
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
In the process of building our company, Practice Makes Perfect, Iâve realized there are three different mindsets â going in the right direction, not now and being wrong — Iâve adopted that have been vital to my success.
By adapting these mindsets, I have learned to sell a great product and lead a high-performing team.
For those entrepreneurs just getting started, here are to he three mindsets more in-depth, along with tips on execution.
1. The ‘this is the right direction’ mindset.
The right direction mindset is necessary when decisions have to be made with time constraints. It is an especially important mindset at times of uncertainty, which for every entrepreneur I know, this happens a lot. This mindset works well when the team or company is smaller and youâre making decisions within your realm of expertise. You also need this mindset to take your vision from ideation to existence.
Related: These Mindset Shifts Will Transform Your Life Forever
That said, be careful getting too caught up in this mindset as your team grows. You will have other smart leaders (if youâre hiring correctly), and the right direction needs to come from the group. In my experience, it isnât the right answer that typically works out. The answer or direction the group believes in, whether it is flawed or not, tends be the right answer.
2. The ‘noâ doesnât mean âno,â it just means ânot nowâ mindset.
First of all, you canât take ânoâ personally. Getting rejected is part of the entrepreneurial journey and learning process. I remember counting noes at one point early on in my journey and noticed that I was receiving 97 noes for every 3 yeses. We kept moving and didnât let the negativity distract us. Instead, as we focused on getting more noes, we realized that eventually we would get yeses.
In the beginning, many of the noes really were ânot nows.â In future years, we converted several people who had previously said ânoâ to âyes.â
Be careful not to get too carried away. No definitely does NOT mean yes or maybe. If you push too hard, you can alienate other people and sever relationships. Instead, Iâd suggest when people say no that you give them some space and later ask them for feedback on why they said it if it wasnât inherently obvious. Use questions like: âWhy did you decide against purchasing our product or using our service?â and âWhat would make you or wouldâve made you a yes?
Related: 12 Signs You Have an Entrepreneurial Mindset
3. The ‘I was wrong’ mindset.
It is one thing to strive for excellence; it is a completely other thing to never admit when youâre wrong. No one wants to work for someone who thinks they are perfect and never admits when they are wrong. It shows a strong sense of insecurity and lack of awareness. The worse thing about being wrong and not owning up to it is that it sets the wrong precedent internally. If you, as the leader, donât admit when youâre wrong, then others internally may never do it either. This means people will not be growing from their mistakes. At times, small issues may snowball into even bigger concerns.
There are also positive outcomes to admitting when youâre wrong. For one, it shows a bit of vulnerability. It humanizes you. Also, owning your mistakes can be very powerful for company culture and getting help.
Related: 5 Mindset Secrets to Achieve Your Goals Faster
Be careful not to get too carried away with admitting when youâre wrong. Not many would want to work for someone who was always wrong..