The key to developing an entrepreneurial mindset is to expect and plan for change.
However, being the humans that we are, such a mindset change is not something we’re eager to embrace. Operating out of our comfort zone doesn’t seem fair when we’ve done so much to make ourselves comfortable.
- We know how things work
- We know what to expect
- We have our operational systems
- We take comfort in knowing we finally have things under control
It seems ages ago but at one time I had a comfort zone mindset for my old IE browser. I could zoom around quickly, do what I had to do and feel there was one less thing to worry about. But, then there were problems! I don’t know what happened, but the general consensus was to change to Chrome.
It’s not that I’m adverse to change, but I got pretty close to hating change when it took time away from the business to learn Chrome and activate all its’ other minutia. Strangely, I now have no memory of IE or how I used it. However, lingering in the back of my mind is the possibility of having to replace Chrome someday.
But, as an entrepreneur and Internet marketer, you know that’s minor compared to the onslaught of changes filling your Inbox – offers for new training, new products, new plug-ins, and strategies. All promising to catapult your business to the next level. As great as they all sound, each requires a change from old habits and a commitment to a new learning curve.
Sometimes the lure is strong enough. Other times you stay with what you know until you force yourself to change.
How do you make an entrepreneurial mindset change?
The two best answers are:
– accept there will be changes
– prepare for changes
Accepting there will be changes
- Change is always happening
- Change happens faster than ever
- Change is initially uncomfortable, disruptive and time-consuming
- The expectation is to make a change as quickly as possible
- Shortly, there will be other change following this change
- Not every change serves a business well
Preparing for an entrepreneurial mindset change
- Examine if the change is in alignment with your business goals and values
- Know that any change you implement doesn’t necessarily go smoothly
- Get feedback from others in your network before initiating a change
- Be aware a change can be beneficial and disastrous at the same time
- Before you commit, make sure it’s worth your time, money and effort
- Don’t let competitors who jump on the change bandwagon early scare you into acting
- Personally, assess how much change you can handle
- Created a plan to phase change into your business with the least amount of disruption
Please share your experience with making entrepreneurial mindset changes within your business. – what worked and what didn’t work?
Change can be a challenge. I remember the transition from typewriter to computer and the change of different programs one after the other. Deep within I know I hated the change but I was stuck as I would have been outdated if I did not do anything.
That’s another pressure behind dealing with change. If we don’t, we seriously get left behind. Unfortunately, with technology, there is always something new to learn.
Oh the stories I could share, Joyce! Lol. Your 8 key steps outlined above are exactly the process I follow. It’s interesting that sometimes, I embrace change. Other times, particularly with technology, not so much. I realize it’s necessary for growth though. I notice I tend to wait until the kinks are sorted out with a particular piece of technology and then I learn from someone who is a few steps ahead!
Great tactical move, Tandy. Totally agree, don’t update until the bugs are worked out. Who has the time to be the one asking how long before you fix it? But, there’s comfort when you Google a problem and see that you are not alone, and they are kind enough to share the solution.
Yes, change can be difficult and sometimes hard. Though curiosity is also what drives us further. So change is good too…it makes us develop and move ahead. 🙂
As long and you’re open-minded, curious and willing to embrace change, the world is full of wonder and challenging experiences. I’ll toast to that with my next glass of wine now that I’m learning so much from you.
I used to have a web developer (a bit on the lazy side) who told me to quit changing things. I appreciate what you’re saying here! Change is so important. If you don’t change, how do you fill needs? Thanks.
Your comment made me think of change as an updating process. We need to meet our clients changing needs and in order to do that we need to change (I mean update).
I’m an entrepreneur married to someone who hates change. That makes for an interesting mindset at home. But he’s warming up to it. I think some of us are wired to handle change more easily than others. I roll with it more easily.
Yes, the fairer sex is more adaptable. Men like to plant themselves in one place knowing that everything is where they left it. The most common question is my house is “Where did you put my …?” Good thing we can be so patient!
Yes I now ask myself is this a Hell Yes before I embark on a new change- as I love change and know all change is not always good- great points you make Joyce xxx
Have to admit, there are times when jumping into change can be too early. But, hey, think of all that you learned.
My goodness, Joyce, did you ever capture the dilemma of the modern-day online entrepreneur. The “onslaught of changes filling your Inbox – offers for new training, new products, new plug-ins, and strategies. All promising to catapult your business to the next level.” Thank you for helping me examine this situation and better navigate its waters, rather than drown in the flood of TMI!
Hitting the delete key can be painful, especially if you haven’t clicked the email open as yet. One thing I discovered in saving unopened emails, is that many are repeats of the previous years. That makes deleting them all the easier. I figure if I miss something it will turn up again, somehow, someway.
Yes, change can be hard to deal with but we need to move with it, not fight it! I find when we do, we have some beautiful surprises!
Most definitely, change brings lots of new possibilities.
Your list of ideas of preparing for an entrepreneurial mindset change is valid and helpful. I have experienced and thankfully overcome so much.
It’s good to be open and prepared for change. It makes things so much easier in the end.
Tender sore spots being touched, Joyce! I decided to switch from TimeTrade to Acuity, and since I’m in a phase of wearing all the hats at MagnoliasWest these days, I am trying to make the switch All.By.Myself. I’ll confess I made it all worse and more complicated by deciding to also try to set up Stripe as an alternative to PayPal. Ugh! I’d like a VA for a day!
Otherwise, yes, yes, and yes. Change is gonna come. The less I resist, the better I can roll with the changes, the precipices, the obstacles. So many! Might as well keep nimble. Right?
My hats off to you Sue. I’m not familiar with any of the programs you mention. I guess I have to check this out and there may be some changes in store for me.
You hit the nail right on the head when you wrote, “Operating out of our comfort zone doesn’t seem fair when we’ve done so much to make ourselves comfortable.” We spend so much time being comfortable we do not want to move out of our comfy box. But like you also pointed out, change is the key to success.Great blog.
We are so good at building our comfort zone, that we never want to leave. Better yet, let’s build new comfort zone that comes with the next change. That works so long as we don’t get too attached to it. LOL
I had to smile reading about your experience with changing from IE to Chrome because it sounded all too familiar. In fact, I recently became the owner of a shiny new Kindle which I love except for learning how to tame my collection of hundreds of eBooks because the files are set up completely different than my old reader. It’s not so much that I mind learning the ins and outs of this new device, it’s like what you said about how much time it takes. In fact, the toughest part of change (at least for me) is being realistic about the transition process because it almost always takes longer than we assume it will. Thanks for the tips and inspiration!
Let’s hope your Kindle version doesn’t change for a while. If it does, may the new version be easier to learn than the last one.
When it comes to technology, I truly hate change, Joyce. I find it tedious to learn the new things required because it’s not where my interests lie. I have, however, recently made some changes to my business which have freed up my time and I believe will be more profitable. It took me a while to see the change was necessary, probably because I was stuck in old ways. Now that I’ve embraced it I have a lovely sense of freedom.
Welcome to the be willing to change club, Tami. As much as we resent having to make changes, most of them actually work out for the better.
There is so much to keep track of and update and it can be overwhelming at times. What I have learned from the past is to learn one program in depth before jumping to adding a lot of others. The upkeep can be more than the tool is worth. Once you get into business there are so many classes, programs, webinars and such offered, but they can pull you away from your goal and not enhance it. Choose carefully!
Yes, the best advice is to choose carefully! Also, you make a good point about learning one program at a time. I think we’re all guilty of signing up for something and then it sits in our files.