course or some type of membership, I'll share it.
[00:12:53] And we even refer clients to each other if it's not a good fit for us.
[00:12:58] This doesn't just strengthen your network, but it just enhances your credibility overall.
[00:13:04] Now let's move on to the fifth mindset shift from fixed mindset to growth mindset.
[00:13:10] So I would say a fixed mindset is when you say I'm good at something or you're not good at something and that really won't change. So you might say, I'm just not good with numbers. And you never try to improve.
[00:13:22] And a growth mindset means that you can learn and get better with effort and practice. Instead of saying, I can't do this, say I'm not great at this yet, but I'm going to learn.
[00:13:33] One keeps you stuck, the other helps you grow.
[00:13:36] Imagine someone who says I'm just not good at marketing. But with a growth mindset, they would take that challenge as an opportunity to learn. Maybe they take an online course or they talk to an expert to improve their skills.
[00:13:49] And this also could be someone who says, I'm not good at looking at financial statements. But imagine if you spent an hour or two with someone who is really good with financial statements and they taught you some things and answered your questions.
[00:14:01] And maybe you watch some YouTube videos because I'm convinced you can learn just about anything on YouTube and maybe you read a book or two about it in just a few hours. You would know so much more than you did and that gives you confidence. Learning is lifelong once you re reach midlife. If you say there's nothing else to learn, I think you're sadly mistaken.
[00:14:22] So now let's talk about the six and the final mindset shift. And this is called taking the head trash up to the curb. Clearing negative thoughts.
[00:14:31] I really need you to think about clearing out negativity in your life. And I've read this for years. I'm like, this is just, this is just self help crap. I keep seeing this over and over, but it is so true.
[00:14:45] When you take the trash to the curb each week, if you have trash service, doesn't it feel great to get it out? And then when you know they take the trash away and those cans are empty and you will them back up at the house, it's like a new beginning. This is the same thing with negative thoughts and negative people. You really need to remove the mental clutter, the head trash that weighs you down.
[00:15:05] What are the negative thoughts? What is self doubt? Who are all the toxic and what are all the toxic influences in your life, they just build up over time and affect your motivation and your focus.
[00:15:17] So consider a situation where you're constantly surrounded by negative people. Maybe some of your closest friends or your families are not business owners, and they're just bringing you down. They're saying you're not going to succeed or something else sooner or later that can start to seep into your own beliefs. Instead, visualize taking out that mental trash. When you eliminate that, there's. There's not much that can hold you back.
[00:15:43] And I know we all carry a little head trash. So things from our childhood, things from past jobs, things from past relationships, unhelpful thoughts, doubts and fears pile up.
[00:15:55] And if you're tired, hungry, overstimulated, those things can be magnified.
[00:16:01] And it just makes it harder to focus, grow, and feel confident.
[00:16:05] So just like taking out the real trash helps keep your home clean, take out the mental trash, and it helps keep your mindset clear and strong.
[00:16:15] Here's how to do it.
[00:16:17] First is I want you to spot the trash.
[00:16:19] What are the kind of thoughts that show up when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, discouraged, tired?
[00:16:25] And I want you to ask, is this something that's helping me or is this something that's kind of keeping me stuck? And when I say these type of things to a friend, like the stuff I've said to myself before, I wouldn't say that to anybody I know, so why am I saying it to myself?
[00:16:41] I want you to replace the trash with truth. Once you spot it, whether you've had to write it down or you can just remember it, replace it with something more helpful, something that's honest.
[00:16:52] If you're like, I'm not good enough to do this, I'm learning more. I'm getting better every day. Just like what I was talking about a few minutes ago. When don't feel like you're stuck with something and this isn't being fake or the faking it till you making it. It's just shifting your mindset that keeps you from shutting down.
[00:17:11] I want you to think about how are you going to practice kind of a daily reset. Because just because you take out the head trash on Friday doesn't mean it's not going to creep back in on Saturday.
[00:17:21] Maybe you need to breathe. Maybe you need to close your eyes and take a cat nap. Maybe you need to pray. Maybe you need to jot down some things on a sticky note. Maybe you need to go to the gym. Maybe you need to take your dog for a walk. Whatever works best for you. But don't spiral down. Don't circle the drain and think about setting boundaries with all those garbage people in your life.
[00:17:43] If there's someone that drains your energy, is always complaining.
[00:17:47] Just being negative makes you doubt yourself. Maybe they make these little comments and you think maybe. Maybe they don't even realize they're doing it. But it really hurts and it bothers you the rest of the day.
[00:17:57] You need to figure out how you're going to limit their calls. Maybe those calls are short.
[00:18:03] Maybe you hide them on social media. I have a lot of people hidden.
[00:18:09] Start spending time with people who make you feel better, lift you up. Maybe the conversations are lighter and just because you've been friends with someone forever, if they're really weighing you down, you don't have to continue to be friends with them.
[00:18:23] Sometimes it's better to move on.
[00:18:26] And then I want you to celebrate the cleanup.
[00:18:29] Your mind shift will start changing over time.
[00:18:32] Give yourself some credit. Taking out the head trash is ongoing. Like I said, it's not one day, it's not one week. It's going to take a long time and it may take forever, but every time you do it, you're making space for something better to come in.
[00:18:48] So mental clutter. It's normal, but it doesn't have to stay by noticing it, jotting it down, replacing it with something else, setting some boundaries, changing things.
[00:18:59] You need to stay focused on growth, yourself and not all the head trash.
[00:19:05] So just remember that shifting your mindset's an ongoing journey. It takes time and practice. You have to do it again and again and again, but over time it can impact your success as a business owner. I want you to think about growth and progress and connection and abundance and clear out the head trash and think about where you are today. And then go back in like six months and think about how much you've done. You may not be making huge jumps every day, but think about all the progress you've made, like over six months. And there will be a lot of small ones, but those add up really quickly. Even when I look back on my business from a year ago, it's completely different, which is fantastic.
[00:19:51] So that's it for today's episode of Confessions in the Home Office.
[00:19:55] Remember to like, share, follow, subscribe, comment and the podcast can be found on all podcast platforms. And I'm also on YouTube and I'll be back next week.
[00:20:09] Thanks.
