| Have you ever noticed that some small business | | | | three column chart on your page. At the top of the |
| owners seem to have everything in place -- they | | | | first column, write Belief. At the top of the second, |
| have a great product or service, sufficient funding, | | | | write From Whom, and at the top of the third |
| good marketing and other systems set up and even | | | | column, New Belief. |
| have some clients -- but yet they either fail to thrive, | | | | The process is to write down a belief you have |
| or they fail all together? It's surprising to see this, | | | | about money in the first column, and write who told |
| until you look deeper at the business owner. The | | | | you that or where you learned it in the second |
| root cause of the problem is often a mindset that is | | | | column. Decide if the belief is supportive of your |
| not set for success. | | | | goals. If it is, write it in the third column. If it is not, |
| To develop a mindset of success, entrepreneurs | | | | then create a new statement it in the third column. |
| need to look at three factors: beliefs, self-talk and | | | | What often helps is to think about money-related |
| self-care. These three factors are interrelated and in | | | | statements you were told as a child, and then write |
| this article, we are going to look at 'beliefs' because it | | | | these statements in the first column. For example... |
| is the base for the other two factors. | | | | - "We don't have the money." "Money doesn't grow |
| Most experts believe that our primary beliefs are | | | | on trees." Statements such as these tend to form |
| formed in early childhood before age eight. They are | | | | scarcity beliefs; there isn't enough money to go |
| so ingrained that they become a part of our | | | | around. |
| subconscious mind. One of the purposes of the | | | | - "You're always asking for money." "You're never |
| subconscious is to protect us by keeping our outer | | | | satisfied." The belief is that you're greedy if you ask |
| life congruent with our inner beliefs. Consequently, | | | | for something or want more. |
| inner beliefs residing in your subconscious mind affect | | | | - "Rich people don't care about the little guy." "Those |
| everything you do and say, and ultimately, the results | | | | conceited 'east-siders' (or wherever those with more |
| you get in life. The beliefs formed in childhood | | | | money reside) think they're so hot!" The belief: having |
| generally remain the same unless a person | | | | a lot of money makes someone a bad person. |
| experiences a life-changing event that causes change | | | | - "I should have married a doctor instead of a truck |
| in a belief, or he consciously decides to change a | | | | driver, and then I could buy new clothes when I |
| belief and puts steps in motion to live the new belief. | | | | need them." Belief: your money will come from your |
| While it is common for people to carefully consider | | | | spouse, not you. |
| their beliefs in religion or life philosophy, there are | | | | Note: This is not meant to be a judgment on the |
| other beliefs that are seldom considered. A few that | | | | validity of the statements when they were made. |
| directly relate to a person's success in business are | | | | The purpose is to identify statements that you heard |
| beliefs about money, status, and one's identity and | | | | regularly because the repetition of them is what |
| value. | | | | solidifies them into a belief. |
| Let's use beliefs about money for our example. As an | | | | Using the statement, "We don't have the money" as |
| entrepreneur, you probably have goals related to | | | | an example, the second column would list who |
| money, such as profit or revenue, and what you plan | | | | repeatedly said that. In the third column, write a new |
| to do with the money (i.e. business expansion, travel, | | | | statement for success, such as, "Money is abundant |
| new home, charity). While it's fabulous to have these | | | | in my world" or " I am earning (or I have) all the |
| goals, if your inner beliefs about money do not | | | | money I need and want". |
| support them, you are fighting a losing battle with | | | | Continue this until you have restated all of the |
| your subconscious mind. If you believe having a lot of | | | | statements in column one. You may also benefit by |
| money is bad, or that rich people take advantage of | | | | repeating the exercise for status, who I am, or my |
| others, your business success (and personal finances) | | | | value. |
| will reflect that belief. | | | | By completing this exercise, you are on your way to |
| To determine whether you have inner beliefs about | | | | a mindset of success. The next article in this series |
| money that do not support your goals and desires, | | | | will address ways to create your new beliefs using |
| get a pen and paper and do this exercise. Draw a | | | | the statements in the third column. |