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Mindset Challenge

It’s a new month and that means a new Mindset Monday.  Items we cover in Mindset Mondays aren’t submitted to us, but they are often the items that we see preventing business owners, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from achieving their true success.

The mind and our egos have a funny way of preventing us from taking ownership of our situations (business, life, etc.)  Even when times are challenging we find ways to explain what is occurring in a manner that keeps us safe.  We generally don’t want to admit that we failed at a task or that we aren’t good enough at a skill.  Certainly there is some reason that it didn’t work out?  It was likely the economy.  Or maybe it was my employees aren’t talented enough?

Excuses are nearly wrapped in our D.N.A, and unfortunately excuses are one of the biggest reasons we don’t get to our big goals. Embracing excuses can lead to experience failure.  Here is what legendary runner, Steve Prefontaine had to say about failure:

“A man can fail many times but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame someone else.”

Listen in and read on to find out how you can challenge your mind to help you reach the success you deserve:

Key Items

1. What excuses do you rely on? - You might not even realize you are making excuses as it happens so often for so many.  When a project doesn’t go the way you planned, what are the first thoughts that you think of?  Are they “I can’t believe my employee didn’t do that right.” or “The economy/industry isn’t ready for my idea” or “If only we had started this project on time”?  Think carefully about the words that you use on a daily basis.  Even if you feel like you don’t rely on excuses, are your inner thoughts using this same kind of wording?  Maybe you don’t use excuses in business, but you use them for items like working out “if only I had more time…”.
2. It’s not about excuses it’s about making adjustments -Challenges are going to occur  in business.  Instead of making an excuses (or as some say “it’s not an excuse, it’s a reason” ) about why something happened approach the challenge by making adjustments.  Now this is not to suggest that if you have a big goal and your plan isn’t working that you “adjust” your goal, no, it is about making adjustments to hit your targets in a different manner than you originally anticipated.  Train your mind, your team’s minds, and even your vendors to look for alternate ways on how to accomplish each mission.  When you constantly look to make adjustments then excuses will no longer be a part of your mindset.
3. Are you preparing to win? - Excuses can get ingrained in the mindset from a lack of preparation.  Think about the last few projects, launches, or even businesses that didn’t go the way you had planned.  Did you have a plan put into action that was setting you up for a win?  Or was the plan a bit haphazard and set you up for a “failure” and the inevitable excuses that go along with that failure.

Joe Says So

• Steve Prefontaine – There are few more well known distance runners for those outside of running than legendary runner Steve “Pre” Prefontaine.  He is known for more than his raw running talent, he is know for his ability to dig deeper than his opponents and come out with the win.
• Team Hoyt – This father and son duo is well known for not merely competing in over 1,000 races, but competing at an elite level.  They are Boston Qualifiers and Kona Qualifiers and inspire people throughout the world.

Sponsors

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Want Your Challenge Featured?

With each challenge we tackle, we look to not only solve the problem we look to shed light on new opportunities for our listeners.  We invite you listen to a couple of the business owners who shared their challenges and to submit your own today!