So happy to get back to writing after a small hiatus in May. Let’s talk about self-limiting behavior and why it’s so detrimental to your business.

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, you must first get past any thoughts or beliefs that are self-limiting. Maybe you’ve never spoken about them and you keep them buried in the back of your mind, maybe you have already said them out loud, either way, these thoughts and beliefs will hinder the success of your business.

Of course there are always places to improve in your business, that’s completely normal and actually very helpful. You must realize the difference between finding areas to improve and having self-limiting thoughts and beliefs.

In order to have a successful business you have to have constant growth in it. The way you think will determine which steps you will take to grow your business. To get yourself in the right mindset, you have to get past these self-limiting beliefs.

The Content I’m Putting Out Isn’t Good

Pft! It’s very common to wonder if what you’re putting out is good enough. The important thing to remember is the feedback from your audience. Their opinions are what matter. You will always be your biggest critic so observe and take feedback from your audience to know how well you’re doing.

Here are a few ways to gauge the quality of your content:

• The activity from followers on your social media account
• How many of your emails get opened
• Feedback in the comments on your website
• Is your content being shared often?
• Increased website traffic
• Increased growth of your email subscribers

If everything is looking good in all the above areas, you should be proud of yourself. You’re doing great. No second guessing. Of course there’s always room for improvement, but don’t limit yourself.

Raising My Prices Simply Isn’t An Option

Nobody likes talking about money, it makes us all a little uncomfortable, especially when you’re talking about money that someone is paying you. This awkward feeling often leads many entrepreneurs down a dangerous path, undercharging.

Don’t be afraid of charging a fair price for your goods or services if you know you’re really helping people with what you have to offer. The entrepreneurs that are the most successful charge for the value of their work, not what they think people would want to pay. If you have a valuable service or product, people will buy it. Period.

I Can’t Compete

Sure, there are over 900 million websites out there and 250 million blogs and more being created every day. Sure a lot of entrepreneurs are offering the same information as you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete. Even with that insane amount of competition there’s no reason your business can’t thrive.

All too often business fail because they try to fit in with the competition. They want to stand out but they try to forge connections with influencers and some even try to mimic the successful businesses. How are you supposed to stand out and be unique at the same time? Show what you have to offer and what sets you apart from the crowd. That’s going to be what grows your business. Steve Jobs advised entrepreneurs to, “be the square peg in the round hole.”

I Lack The Credentials

Of course there are places where having the necessary credentials will make you or break you. Doctors and lawyers are two prime examples. Good news for today’s entrepreneurs! The only credentials you need to become successful is what you have learned through experience. Do you know what you’re talking about and doing? Good. That’s all the credentials you need.

It’s easy to learn things in a classroom setting or from books but real life experience is what allows you to grow and learn as an entrepreneur. Don’t worry about the jerks who try to bring you down by bothering you about your “lack” of credentials, and focus on the people who you’re able to help with your real world knowledge. After all, those types of folks aren’t going to pass the “is awesome to work with test” anyway .. so why invest any thought or time on them?

Too Few Resources

You’ve heard the term “It takes money to make money” in the conversations about starting a business, and while that’s often true but there are free resources available to you to get you started on making and growing your business. Don’t let the fear of money hold you back from following your dream. A simple website is all it takes and WordPress is only one of the free options available for making one! As we all know, your website is going to be one of the most important aspects of your business.

If you’re not where you want to be financially, don’t let that hold you back. There are plenty ways to get your business on the right track.

• Venture Capitalists
• Angel Investors
• Crowd Funding
• Building slowly as funds come in
• Bartering (for those in the US, just remember that bartering is considered income when it comes time to do your taxes)

As entrepreneurs we tend to think outside of the usual 9 to 5 box. We take problems and turn them in to opportunities to learn and grow. Not having enough money just means it’s time to find a creative way to work around it.

Defeat self-limiting beliefs by being totally honest with yourself. Don’t think of the things that could prove to be a problem and look at what you’re offering and who you’re helping. Make a list of ways to beat any obstacles and remember that you know what you’re doing.

Remember that we’re living in the time of no impossibilities. You can do anything with a positive mindset and you have everything you need to bring your business up to a place you never even dreamed.

About Out of the Office Virtual Assistance:

Since 2006, Out of the Office has offered ideas and ways to increase your productivity, decrease your workload, and work more efficiently. We nurture a successful business relationship, while continuing to grow as your business partner. We are focused on streamlining your administration, social media planning and execution, content writing and offering creative solutions for your business success.

Image credit: johnhain | CCO Public Domain