Why Isn't My Business Scaling Even Though I'm Doing Everything Right?
If you’ve landed here, the frustration is real! And let me start by saying this: You’re not alone.
Most businesses aren’t stuck from a lack of ambition (or strategies)—they’re stuck because they lack focus. It’s very common for focus to wane, especially when setbacks impact the founder’s growth mindset.
(Before you roll your eyes, I’m not talking about woo-woo mindset. I’m not talking about the BS, toxic positivity, and gratitude nonsense. I’m talking about science-backed strategies for getting actions to yield better results, as featured in my Forbes article.) In this article, you’ll understand:
-The mental impact of running a business
-The correlation between success and strategic mindset, backed by science
“Hard Truth: The best business strategies won’t work if they’re done from the wrong frame of mind.
Business owners already understand the importance of creating a solid business plan from the get-go. But how often do we take the time to craft our growth mindset strategy? As an award-winning coach and business growth strategist who has worked with countless service business owners, the answer is not hardly enough. The consequences for an entrepreneur’s business success and mental health are detrimental.”
The mental impact of running a business
Once you’ve been in business for a while, you’re familiar with failures and uphill battles. It’s a constant chain of problem-solving—and these experiences leave entrepreneurs doubting themselves, their life choices, and/or their ability to succeed. These moments have a profoundly negative impact on their mental state.
The correlation between success and a strategic mindset
As I explain in my book, your results don't start with your actions: They start with how you interpret the world.
Every situation is filtered through your beliefs, past experiences, and assumptions, shaping the thoughts you think, the emotions you feel, and the actions you take. And if you’ve experienced ample upheavals and setbacks, chances are your mindset skews negative.
That negative lens influences the quality of your actions, which directly impacts your results—so no matter how good your business strategy is, if there isn’t aligned action, it just won’t work. If you want different results, you have to look beyond strategy and start upgrading the beliefs, thoughts, and habits driving your decisions. That's why clients love The Up Level Formula: Beliefs + Thoughts + Language + Feelings + Actions = Results. It offers them a quick and easy way to see exactly where they’re veering off base.
How to craft a resilient growth mindset practice
Go back to the beginning: What was your original vision before all the setbacks?
It’s important to reconnect with what you wanted (and believed was possible) before all the disappointment. Not only will this remind you of why you started, but it will also reignite the spark and motivation you once had.
Align your vision with your desired results. (I also have my clients use the Up Level Formula to align their beliefs and thoughts, something I offer in my workbook.)
Next, it’s about knowing two of your brain’s unconscious tendencies:
Confirmation bias: The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs, values, or decisions.
Negativity bias: A cognitive bias that human cognition is relatively more affected by a negative affect than an equally potent positive affect.
Simply put, your brain is going to look for everything that supports your current state of mind and really hone in on everything that’s negative.
For each client, I prescribe an exercise that makes them laugh (and possibly question why they hired me). I ask them to do something super simple:
“Every day, list three things that went right in your business and report them back to me.”This helps shift their focus and challenge some of their limiting beliefs around their business. It also puts them in a solution-oriented state of mind.
Clients are always floored by how quickly this exercise yields results.
PS: Some business owners frown upon mindset work, but the science speaks for itself. Also, why wouldn’t you gift yourself all the tools available for success?
Putting it together
Next time you sit down to do strategic planning, be sure to incorporate a mindset resiliency plan.
Use the Up Level Formula to align your beliefs and thoughts, and implement the “What went right today” practice.
- Next steps to help you own your strategic mindset
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, identify what’s getting in your way and build a resilient and strategic mindset, here are a few resources for you:
Get your roadmap to next-level growth: Take this FREE Business Acceleration Assessment.
Read Hanneke’s bestselling book, The Up Level Project.
Work with Hanneke: Book a 1:1 consultation here.
Hello, World!
