As an expert marketer with 30 years of experience, I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies, multi-million and multi-billion-dollar organizations that are well-known trailblazers in business, as well as nonprofits and startups with very tight budgets. I’ve not only used marketing best practices that have been developed by other marketers over the years, but I’ve also created marketing best practices. Plus, I’ve witnessed how some of the most successful businesses are working to generate high revenue years. Today, I’m going to share the one piece of advice that could make or break your entrepreneurial journey.
Uncover the game-changing piece of advice that will transform your entrepreneurial journey and skyrocket your business to unprecedented success.
After polling numerous successful entrepreneurs, I’ve discovered the golden nugget of wisdom that has the power to propel your business to 7-figures and beyond. It’s not about the latest marketing hack (can you believe I said that??), social media strategy, or productivity tool (and there’s quite a few of those that I find helpful!); it’s about something far more fundamental and impactful.
The Single Most Crucial Piece of Advice: Embrace a Growth Mindset
One entrepreneur, Sarah, shared her story: “When I started my first business, I had a fixed mindset. I thought I had all the answers and didn’t need to learn from others. My business struggled for years until I realized that my mindset was holding me back. Once I adopted a growth mindset, I started to see opportunities everywhere, and my business began to thrive.”
A growth mindset is the belief that your intelligence, talents, and abilities can be developed through dedication, hard work, and learning from others. This mindset encourages you to seek out challenges, embrace failure as an opportunity to learn, and continuously push the boundaries of your potential.
As a seasoned marketer, I’ve seen time and time again how a growth mindset can propel businesses to new heights. It’s the driving force behind innovation, resilience, and success.
Here’s how you can cultivate a growth mindset:
Seek Out Challenges and Embrace Failure
When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. But remember, challenges are opportunities for growth. Embrace failure as a chance to learn and improve. As Mark, a serial entrepreneur, puts it: “The only true failure is not trying. Learn from your mistakes and come back stronger.”
Never Stop Learning
No matter how experienced or knowledgeable you are, there’s always room for growth. Continuously invest in yourself by attending workshops, reading books, and learning from mentors. As I’ve grown my marketing career, I’ve seen the immense value in remaining a lifelong learner.
Collaborate and Learn from Others
Surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs who share your passion for growth. Engage in mastermind groups, networking events, and online forums. Tap into the collective wisdom of your peers and learn from their successes and failures.
Celebrate Small Wins
Don’t wait until you’ve hit 7-figures to celebrate your achievements. Every milestone, no matter how small, is an opportunity to acknowledge your progress and reinforce your growth mindset. As Lisa, a successful entrepreneur, advises: “Take a moment to celebrate each success, and then use that momentum to push forward.”
Embody Resilience
The entrepreneurial journey is filled with ups and downs. A growth mindset empowers you to persevere through tough times and bounce back stronger. As I’ve worked with thousands of entrepreneurs over the years, I’ve seen how resilience can make all the difference in long-term success. (I also benefits from some formal training in building resilience in children, when I worked at the nonprofit shelter for homeless teens, and it turns out many of those teachings are the same for adults as well.)
Resources for Entrepreneurial Mindset
Books (available on Amazon):
- “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck
- “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries
- “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber
- “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
- “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey
YouTube Channels:
- TEDx Talks (https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDxTalks) – Offers a variety of talks on business, mindset, and personal development from thought leaders around the world.
- Marie Forleo (https://www.youtube.com/user/marieforleo) – Marie Forleo provides tips and advice on entrepreneurship, mindset, and personal growth.
- Valuetainment (https://www.youtube.com/user/patrickbetdavid) – Hosted by Patrick Bet-David, Valuetainment offers interviews with successful entrepreneurs and lessons on business and mindset.
- Stanford Graduate School of Business (https://www.youtube.com/user/stanfordbusiness) – Offers educational content on business strategies, innovation, and leadership from Stanford faculty and guest speakers.
- Unscrewed Marketing (formerly Unscrewed Marketing (formerly Vicky Wu Marketing)) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSpHdPwjX9_QVjW1rZCJm7w) – Provides marketing tips, strategies, and insights for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
There’s also a second mindset-related recommendation that I make to entrepreneurs, which I have eyewitness testimony that makes a huge impact for entrepreneurs. And it all has to do with your ego. I’ll discuss that next 😉
