There were three reasons I wasn't improving in my journey as an entrepreneur and they all had to do with me protecting my ego! Once I learned that it was ok to drop the resistance, a flood of growth and opportunities came my way. The three mistakes I made were - firstly trying to do everything on my own. Secondly, I believed that I had to be the originator of all ideas, otherwise I was useless (harsh I know) and finally actually allowing myself to admit that sometimes others actually did know better than me on certain things.
In my mind I thought "I'm not allowed to be wrong... you don't see the successful entrepreneurs getting it wrong do you?" Actually, I soon learned that they do. Look at Thomas Edison, for example, when inventing the light bulb he had something like 1000 "ways of not to do it" until he found the right way. If he hadn't admitted that he was wrong those times, we would all still be sitting in darkness!
So, I wanted to give permission to all you budding entrepreneurs to let go of the ego - because as soon as you do, success soon follows and it is the most freeing thing you can do. Here are 3 things to think about:
1. "One Man Band Syndrome" - I used to think that I would only be deemed successful if I did it all on my own. That way, I thought, I could claim all the credit. I used to think I should do the accounts, the marketing, advertising and the core work. How ridiculous is that?! You become spread so thinly that nothing really gets done. You also end up doing things that you don't enjoy or aren't even good at.
LESSON ONE: Learn to delegate and do the 1-2 things you enjoy doing the most. Richard Branson, a successful entrepreneur, stuck to what he was good at and got others to do everything else.
2. It has to be MY original idea for me to be successful - I used to get quite defensive if someone suggested an idea that improved on mine. That, my friends, is the ego rearing its ugly head. As soon as I embraced anyone's suggestions on improving my idea, I realised just how good an idea could develop. If I hadn't taken in the ideas or suggestions that people suggested when developing my business proposals, I wouldn't have got anywhere. Many successful people will admit they only replicated the ideas of other successful entrepreneurs.
LESSON TWO: Open up, allow for other ideas to be suggested. Use the information to better your idea, or business system.
3. I must get it right the first time or else it means I am not successful on my own right - this mindset couldn't be further from the truth if it tried. You know what though, I believed it whole heartedly and took me a while to let go. To be a successful entrepreneur you have to have more courage and commitment than original ideas. Many successful inventions actually started off as an idea for something else - look up the slinky, silly putty and the Popsicle. Whatever happens with your idea or business let it naturally evolve, be relaxed - it will gravitate towards success if you just let go.
LESSON THREE: Ideas are organic, through trial and error, suggestions and natural progression; it will evolve into whatever it is meant to be.
Don't worry about how you are going to get there, just be determined to reach your goal of success, whatever that means to you. I was able to let go of the way I was going to get to my destination, and it was amazing what opportunities turned up. When you let go of the resistance of the ego, there will be a flood of ideas, suggestions and money making vehicles that will take you to where you want to go. Just know where it is you want to head, research your 'vehicles' that will take you there and enjoy the scenery on the way! - 15431
In my mind I thought "I'm not allowed to be wrong... you don't see the successful entrepreneurs getting it wrong do you?" Actually, I soon learned that they do. Look at Thomas Edison, for example, when inventing the light bulb he had something like 1000 "ways of not to do it" until he found the right way. If he hadn't admitted that he was wrong those times, we would all still be sitting in darkness!
So, I wanted to give permission to all you budding entrepreneurs to let go of the ego - because as soon as you do, success soon follows and it is the most freeing thing you can do. Here are 3 things to think about:
1. "One Man Band Syndrome" - I used to think that I would only be deemed successful if I did it all on my own. That way, I thought, I could claim all the credit. I used to think I should do the accounts, the marketing, advertising and the core work. How ridiculous is that?! You become spread so thinly that nothing really gets done. You also end up doing things that you don't enjoy or aren't even good at.
LESSON ONE: Learn to delegate and do the 1-2 things you enjoy doing the most. Richard Branson, a successful entrepreneur, stuck to what he was good at and got others to do everything else.
2. It has to be MY original idea for me to be successful - I used to get quite defensive if someone suggested an idea that improved on mine. That, my friends, is the ego rearing its ugly head. As soon as I embraced anyone's suggestions on improving my idea, I realised just how good an idea could develop. If I hadn't taken in the ideas or suggestions that people suggested when developing my business proposals, I wouldn't have got anywhere. Many successful people will admit they only replicated the ideas of other successful entrepreneurs.
LESSON TWO: Open up, allow for other ideas to be suggested. Use the information to better your idea, or business system.
3. I must get it right the first time or else it means I am not successful on my own right - this mindset couldn't be further from the truth if it tried. You know what though, I believed it whole heartedly and took me a while to let go. To be a successful entrepreneur you have to have more courage and commitment than original ideas. Many successful inventions actually started off as an idea for something else - look up the slinky, silly putty and the Popsicle. Whatever happens with your idea or business let it naturally evolve, be relaxed - it will gravitate towards success if you just let go.
LESSON THREE: Ideas are organic, through trial and error, suggestions and natural progression; it will evolve into whatever it is meant to be.
Don't worry about how you are going to get there, just be determined to reach your goal of success, whatever that means to you. I was able to let go of the way I was going to get to my destination, and it was amazing what opportunities turned up. When you let go of the resistance of the ego, there will be a flood of ideas, suggestions and money making vehicles that will take you to where you want to go. Just know where it is you want to head, research your 'vehicles' that will take you there and enjoy the scenery on the way! - 15431
About the Author:
Hayley Weatherburn is a Life Coach who also has her own self-help home based business. Hayley enjoys supporting others succeed in their lifestyle goals whether it through coaching or her opportunity for entrepreneurs.
