We were mid transformation at a large corporate organization and I made an optimistic offhanded comments to one of the leaders. He stopped in his tracks and looked at me and chuckled…”you know, you’re freakishly optimistic, Angel.” It made me laugh but also made me think…”hmm…not everyone thinks like this?”
Coincidentally, at that same time I had just ignited my second business and mindset work had started to become a big part of my every day. I was slowly becoming more and more aware of how your mindset holds you back.
Through those next years of working with dozens of entrepreneurs and researching I confirmed that what holds most entrepreneurs back from accomplishing everything they want to achieve isn’t money, time, or circumstances. It’s their mindset.
Here are the 7 ways your mindset is most likely holding you back as an entrepreneur and standing in your way of building the business you dream of.
1. You’re resistant to change
Having a fixed mindset can make you resistant to change and accepting new ideas. It’s essential to cultivate a growth mindset to see challenges from different perspectives and take them on as opportunities instead of setbacks. Embrace the power of perspective.
Mindset Shift: I take new challenges as opportunities to learn, grow, and to dream up new possibilities.
2. You’re focused on perfection
Focusing on things being perfect before you launch the product, offer the new service, or tell the world about what you’re working on, is the quickest way to see it fizzle out. Perfectionism keeps you in a perpetual loop of overthinking instead of launching and making necessary adjustments along the way. Progress over perfection should be the goal!
Mindset Shift: Progress over perfection. I take action, learn, and improve with each step forward.
3. You’re afraid of failure.
As an entrepreneur, you’ve likely faced the fear of failure many times on your journey. For many, this fear intensifies when reaching a new level of success, with the stakes being higher there’s more to lose! To combat this fear, keep a running list of your accomplishments and the challenges you’ve overcome. This “book of wins” (even if it’s simply a folder in your email inbox!) can remind you of your progress and help you push past the fear when it arises.
Mindset Shift: Failure is not my enemy; not growing is. Failure is a necessary part of growth.
4. You are self reliant
One mindset that greatly holds many entrepreneurs back is thinking that they are solely responsible for the entirety of their business. Although you are the leader and are responsible for the business, it’s okay to not be the leading expert in everything. To build a successful business, it’s imperative that you bring people into your vision who are strong where you may have weaknesses. Letting go of self reliance (which ultimately is ego!) allows your team to shine and this is where you will find your greatest advancements are made.
Mindset Shift: I do not have to do this alone. My team is capable and eager to build this business and reach our goals.
5. You lack confidence
Lack of confidence holds you back because you defer to analysis over action. Confidence is only built through action and doing things you’ve never done before. You will ALWAYS care what other people think, but DO IT ANYWAY.
Mindset Shift: I am capable and deserving of success. My business and myself deserve to grow.
6. You’re focused on short-term vision
Focusing only on immediate results can hinder long-term growth and sustainability. It’s important to balance short-term actions with long-term vision. In business, and in life, some things grow rapidly while others take time and are a combination of a thousand tiny steps forward in the process of becoming something great.
Mindset Shift: I have short term goals with long term aspirations. I see that today’s progress is my future success.
7. You have a scarcity mindset
In nearly any industry, it’s easy to look around and feel overwhelmed by market saturation, leading to fear and playing small. However, there are always clients or customers who need what you bring to the table. Shifting from a scarcity mindset—believing there’s never enough—to an abundance mindset—believing there is more than enough—allows you to stop competing and focus on truly serving those who need what you have to offer.
Mindset Shift: I believe there is more than enough for everyone. I focus on serving those who need what I offer, trusting that my unique contributions are valued and in demand.
I speak from experience when I say that the biggest obstacles to your entrepreneurial success are not external but internal. By identifying and shifting these seven limiting mindsets, you can unlock your full potential and build the business (and life!) you’ve always dreamed of. Embrace a growth mindset, focus on progress over perfection, and remember that both failures and successes are steps on your journey. Trust in your abilities, rely on your team, and believe in the abundance of opportunities available to you.
Your mindset is the key to your success, my friend! Own it!
Always in love,
