“Changing the game is a mindset.”
~ Robert Rodriguez
Many small business owners and enterprising people started out as employees. They worked for someone else. The issue is that if you have been an employee for many years, it may be difficult to shake of the bonds of the employee mentality.
What does this mean?
If you possess an employee mentality, you’re more likely to look to other people to tell you what to do. You may find it difficult to take on the responsibility for the success and failure of your endeavor. You see, as an employee, you don’t really have a lot of input into how the business is run. Your job is to work hard to prove your value so that you can stay employable and employed.
Which one Are You?
If you are ready to make the switch, or have just started thinking about running your own shop, then you must begin to think much differently. Essentially the buck stops, and begins, with you. You are responsible for the success or the failure of your endeavor. And you are the one who must make all of the major decisions, including who to designate smaller decisions to!
Here are a couple of questions to check you own mindset:
Do you limit your tasks and responsibilities to a small portion of what may be required for the business you are in to flourish?
Do you base your lifestyle and purchases on your revenue?
If a monetary setback occurs, would you feel uncomfortable shrinking your budget to adapt to the reduction in revenue?
Do you constantly seek outside advice to make even daily decisions?
What your answers may reveal about you
If you responded “yes” to most of these questions, chances are you have an employee mentality, and that’s fine. It is important to know yourself and be comfortable with this knowledge. But, here is why those with an entrepreneur mentality would answer “no” much more often:
Do you confine your tasks/responsibilities?
Entrepreneurs understand that occasionally they have to do things in their business that are “higher” or “below” their skill level. Their mental attitude is if it has to get accomplished, get it accomplished and they are not adverse to rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty.
Do you base your lifestyle on your revenue?
Entrepreneurs will seek to develop their business, enlarge their line of products and broaden their services when monetary setbacks happen. They don’t let themselves get to be or remain a victim of their fiscal condition.
If a money setback happens, do you shrink your budget to accommodate the reduction in revenue?
Entrepreneurs know to pay themselves first. They are focused on bringing in the money that supports the lifestyle they want and invest the rest into their business. Having said that, they are likewise very cognizant of and accept the fleeting sacrifices that they may need to make in order to achieve their goal.
Do you constantly seek outside advice to make even daily decisions?
Entrepreneurs handle their time and take responsibility for their actions. While they might seek out mentors to help guide them to expanded growth, they are in control of their day-to-day actions and don’t need someone else to tell them what to accomplish or prompt them to accomplish it.
Other differences:
Monday mentality
Employees fear or dread Monday; or, whatever day is the beginning of their work week is.
Entrepreneurs are not bolted into a work week. They approach each day as a different chance to go after their dreams.
“It’s not my problem” mentality
Many employees take this view of everything on the job by whether it really is their problem or not.
Entrepreneurs view everything as part of their duty as they have ownership of everything that happens in the name of their business.
“T. G. I. F.” “Thank Goodness / God it’s Friday” mentality
Employees spend time looking forward to their off days.
Entrepreneurs are usually seeking ways to extend and expand their business. Even when they’re not “on the clock” they are considering ways to stretch and improve their entrepreneurial talents. They look forward to each day! It’s a new opportunity.
“When am I going to receive a raise?” mentality
Many employees think that raises ought to come according to the calendar, instead of according to their work.
Entrepreneurs seldom give much thought to when they will receive an increase. They realize that the more they work towards helping other people the greater their reward will be.
“Oh no, what now?” mentality
Employees usually head into meetings with an “oh no” mentality.
Entrepreneurs enter meetings with a mastermind mentality. They realize that excellent ideas come out of these meetings.
These are obviously, generalizations. Over the next few weeks, we will discuss the entrepreneurial mindset further.
However, the point is that people who are or who aspire to be entrepreneurs see the world, move through the world and think about the world differently. There are many more mindset dissimilarities that we could compare. You have probably thought of some while you were reading through these…
What would you add to this list?
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