There is nothing worse than being trapped in a job that you just don’t like.
It’s a known fact that most people want to actually break free from the rut of a nine-to-five job and start their own businesses. Why? Because with most nine-to-five jobs the pay isn’t that good, the hours are long and for some, the work environment is not very friendly. Now if you are one of these people that want to finally resign from your jobs and start a new life as an entrepreneur or possibly a millionaire in the near future, then this article is for you.
Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize; crossing over from a typical day job to a full-time business is not just a physical move – it requires a complete change in your state of mind because you will be crossing over to a completely different world from what you were used to. You have to dump the old job mentality, and instead, you have to develop an entrepreneurial outlook. If you want to be a big shot millionaire one day then you have to THINK like one.
Now if you want to cross over to the entrepreneurial world, you need to embrace the following four ways of thinking:
1. Networking is essential
As an entrepreneur, you have to realize that most of the time ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ You have to interact and build relationships with like-minded individuals and business contacts that you can trust and whom you feel can help you grow your business. It’s a simple formula, people do business with people they like and trust, just as they are friends with those they like and trust. If you want your business to succeed then you have to realize that networking is not just about what others can do for you, it’s also about what you can also do for others. Being an entrepreneur actually means helping out others and providing value when you can, not taking others down. It means creating a mastermind group of individuals you can share and discuss ideas with. You shouldn’t be afraid of losing out and having others rise above you.
2. Learn from other successful people
As an entrepreneur, it’s second nature to be competitive because you want to be on top. But even though you have to think big and be the best in what you do, you don’t have to go as low as destroy other people in the process. You have to understand that we each have a unique outlook and value that we can offer. To get to the top you have to learn from others who are already sitting at the top. You don’t look at the person in a fancy house and feel envious of what that person has, instead, find out who this person is and tell them that you admire what they have achieved and want to learn from them – usually, that successful entrepreneur would agree to give some tips. Entrepreneurs understand the notion of profusion. They know what it takes to get to the top and most of them are more than happy to take the time to help someone get to the top as well.
3. Self-promotion is necessary
Unless you’re extremely lucky, no one is really going to promote you for being you and no one is going to care about what you have to offer more than you either. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur you have to be able to promote yourself. Just take a look at three of the most successful people in the world: Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, and Richard Branson – what do they all have in common? They are all very good at self-promotion.
As an entrepreneur you need to have thick skin, you have to get used to hearing the word no and ignoring it, you also have to be able to do whatever it takes to be successful. You need to move away from your comfort zone and mingle with strangers, hand out your business card to people, talk confidently about yourself and what your business is all about, share about your work and successes, and invite people to connect with you via your networks. If you are still reserved and afraid to reach out to others about your business then you won’t get anywhere – you need to make the big leap into the entrepreneurial mindset.
4. You have to think BIG
As Donald Trump would say, ‘If you are going to be thinking anyway, you might as well be thinking big.’ It’s true, if you are thinking small time then you’ll always be small, if you can’t even think of doing something big then you will never do anything big in life. There is no cost in dreaming so you might as well dream big.
As an entrepreneur, you have to realize that the road to eventual prosperity and success can be a very long and tough one. Many people start with big goals but then the moment they run into some unexpected hiccups, they get distracted and they lose sight of their goals. Keep in mind that you always have to focus on the ultimate vision. In saying that, you also have to be different from the rest of the pack – you have to think outside the square and find new and unique ways to make money and be successful. You always have to say to yourself, ‘How can I make this better? How can I be unique? How can I do this in a much bigger way?’
A typical nine-to-five job employee only focuses on the task provided to them by their boss, they follow what most people are doing so they are not used to looking at the bigger picture because that vision is for someone else to worry about. Bringing this limited mindset over to the entrepreneurial world is dangerous because it can restrain your creativity and hold back your ability to cope with and solve the many challenges that will come your way. When you think outside the square, you also create things that make you move above the rest of the pack.
If you currently have a business and you haven’t made much money yet, that is okay. As long as you keep your eye on the prize, focus on the bigger picture, build your brand, and network with the right people then later on you will reap the rewards. You also have to be HUNGRY for success. Hungry people are motivated people, if you are currently satisfied with what you’re earning then what will motivate you to be wealthy and successful? To get to the top you should always set a higher goal for yourself.
