Entrepreneurial Success in Times of Chaos

Today Linda talks about her mindset shift that helped her to move from a corporate 9-to-5 position, to creating her own business based on her passion.

By Linda Jean Elder from Applied Practical Spirituality

When life feels chaotic it forces me to slow down, evaluate what I’m doing, to check what’s working and what’s not. It prompts me to be creative, pro-active in taking considered risks, learning new skills and experimenting with alternative ways of presenting my offerings.

I was 65 when I taught myself how to create a YouTube Channel. I learned how to record, edit and upload content in the form of guided meditations and videos.

I had to face my fear of not being good enough, but I’ve developed greater self-confidence as a result of going through this process.

I am constantly questioning my “Why?” Why I do what I do – offering Tarot and life guidance.

Shifting Your Mindset About Money

For me, money has never been a great motivator. I need more than just money to feel fulfilled. I need to feel I am also making a positive difference by doing what I love – in exchange for money, which is another form of energy.

I know from personal experience what it’s like to struggle financially and be close to homelessness. I also know what it’s like to feel financially abundant, with no money worries.

The amount is incidental – gratitude is key!

I have come to understand that when I hoard money from fear of lack, the flow of money dries up – I create an energetic dam.

In the past, I unconsciously linked the idea of money with “loss”, instead of seeing money as an energetic exchange that naturally ebbs and flows.

These days, every time I spend money, I recite a heart-felt silent “thank you that I have this money to share”. When I share my money consciously, trusting it will come back to me, the dam breaks and the natural in/out flow is restored.

Each time I have taken a leap of faith and risked spending a large amount on something that I really needed, the funds have miraculously re-appeared quite quickly from unexpected sources.

Key Questions for Entrepreneurs to Ask Themselves

So, what I have learned is that some of the questions one needs to consider when starting a business, particularly as an entrepreneur who often works alone and will need to self-motivate, are the following:

• Vitally important – Do I BELIEVE I can succeed? (If you’re not sure, ask yourself why not? What belief are you holding that makes you doubt your ability to succeed?)
• How do I FEEL when I imagine running this successful business? (Excited, terrified, scared I will fail miserably, or scared I will be outrageously successful?)
• WHY do I want to create this business? What is the core DESIRE motivating me?
• How can I operate this business in alignment with my PASSION, personal VALUES
• How important is being honest, authentic and transparent in running my business?
• Would I pay for my service/product?
• Will I be contributing, making a positive difference for others in some way?
• What will my BRAND be and how do I reflect the value of my offering in that brand?
• What is my VISION – what do I hope to achieve and receive in return for my services/products?
• Do I have the necessary practical SKILLS or natural TALENTS to grow this business?
• Do I trust my INTUITION, in combination with my logical mind, to help guide my decisions?
• AM I prepared to commit to growing this business, especially when it’s challenging me?
• Am I willing to keep EXPERIMENTING, as well as making changes when needed?
• Can I accept that making CHANGES is about finding what works best for the success of my business, not about failing.
• What can I do to avoid rigidly CONTROLLING every aspect of how my business grows, instead of allowing some aspects of it to organically evolve?
• Would COLLABORATING with others help me grow my business?
• Do I have a support network, if not, how can I cultivate one?
• What is the first step I need to take in order to begin creating my business, or the next step that will help my business grow? Am I ready to take that step?

Take your time considering these questions.

You will gain invaluable insights and clarity of purpose, and be well prepared for the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship, especially in times of chaos.

Keep going back to the questions to help you stay on track with your vision and to remind yourself of WHY you began this entrepreneurial journey in the first place.

Good luck – you got this!

Linda

Read more about Linda’s business here.