Your Guide to Greatness by Rhondalynn Korolak | Author, Business Acceleration Expert, Lawyer, Chartered Accountant, Clinical Hypnotherapis, Master of NLP

Owning a business is a risky and challenging endeavour. If you're like most entrepreneurs, you've taken numerous risks with both your time and your money, only to see your best efforts produce little or no tangible results. No doubt you have from time to time felt frustrated and reluctant to put yourself out there and take another gamble. However, the more we focus on the negative aspects of small business ownership the more negative results we will actually attract to ourselves. Learning how to deal with challenges and obstacles is the key to avoiding failure and becoming even more successful now. Those entrepreneurs who never learn to deal with impediments and uncertainty will often become overwhelmed, hesitant and will therefore witness their businesses slide backwards. Habitual negative thinking is often at the core or epicentre of small business demise. So how exactly do you stop being so negative? Some might have you believe that you can do it by consistently trying to stay focused on success so that you can start attracting into your life the results you desire. There’s truth to the statement that “our own thinking impacts our environment”. If you've ever read a self-help book or watched a talk show you've probably heard this before. However, what you may not know is that the forebrain or conscious mind is a puny weakling compared to the powerhouse of the subconscious mind. In fact, no amount of “willpower”, positive thinking or affirmations will turn around habitual negative thinking without engaging the underlying causes for negativity in the subconscious mind. Attempting to make lasting change by addressing the conscious mind alone is a bit like trying to bludgeon your mind with a wet noodle. You can keep hitting it over and over but real change will take forever because the noodle is soft and has no real impact. In fact, in a battle between willpower and the imagination (the domain of the subconscious), the imagination will win almost every single time! This is why most business owners find it difficult to turn around chronic pessimistic thinking by making a few lists and reading some affirmations. Does this mean that you should give up and not bother trying to think positive thoughts? Of course not! However, you need to uncover and investigate the underlying cause of the negative thinking. In my experience working with hundreds of business owners, it often comes down to the “meaning” that they have attributed to the events they have experienced in their businesses. The events themselves have no inherent meaning or power other than that which we attribute to them. Said another way, it is never the obstacle or burden that breaks you but rather the manner in which you choose to carry it. Below is a quick guide to finding your footing and changing your outlook which will help you to achieve your goals.

Notice when you encounter an obstacle or challenge in your business. Take note of it and ensure that you hit it square on rather than trying to ignore it, carry it around or go around it.

Take note of the meaning that you attribute to the challenge or hindrance that you encounter. Does the meaning that you have given this event or occurrence empower you or disempower you?

If you look around and do not see any obstacles – be very afraid! It may be a sign that you are wandering around aimlessly in your business with no real direction. Make sure you sit down and set some goals that will challenge and inspire both you and your team.

Discuss solutions not obstacles – be “pro” something as opposed to “anti-obstacle” focused.

Revisit your goals on a regular basis – take some time each day to really try on what it will be like when you achieve them. What will you do? What will you feel? What will you say?

Surround yourself with people who are enthusiastic, passionate and inspired about building their businesses. Napoleon Hill the author of Think and Grow Rich suggested forming Mastermind groups which is an excellent idea. Be willing to put yourself out there and really make a valuable contribution without expecting something in return. Success breeds success.