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7 Mental Hang-Ups that Prevent Explosive Business Growth

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7 Mental Hang-Ups that Prevent Explosive Business Growth

Most of us want to grow our businesses, but many of us watch and see others explode into internet celebrity status while others struggle to even pay their monthly hosting fee.

But there are reasons why some people are not seeing the results that their skills and talents would warrant, because their mental infrastructure and programming are not in line with where they are in their business.

These are the 7 biggest reasons that they may not be seeing the growth that some of their peers are seeing:

 

1. Having a “Wing It” approach to their business

The biggest problem when new entrepreneurs are in the early stages of their business is that they take a “try it out” attitude with their business. Meaning they will “try it out” and then get serious if they start seeing success.

The problem with this approach is that if you do not take the business seriously, you will never have any results. This creates a never ending circle of businesses that this person starts, but never actually gives their best effort for and continues to be stuck in the exact same place that they started.

Give your business a chance by committing to it. I’m not saying you quit your job day-one, but you also cannot be just trying it out. Start working on it in your free time, make it a top priority and do the action steps you already know how to do; and you will start seeing the results.

 

2. Limited interaction with successful people

The old school method of becoming a millionaire was work hard, save your money and eventually you could become a millionaire. But now the path is massive action, massive knowledge and connecting with the right people.

By now you’ve heard the cliché that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. And that is true, which is why having access to those individuals who have reached the incredible feat of making six or seven figures is crucial. By learning from them you can cut out years from your business to get to both of those income levels.

So what is the best way to get access to these people? There are two good options:

Live EventsFor example, the recent World Domination Summit had plenty of these types of people there. In September I will be attending Ryan Lee’s FreedymFest. Pick an event that will have successful people there and make it a point to connect with them.

Online Courses/MastermindsBy joining a course or an online mastermind you will have access to people who are further along the path than you are. By developing relationships with them they can become mentors, affiliates or even partners.

 

Jim-Rohn-Average

3. Being too comfortable

This is mostly for people who have a job, but these people are too comfortable with their middle class lifestyle to cut back and invest some of that money into growing their business.

You are going to need to invest money into your business, for a website, web hosting, autoresponder, training & coaching, and eventually into traffic. But if you’re not willing to give up buying another pair of shoes this month or a new electronic gadget that won’t help you build a business, then you are holding yourself back from success.

Be willing to sacrifice some of the comforts of the middle class so you can reap upper class rewards.

 

4. Fear of monetary success

Some of you are probably looking at that description and wondering how someone could be afraid of making more money. But greater income also brings greater challenges.

Some people will end up sabotaging themselves because they cannot even fathom writing a six-figure tax bill (even though they are making six or seven figures). Or they know they do not have the discipline to save their money to pay taxes and end up subconsciously sabotaging themselves to make less money.

Another example is having to pay a high level accountant rather than paying $50 to the local HR Block guy. But we must understand that these are good problems to have, as it means our businesses are growing.

 

5. Uncomfortable telling people what to do

For your business to grow you will need to be directing people towards certain actions or even flat out telling them what to do. This could include employees, clients, or email subscribers. If you cannot tell them what they need to do, you will never build anything.

Just think about all the ways you may have to tell someone what to do:

  • A call to action in an email or direct mail marketing message (i.e. opt-in to your email campaigns or clicking a link to an interview or article of yours)
  • Telling an employee a task that they need to perform
  • Telling a potential client that they should buy from you

All of these are essential to your business. The people who can’t do this may have a number of reasons for not doing so (i.e. lack of self esteem or worrying about what other people will think), but you need to be able to take charge and give direction to both your audience and your team.

 

6. No mental toughness

Too many people simply lack the guts to make it big. There are many reasons why this could be the case:

  • They get easily distracted or thrown off course and struggle to get back on track.
  • They simply do not work hard enough to get where they want to go.
  • They always have an excuse for when things don’t go their way.
  • Maybe they’re just the type of person who easily quits.

Whatever the reason, these people will continue to trip themselves up every chance they get. Instead of this, take control of your life, give your business the effort it deserves, and if there is a market for it, then never give up.

“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”  – Lance Armstrong

7. Having a huge vision for what you’re doing

Entrepreneurship is an intense journey, similar to the proverbial roller coaster ride. Despite venture capitalists obsession with “hockey stick growth,” most businesses rarely have such a linear trajectory. So you need to have a HUGE legacy in mind when you’re going through the ups and downs, or you’ll never make it. Because when things get tough…you’ll quit. Even if you have guts, you have nothing to fight for.

When you know exactly where you’re going, and why you are doing it, you’ll have that extra gear when you’re sick or tired or just feeling lazy to get stuff done. Your vision has become your mission, and it is one of the top priorities in your life (up there with your faith and your family).

When you have this vision you will track it ruthlessly. You’ll know the exact capacity of your business as it stands now, and also what it could take on immediately before becoming overwhelmed, and most importantly what the next steps are to get closer to that ultimate goal.

 

Thank you for reading my article! What mental hang-up is stopping your business from growing?

 

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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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