I’m sure if you’re a business owner you’ve realized by now that success is not achieved overnight, or in a straight line to the top. In fact, most businesses in the past few years have experienced a lot more downs. Between pandemics, recessions, staff shortages, you name it, it’s been a roller coaster ride. 

What we don’t always realize is that when we are going through something difficult in our business (or in life) it’s conditioning us to be more equipped to get to the level of success that we desire. Although I recently completed an official degree in business, I have and continue to learn the most from real world experience. If everything went exactly as we would like, how would we ever learn from our mistakes or be put in a position to have to learn how to handle a particular situation? When it’s sink or swim, you do what it takes to learn to swim.

The truth is that anyone who has achieved greatness has failed tremendously in the process. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, missed more than 9000 shots, lost over 300 games, and missed 26 game winning shots. Steven Spielberg was rejected twice by the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Oprah was fired from her first TV job and Elvis was fired after his first live performance. It’s clear that it’s the people that don’t give up and learn something along the way that are lead to greatness.

The biggest determining factor? Mindset. Any journey towards success that includes a turbulent ride along the way will require a healthy mindset. One that even in the toughest times keeps a positive outlook, hope, and perseverance. This alone will affect the success of your business. When you’re able to keep a healthy mind set, your motivation will increase and so will your productivity.

I’m not going to lie and say that having a positive mindset is always easy but having a few key strategies to help develop and maintain a healthy mindset especially when the going gets tough will help you to keep on keeping on.

5 Ways to Develop + Maintain a Positive Mindset 

1. Be Mindful of Negative Thought Patterns

It is easy to get down on yourself or your business when you work endlessly, putting all of your passion and energy into something and still not getting the outcome you desire. You might think “Why do I even try, I am just not smart enough to have a successful business”. Replace that thought by reminding yourself how you are learning and from the challenges and being conditioned for success because of it. You can even make a goal that can help make you better equipped to get through the challenge, like to find a mentor, reading a book on the subject you are struggling with, take a class, or join a mastermind group.

2. Have a Gratitude Practice

Whether you have a daily mediation journal, or simply think about what you are grateful for throughout the day, having a gratitude practice will help decrease stress, put things into perspective, and help you maintain a positive outlook. If things aren’t going as well as you’d like in your business, instead of festering on the problems, it helps to think about all the things in your life that are going well; your health, your kids’ health, having a roof over your head, a car to drive, eyes to see, water to drink and so much more. 

3. Develop Goals

If you’re going through a difficult time in your business, you might just want to sit around stressing and worrying about things but having the courage to look fear in the eye and develop a plan will serve your mindset and your business much better. Write down the areas you want to improve and then create goals with action steps to reach them.

4. Self-Care, Self-Care, Self-Care

As business owners, self-care is non-negotiable. Not only is our health directly connected to the health of our business, but if we are too burnt out to enjoy the journey or the success once we’ve achieved it, then what’s the point? If we do not manage our stress, eat for energy, and take time to recharge, our mindset will be directly affected. When we must lead and inspire a team and attract customers, our energy and mind set will directly influence the outcome. Your health is simply the launchpad to reaching your business and personal goals. Exercise, meditate, eat a healthy diet, go to the spa, and make time to slow down.

5. Get Support

Entrepreneurship can feel lonely at times for many. You and you alone are carrying the risk of owning your company. It can be hard for others to understand the stress and certain challenges that go along with that. Developing a support system with other entrepreneurs and/ or mentors that have been in your shoes helps you understand you’re not alone and provides an outlet to share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and hold each other accountable. There are great business Facebook groups you can join and even better if you can form or join an in-person mastermind group.