Entrepreneurs are the kind of people who think and dream big. The kind of people who have ambitious long term goals.
And these big, overarching, “10,000 foot view” kind of things are actually really, really important.
But they're not the only factor when it comes to running a business.
Lofty goals are worth pursuing, but as they say, “the devil is in the details.”
If you're a holistic, “big picture” kind of thinker, you may have a habit of neglecting those little, tiny, nitpicky sort of things.
It's worth taking some time every day to really focus on the little things.
Small victories.
Small interactions with other people. Subtle details of how you're presenting yourself to your clientele.
Little things can make a disproportionately big difference for you and your business.
In a recent article from Entrepreneur, the author explains the concept of “microshifts.”
These are those little decisions that all of us make every single day.
Just microshift it.
As entrepreneurs, we all face many of the same daily choices, even if we work in wildly divergent industries.
Here are five microshifts all entrepreneurs must make — consistently — to be successful:
1. Stop trying to convince others of your worth.
You are looking for believers.
They’re out there, and the sooner you stop wasting your precious time trying to convince others of your ability to create change, the sooner you’ll start attracting the people who already share your beliefs and want to help you win.
In your business and your life, the people you surround yourself with matter.
If you’re surrounded by negative, cynical people, you'll find it harder to believe in yourself and your ideas when you need to the most.
In contrast, by hanging out with people who are positive and supportive, you’ll be able to achieve greater self-confidence and higher levels of creativity.
Plus, you’ll be happier.
And, according to a Harvard study, happiness is contagious, so you’ll attract more of these types of people into your life and business.
2. Stop making excuses.
Excuses are lies we tell ourselves to avoid action.
If you’re spending lots of time telling stories about why something isn’t working, you’re avoiding the truth.
Netflix did this in 2015 when it blamed the introduction of the chip card versus the swipe card for its low U.S. subscriber growth.
Other companies, like Macy's and J. Crew, have made similar excuses for their poor sales; such excuses are a well-established habit.
But instead of coming up with stories to explain your failure, work on being “present.” Fully dive into the experience you’re having right now, no matter how boring or mundane.
That's all that really matters.
3. Refocus negative energy immediately and often.
A 2016 study by Georgetown University found that a consistently negative co-worker affects co-workers up to seven times more than a positive one.
You don’t want to be that negative co-worker — but you also don’t want to be the miserable person stuck with a negative coworker.
Remember: What you choose to focus on will ultimately consume you.
Rather than focusing your energy on pity, retaliation or procrastination, focus on making small changes that can move you in a positive direction.
Focusing on the positive often means cutting out the negative, such as toxic relationships, clients or habits.
This can be hard, but it’s absolutely critical.
4. Celebrate your tiny wins.
Take time to acknowledge even the smallest wins.
You cleaned out your inbox today — win. You made an appointment 10 minutes early — win.
You went to the gym or a yoga class for the first time in months — win.
Small wins can lead to a huge difference in performance over time.
You can read more about how focusing on details can help you get ahead in the full article from Entrepreneur.
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