Carissa Daniel

How to Get out of Your Own Way and Allow Your Business to Thrive

Man stands in his own way and wonders why it's dark." Zen Proverb

Permission to speak freely, frankly and from the heart. 

I really don’t like making promises but two things I can boldly promise you are: I will always be honest and I will always be real with you. It makes absolutely no sense beating around the bushes or telling you all the fluffy, mushy stuff to make you feel good. If I did that, I will be cheating you of your potential growth and the potential growth of your business.

So, straight off the cuff, the reason why your business isn’t thriving is due to one reason and one reason only, YOU. Really Carissa? Yes really. YOU have been getting in the way of your progress and the progress of your business and it’s as simple as that. Up to this point you have probably spent time dressing up your challenges and issues to make it digestible, instead of tearing it apart, spitting it out and getting to the bottom of it. 

Well, that’s exactly what we will be doing in today's post, so brace yourself.

In my 10 plus years as an Entrepreneur, the number one reason why some of my businesses flat lined or failed was due to the same reason, me. As painful as it was admitting that truth, it was because of this admission and of course making some internal changes, I was then able to experience real growth in my businesses.

Usually, it's only when the 'shit hits the fan', pardon my French, we go crazy searching far and wide looking for answers to why our business seems to operate without a pulse, when we really should just peep under our noses. 

If we really take some time to think about it, you are the captain (Entrepreneur/Business owner) of your ship (your business). If you are impaired or you are not fully equipped to handle the jamming that comes along with captaincy, then no matter how immaculate and well built your ship is, you will be incapable of leading it to the rich, inviting waters.

So what are you really saying Carissa? Are you saying the reason why I haven’t been able to make more than just pocket change has nothing to do with the economy? Are you trying to tell me the reason why I still struggle to successfully market my business is not due to the fact that people just aren’t buying? Or the reason why I have no reliable team members is not necessarily because good labour is just hard to find?

Correct in all 3 instances! While some of the reasons outlined above are valid reasons for why a business may experience a slow death, if left unattended, the main reason still remains YOU. All of your beliefs, mindsets, choices, attitudes and actions or lack thereof to be precise.

I share the belief that you are the foundation of your business and your business is an extension of you. Using this as our guide, if you were to take a deeper look at some of the things you are struggling with and would like to change in your business, you will usually find the corresponding issue in your personal life. The reason for this is due to the fact that, “The way we do anything, is the way we do everything.”Martha Becks.

For instance, if you are unable to effectively manage your personal finances because you hate budgeting and you have a serious problem being frugal, then, you will do the same in your business. If you have fears regarding being visible in the public sphere such as using social media because of insecurities and hangups, then how exactly are you going to make your business visible and marketable?

True or False? Our actions, behaviors, choices and attitude are all as a result of our beliefs or mindsets. Our beliefs determine how we view the world and ultimately the choices we make. Quite often we have beliefs that do not serve us, nor are they conducive for the results that we really want to experience.

To illustrate. I'm sure we will all agree that an orchid is a beautiful, unique flower. Once placed in the right conditions, it will thrive and serve us immense beauty and delight. However, if placed in unyielding, un-tilled soil, it may never grow and may never thrive.

The same is true for our personal lives and businesses. Our beliefs and mindsets are like the soil, once favourable, they will facilitate actions and choices conducive to continuous growth and success and the opposite is also true.

Let's say for instance, you believe that money is always hard to come by, then how do you think that would affect your relationship with money, which is critical to the existence of your business, (especially if you are not operating a charity). Or, if you believe your business doesn’t have much to offer others, then how will your customers perceive and value your business.

Today, you have an opportunity to come face to face with and weed out those beliefs that are no longer effective or conducive to your personal growth and to the growth of your business and replace them with more effective, serving beliefs.

I’ve created this Beliefs and Mindsets Worksheet, (click to download) just for you, which will help you to:

1. Identify the areas in your business and personal life you want to change because it does not serve you. E.g. I have a challenge with generating sufficient revenue to keep my business afloat.

2. Identify the corresponding beliefs and mindsets that is fostering the destructive experiences and keeping you back. E.g. I believe money is hard to come by.

3. Identify and define the more constructive situation you would like to experience. E.g. Every month I generate $xxxxx of money that is more than enough to maintain my expenses and then some.

4. Identify the effective, more serving beliefs and mindsets needed to foster the results you actually want to experience. E.g. Money comes to me easily.

Some root stuff huh? I told you, I’ll be honest and real with you. This is an exercise I conduct regularly in my own life and business, especially when I feel stuck and the same issues seem to repeat itself, even after making external changes.

The exercise always reveals the root of the issue, i.e. my beliefs and mindset. Once identified, I consciously make the change by replacing it with a more effective belief and of course implement the corresponding actions necessary to achieve the results I want. And boom...new situation and experience.

One word of caution though, remember nothing happens overnight. Don't always expect a change immediately. Remember, your beliefs are usually deeply rooted and may require levels of unearthing. Affirmations are a excellent tool once used effectively can facilitate this unearthing and welcome the new belief. For instance, using the example above, every day you can affirm to yourself, "Money comes to me easily," until it is your reality.