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HEAD GAMES (Part 2 of 3)

Written by: Jonathan Goldhill

Article Overview: Thoughts and actions of successful entrepreneurs differ from those of the unsuccessful business owner

HEAD GAMES (Part 2 of 3)

Small business success is less about tactics, techniques or mechanics and more about how entrepreneurs habitually think and act.

To take your business and personal life to a higher level, you must master the inner game of business.

My last two columns addressed four of the five critical areas to master in order to become a more effective and successful business owner: self-understanding, accountability, an effective mindset and a bias for action.

My last column focused on shifting your focus to solutions (not problems) and taking action (not sitting on the sidelines) to achieve greater success and balance in your life. This week, I will examine the final critical area in the “Inner Game of Business” – believing in yourself and your business.

You’ve got to believe

Successful entrepreneurs have healthy self-esteem. They feel worthy to be entrepreneurs. They value their business and know the benefits clients derive from them. They have sold themselves on themselves.

Successful entrepreneurs are willing to promote themselves and their product/services. Unsuccessful entrepreneurs think negatively about selling and promotion. Usually, any distaste for self-promotion is a projection of ones own fear of failure and rejection. Because they are uncomfortable with marketing, they rationalize and justify why it doesn’t work. This is a very costly mistake.

Unsuccessful entrepreneurs never really believe in themselves or their business. Very often, they believe in the validity of client objections more than the value of their own product/services.

Bottom line – many do not feel worthy to be a business owner. Just when things are going their way, they engage in self-sabotaging behavior. It is not fear of failure; it is fear of success that holds many entrepreneurs back. They do not feel worthy of being successful and happy, so they sabotage their efforts.

Conversely, successful entrepreneurs believe in the value of themselves and the value they provide to their clients. Those who believe in their product/service are effective at selling them. Those who don’t believe will never be effective at selling them. You can’t sell what you don’t believe in.

Selling yourself

You must learn to value your product/service or modify them so you are excited about their value. Use your creativity. You must be passionate. You must be enthusiastic. Your heart must be in the business.

Modify your offerings and create something you can believe in, something you can get excited about.

Your greatest sale will be to sell yourself on the fact that you can be a successful business owner; that you deserve success; you are worthy of success; that your product/services are valuable and beneficial.

If you don’t believe in yourself, why would you expect anyone else to believe in you or what you have to offer?

Business success is an inside game. You already possess the key – your mind. If you shape your mindset properly and have persistence, nothing can stand in your way.

What truly matters for business success is entrepreneurs understanding themselves (strengths, weaknesses, dreams, mental barriers, etc.), taking full responsibility for their results, possessing effective mindsets, having a bias for action (not analysis paralysis), and believing in themselves and the value of their product/services.

The secret to winning the game of business lies within you. Are you ready to put your game face on, get off the bench and get into the game?


Jonathan Goldhill is Owner of The Growth Coach in LA, a business coaching and growth consulting firm. He runs coaching programs and peer groups that help business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals become more effective. Jonathan can be contacted via email at Jon@TheGrowthCoachLA.com or phone at (818) 716-8826.

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