Leaving a secure corporate role to begin an entrepreneurial journey is bold and exhilarating. However, the transition can have a big impact on your mindset, responsibility, and freedom. For new business owners stepping into that self-employed position, the journey can be full of opportunities as well as challenges.
How do you navigate from corporate comfort to business brilliance?
As an entrepreneur, you need to understand how to embrace your confidence, creativity, and resilience and work with your UHP® (Unique Human Proposition).
The power of choice
One of the most beneficial aspects of leaving the corporate world is the freedom to make your own choices professionally and personally. You are no longer restricted by company structures, rules, and hierarchy and can steer your business in any direction you want.
But where do you begin?
Start by defining your vision. Take a day to sit down and clearly set out the vision or mission for your business. What do you want to achieve in the next year, five or even ten years? Write it all down and keep it handy so you can review it regularly.
You are the heart and soul of your business, from the products to the services and beyond. Achieving clarity and focus is integral to how your business will grow.
It’s also essential that you transition from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial one. Embrace creativity, innovation, and a more proactive approach to your problem-solving skills and see opportunities where others might only see obstacles.
Carol Dweck’s book, ‘Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential’ talks about understanding the difference between fixed and growth mindsets. Identifying areas where you can shift your thinking and choose an alternative way to work helps you learn from any issues and embrace them as ways to evolve and thrive.
Doing things your own way
Corporate life has its own set of rules, procedures and protocols. As a new business owner, you can break away from these and create your own path.
Think about what it is you want to do differently.
- Can you adopt a unique business model?
- Can you establish a flexible work environment and culture?
- Can you implement innovative marketing strategies?
When I created my UHP® (Unique Human Proposition) model after a 30-plus-year career in sales, I saw how outdated sales had become and wanted to create something new. It was my vision to help people fall back in love with sales and selling.
What’s your vision?
If you’re unsure how you want to stand out from the crowd, start by researching different business models in your industry. Look at one or two practices you could implement into your business and experiment with these ideas. Do they work? What’s the impact?
It can seem scary when you begin to try new things, but a fear of failure is common among new entrepreneurs. Recognise that failure isn’t the end but more of a stepping stone to your success.
Any setbacks offer you a valuable lesson that can drive your business growth.
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” Paulo Coelho
Try writing down your biggest fears related to your business. For every fear you write, outline a worst-case scenario and think of a solution. It’s a great exercise to help you prepare for all outcomes. The pandemic is a great example of how every business, big or small, had to learn, evolve, and create a solution to a worst-case scenario. Be prepared, but stay mindful of something I say to my clients all the time, ‘I am built by every mistake I make’.
Here are a couple of my top tips for working with fear:
- Take control of fear: whether it’s to ignore it or show it who’s boss!
- Embrace fear: treat it like a child and look after it.
In my book, Live It Love It Sell It, I share more on the topic of fear and how to switch negative thoughts that stop you from selling into positive actions.
For example:
Negative thought: ‘No one
is going to want to buy what I have.’
Mindset switch: Your ideal client will want what you sell.
Building resilience
Running a business is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be lots of ups and downs on your business journey, and building resilience is essential to navigating this. Begin to adopt and maintain a positive outlook, be adaptable, and be open to continuous learning.
Your personal well-being is intrinsically linked to your professional life. Develop a daily routine that includes physical exercise, mindfulness, and time to learn. It’s important to review and adjust your routines to support your well-being and business growth. You can’t pour from an empty cup!
Let’s recap:
- Embrace your freedom – use your new business to reflect your vision and core values.
- Adopt a growth mindset – approach any challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
- Break the mould – don’t be afraid to do things differently and stand out from the crowd.
- Reframe failure – “Courage allows the successful woman to fail and learn powerful lessons from the failure. So that in the end, she didn’t fail at all.” Maya Angelou.
- Build resilience – take care of your physical and mental well-being for long-term success.
Moving away from the corporate world to start your own business is a courageous decision. Remember why you made this decision and follow the tips shared in this post. Embrace choice, maintain that growth mindset, do things your own way, and begin to build confidence as an entrepreneur.
Are you ready for business brilliance?
Book one of my Express30 coaching sessions and gain the clarity you need to build confidence in yourself and your business. If you have a burning challenge with sales, then my Express 30 sessions are designed to solve that issue in just 30 minutes.
“I booked an Express30 session with Jules when I was feeling a bit blocked on my business’s direction. I needed clarity on the services I offer and a boost of confidence to push forward with my plans. Jules doesn’t waste a second and quickly gets to the core of your challenge, ensuring you leave with everything you need and a buzz about your business goals. I can highly recommend these Express30 sessions.” Shelley Wilson, Writing Mentor
Are you ready to deliver an unparalleled sales experience to your customers? Book a call today to discover how to create a unique sales process that will set you apart from the rest
“Jules is a fantastic coach, approaching sales with energy and empathy.
A trusted acquaintance introduced me to Jules after hearing I was looking for help developing my LinkedIn messaging. To say that working with Jules has been an inspiration is an understatement rather than an exaggeration!
She’s helped me feel more comfortable ‘selling’ and our work together has impacted all aspects of my company’s communications.” Richard Banyard, Op-Tec Systems
Want to find out more? Schedule a virtual cuppa with me, and we can have a chat about my coaching services.
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