ONE OF the most important things you can do if you want to start a business is to become entrepreneurial-minded. By thinking of yourself as an entrepreneur, you’ll start doing the things entrepreneurs do and eventually make enough money to turn your side hustle into a successful business. That said, here are some simple ways to help you think more like an established entrepreneur.
Key Takeaways
- You’re the average of the people you spend the most time with. You should spend as much time as possible with other entrepreneurs in your area. Meet new people through networking as they might open doors you would’ve never expected.
- You need to have an optimistic mindset. Entrepreneurs are resilient to business downturns because of their positivity.
- You can get an entrepreneurial mindset by reading some books. Starting a business is a unique experience, and each author has learned different lessons.
How to Become More Entrepreneurial Minded
1. Work on Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Being an entrepreneur is hard – there’s a lot to focus on, plus you may not have support from friends. Don’t let rejection get you down – brush it off and move on. Getting rejected on purpose can help you become more resilient.
If you’re struggling to develop entrepreneurial skills, you may want to hire an entrepreneurship coach. They can help you become entrepreneurial minded in a few different ways:
- Help you fulfill your vision and goals
- Help you gain perspective
- Outline a clear roadmap
- Help you improve your skills
- Boost your confidence
- Improve performance and profitability
- Improve leadership
- Hold you accountable
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2. Surround Yourself With the Right People
According to the law of averages, you are the average of the top five people you spend the most time with. Be around entrepreneurs if you want to become one. Connect with co-working spaces, online influencers, conferences, and creative meetups. You’ll learn how other entrepreneurs built successful businesses. Try different techniques until you find the one that works for you.
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3. Read books on entrepreneurship
Rather than working your life away at a 9-5 job, think of ways to make money with your own business and develop a 9-5 exit strategy. One good way to get some ideas is to read books on entrepreneurship. Some of the best entrepreneurship books include:
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- Zero to One by Peter Thiel
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
- The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
- Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
- The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
- The Power of the Broke by Daymond John
- Rework by Jason Fried
- Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur
- The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank
- Built to Sell by John Warrillow
- Business Adventures by John Brooks
- EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey
- Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas
- Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- Arise, Awaken by Rashmi Bansal
- Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson
Get an entrepreneurial mindset by reading these books. Starting a business is a unique experience, and each author has learned different lessons. Learn from the books to improve your self-employment mindset.
You can also read blog posts on this topic to get more information, or subscribe to a newsletter that keeps you on track with your education:
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4. Train Your Mindset
You need to have an optimistic mindset if you want the courage to start your own business, as well as a growth mindset. Leaders’ mindsets shape a company’s culture. Thinking negatively hinders progress and employee motivation. Entrepreneurs are resilient to business downturns because of their positivity.
The key to staying positive is not ignoring potential obstacles but rather mentally rewiring how you respond. Don’t spend much time dwelling on mistakes.
Consider a negative concern and figure out how to actively correct it. The more you explore how you react and respond to perceived problems, the more likely you will embrace change. Positive people learn from challenges, which is why you should work on this skill.
Why is positivity important for the overall work environment?
When you’re your own boss, having a positive mental attitude similarly affects others. According to research, a happy employee is a better worker. Work environments that are positive are associated with high productivity. Furthermore, they have been associated with increased profits, fewer sick days, and higher retention rates.
The key to creating a positive attitude in business – Realize that negative thoughts drain your resources. Positivity, like all new skills, can be mastered. Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of courage and dedication. Your new venture’s extensive work hours and unpredictable demands can hurt your social life and mental outlook.
An easy way to nurture a positive mental attitude is to focus on controllable factors. There are things you can control, such as what you eat, how much sleep you get, and how much exercise you do. By focusing on these factors, you will remain healthy, focused, and positive.
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5. Attend Networking Events
You don’t have to be amazing to start networking. Look for networking events in your area and start attending them. They’re a great way to get the word out about your business, whether you’ve got a physical business or want to learn how to be a digital entrepreneur and get freelance work.
You can attend a variety of networking events, including:
- Get-togethers at happy hour
- Seminars tailored to specific industries
- Online groups
- Career fairs
- Trade shows and conferences
- Meetings over breakfast or lunch
- Groups that serve the community
- Speed networking
- Workshops
- Roundtable discussions
These are all great places to meet potential clients and generate new business.
Becoming Entrepreneurial-Minded
These are just a few ways you can become entrepreneurial minded; there are many others. As you build your business, remember what feels like the end is often the beginning of another adventure in your business; learn to deal with the ups and downs, and you’ll be successful in your business. Once you’ve fully adopted an entrepreneurial mindset, your business will become more successful.