It really is as simple as that.

Imagine two small business owners. Let’s assume that everything about their businesses is identical with the exception of the way each owner thinks with regard to business matters. They are dealing with the same financial situation. They sell the same product in the same kind of marketplace. They have the same opportunities, the same threats . . . you get the picture.

Business owner “A” is enthusiastic, forward-thinking, appreciative of clients, employees,  and vendors. When challenges arise (as they always will and do in business) business owner “A” looks for the opportunity in the challenge. This business owner avoids using words (or thoughts) like “what if”, “should have”, “I wish”, and instead focuses his thoughts on where he intends to go and what he wants for and from his business. He knows that fear, stress and doubt are choices and implements tools to keep these debilitating states out of his business decisions.

Business owner “B” is stressed out, worried about money, indecisive, overwhelmed, anxious, works long days (and often on the weekends to “catch up”) and tends to complain or adopt a victim stance. When challenges arise, business owner “B” goes into fear mode and finds it very difficult to make decisions. His thought are often “future focused” wondering what will happen if this goes wrong or that goes wrong. He has a hard time sleeping at night and needs a drink or two just to relax.

Say both business owners are presented with the same marketing proposal. Business owner “A” will have completely different perceptions of this proposal than business owner “B”, which will affect their decisions that will eventually affect their business success.

Business owner “B” is much more likely to regard the proposal with suspicion, he might worry that it is a waste of money rather than looking at how much more money it might generate. This business owner might decide to think about it for a while and may never make a decision, one way or the other. This will impact his business—guaranteed.

Business owner “A” on the other hand, looks at the proposal as an investment in his business success and it stimulates a creative discussion that will propel his marketing efforts into a prosperous direction. This will impact his business also—guaranteed.

While this might be an extreme example, it does aptly illustrate how our thoughts can influence our business decisions which eventually create our businesses.

How do you think when it comes to your business? Are you worried about the “new economy”? Are you afraid of not having enough money? Do you worry about your competition? Is stress and overwhelm a big part of your business experience?

It’s extremely easy to fall into these ways of thinking, especially when everyone around you is intent on focusing on these uninspiring ways of thinking. Don’t judge yourself for falling into these traps (we all have and do). Just decide to start being more aware of how you think. Awareness is the first step to empowering yourself to make the changes you need to make in order to create the business of your dreams.

Your challenge for today, then, is to just be a bit more aware of how you think. Take it a step further and make quick note of your thoughts throughout the day. Start becoming more aware of your thoughts and how they might be influencing your business experience.

Remember . . . Your thoughts color your decisions which create your business. What are you thinking?

‘Til next time . . .

There is one critical and essential tool that you, as business owners and marketers, have at your disposal at all times—your thoughts. How you think can empower and energize you or put you in a state of fear and doubt. Clearly the former will benefit your business most and brings with it a number of other great benefits like greater confidence, less stress and effective use of your time just to name a few.

Having had the opportunity to get to know the owners of hundreds of small businesses over the 16 years that I’ve been in business, I began to notice patterns emerging in the way that the more successful business owners thought, while different thinking patterns showed up in the clients who seemed to be struggling. For instance, many of the struggling clients expressed their fear about a number of different things related to their business or shared that they lay awake at night worrying about their finances. Others suffered from indecision, fearing that they might make the wrong choice. Then there were those with scarcity mentality . . . they decide to do their own marketing or create their own marketing materials in order to save money, in spite of the fact that they have no training in these disciplines. Successful business owners think from a success point of view. When presented with fearful or scarcity thoughts, they know how to switch to thoughts that empower them to reach their business goals.

I urge you to consider how your own thoughts might be keeping you from enjoying the success and prosperity that you seek for your business. Start paying attention to that inner voice. What are your thoughts telling you? Is the message empowering or depleting?

In future posts I’ll give you:

• tips on how to think in ways that will support the success you desire for your business
• practical advice on how to market your business with confidence and
• stories of other businesses who are implementing this powerful marketing tool in ways that are propelling them to success and prosperity in their business.

Til next time . . .