How Most Business Owners Sabotage Their Success

Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. If you're like many novice small business owners, you've taken numerous risks with your time and your money, only to see all of your efforts producing little or no result. This can leave you frustrated and ready to give up. That's no surprise. The more we focus on the negative parts of owning a small business the more negative results we will attract. Learning how to deal with obstacles is the key to avoiding failure. Those small business owners who never learn to deal with obstacles will often become overwhelmed and end their business. Negative thinking is the center of the small business failure scenario.

So how do you stop being so negative? By consistently staying focused on success you can start attracting in your life the results you desire. Now if you've ever read a self-help book or watched a talk show you've heard all this before. And you probably feel like it's all talk. But there's a reason why you have heard so much about changing your outlook. Quite simply, there's truth to how our own thinking impacts our environment.

It's often difficult to hear super-successful individuals talk about thinking positive. Inside you feel like it's easy for them to say because they're successful. But many successful business owners today have built their businesses from the ground up. Many of them started with little or no money, which may be your situation as well. What makes them different from the countless number of entrepreneurs that try and fail each year is one thing. Their belief in themselves. So take some time evaluating that inner-voice that's always telling you that you're not going to make it. If you tell your self you won't make a successful business, you're absolutely right. If you tell yourself there is no way you will fail, you're still absolutely right. Below is a quick guide to changing your outlook and which will help you change your results.

  • Take note of any negative thinking and immediately correct yourself.
  • Focus on all you've managed to accomplish:Write a daily to do list and continuously praise yourself every time you've managed to check something off. Think about other accomplishments as well such as obtaining a new customer or creating a new product.
  • Create a new set of realistic goals: Re-write your business plan based on solid research. For example, the average click through rate for a banner is 1% - 2%. So you wouldn't want to set a goal of receiving 10% from your banner campaign.
  • Visualize your success daily:See yourself as having reached your goals. How does it feel? What would you do? How would you treat yourself? Keep this in mind every time you feel self-doubt emerging.
  • Retreat from negative people and surroundings: Log on to small business forums and talk with people who share your struggle. Offer and accept suggestion on time management, working with family, and minimizing costs.
  • Consistency is the key. Don't let a day go by when you don't put in practice the things listed above. Better yet, try adding things to the list above that you know will keep you in a good mood such as exercise, daily walks, and time with your family. You'll be able to change your business and see results immediately.

    Copyright © 2005 Rhonda Winn - All Rights Reserved. Rhonda Winn has been helping small business owners since 2000. She is the author of the popular eBook, "How to Live Your Dreams and Achieve Unlimited Wealth in Small Business" Receive the first chapter free, when you join her bi-monthly newsletter today: SmallBizStartupKit.com.

    You are free to publish this article as long as the content remains unchanged and copyright notice and byline is not removed from article.

    In The News:


    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Survival Tips For Your Small Business

    No matter type of business you operate you've got to... Read More

    If You Want to Work from Home

    Here are some important points to take note of if... Read More

    The Skills Gap: It Pays to Use Experts

    By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow... Read More

    Small Business Failure? Nuts!

    Pardon my enthusiasm, but a large part of your small... Read More

    The SBAs Savviest Program

    Forget everything you've ever heard about the U.S. Small Business... Read More

    The Inside-Out Business Plan? -- Your Small Business Plan in 10 Easy Questions

    Writing a business plan for your Solo Entrepreneur business doesn't... Read More

    Hone Your Edge, Stay Focused

    A common hazard faced by new entrepreneurs is a lack... Read More

    Build Credibility, Value, and Trust on a Shoestring

    Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to... Read More

    How to Raise Your Fees and Thrill Your Customers

    Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More

    Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive)

    Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss... Read More

    How to Find a Microenterprise Loan for Your Business

    If you're looking for start-up capital for your business, but... Read More

    5 Small Business Management Questions to Help Choose Marketing Programs

    As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More

    To Buy Or Not To Buy: Lawn Mowing Business

    TRUTH IN THE LAWN MOWING INDUSTRYWe do not wish to... Read More

    The Key To Success - Choose The Right Partners

    Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More

    Starting a New Business in a Small Town

    Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More

    Franchise Buyers from Hell

    I ran a franchise company for many years, a car... Read More

    In Home Daycare Businesses for Profit

    To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses.... Read More

    Banking and Company Credit Card Policies for Small Business

    Does your small business have a banking and credit card... Read More

    11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Tiger

    1. There Are No "gimmes" ? They count two-foot putts... Read More

    Perfecting Your Pitch

    Why should you describe your business to others in 5... Read More

    11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Rudy Giuliani

    1. Leadership Is Learned ? While many people appear to... Read More

    How to Manage Your Pipeline

    How is your pipeline structured?I assume most of you have... Read More

    Due Dilegence 101 Or What You Do Not Know Can Kill You! - Part 1

    Introduction: This article is written as a general discussion on... Read More

    A Business Tail: Veterinarian Foams at Mouth, Chases Tail, Learns New Tricks--Case Study

    Many self employed professionals find themselves overwhelmed, frustrated, and confused... Read More

    Money Series 1: Who Takes Your Money

    Your business is making profits, but where is the cash?... Read More

    Sex Up Your Business Growth

    A top executive called up me late in the night.... Read More

    The Truth About Government Grants for Your Business

    Free money! Receive up to $25,000 that never has to... Read More

    Private Franchising is not Real a Real Franchise

    One major issue not being addressed right now in the... Read More

    Procrastinate Your Way To A Successful Small Business

    What will your business look like a year from today?If... Read More

    6 Ways Small Businesses Can Survive In A Crazy Economy

    Contrary to popular belief, small businesses can survive a crazy... Read More

    Starting a Small Business: Balancing Risk and Reward

    In a perfect world, starting a small business would be... Read More

    Do Home Businesses Complicate Small Business Debt Collection Laws?

    The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More

    How To Write A Business Plan

    Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More