The Blog For Entrepreneurs

When we are evaluating our businesses we often spend a huge amount of time on cash flows, business plans and marketing but sometimes those things are not at the root of the problem. Often it is our own attitudes, beliefs, opinions and convictions that are holding our businesses back.

Delving into our beliefs is the Yellow Brick Road of personal and business fulfillment, if we understand our beliefs and what they mean to us and our lives it will not be long before we can pull back the curtain on our fears and frustrations and find that they are not that powerful after all.

Our opinions are the most flexible of the big three. How often have you changed your opinions about a person? Recently I heard a podcast of an online celebrity who I had previously believed to be a bit geeky, unhealthy and brash. After the podcast I found him to be a fascinating individual, courageous in his personal battles, forthright in his opinions and a master at his chosen profession. I was inspired. That man was Jeremy Schoemaker, better known as ‘Shoemoney’. My opinions had been wrong and I changed them.

Beliefs are something else. We have spent years developing and reinforcing them and they are tough to change unless we make an effort to do so. For example, let us say you have a belief that ‘All car sales men are crooks”, that is what you tell yourself and that is what you believe. The mind is a funny thing, it doesn’t like to be wrong, so when you tell yourself that “all car salesmen are crooks” your mind will look for ways to re-enforce that belief every time you or someone you know, buys a car. Even if you get a good deal from someone who gives you great service, you will still find a way of re-enforcing the belief that “all car salesmen are crooks”.

Beliefs like this are in every fibre of our being and shape our world, they are part of the filter that we look on the world through. The thing that we have to discover in ourselves is those beliefs that are seriously limiting us.

How many of you have said “I am just rubbish at sports” or “I don’t understand technology” or “I don’t have enough will power”. These are ‘limiting beliefs’, you are programming yourself to re-enforce those beliefs on a daily basis. Now let’s get more serious what if some of your beliefs are “I always fail” or “I will never succeed” or “I will never find the right partner”. These kind of beliefs have the power to sap you of confidence and hope.

If you do not believe in the powers of belief take a look at Voodoo. Those who feel its power can literally die of those beliefs. They believe so intently in the power of a curse that the belief manifests itself in the form of physical harm and even death.

“First, with regard to South America. Apparently Soares de Sousa was first to observe instances of death among the Tupinambás Indians, death induced by fright when men were condemned and sentenced by a so-called “medicine man.” . . . Thus the chief or medicine man gains the reputation of exercising supernatural power. And by intimidation or by terrifying augury or prediction he may cause death from fear. . . .” Walter Bradford Cannon, MA, MD – From “Voodoo” death. American Anthropologist. 1942

When we believe so intently in something that it could cause us harm like the Voodoo believers then we have probably crossed the line to ‘conviction’. A conviction is something that we are absolutely sure of. When someone challenges our convictions we are defensive, argumentative and in some cases violent. It is the fundamental core principals of our being.

I, for example, cannot stand bullies in any form. I will intervene to the point of being hurt if I see any sort of bullying going on. It is fundamentally wrong and I will not allow it. That is a conviction.

A conviction, therefore is a very powerful thing and something we should keep in our minds to look out for because a ‘limiting conviction’ can be very, very destructive.

Unlike the Cowardly Lion, the Brainless Scarecrow and the Heartless Tin Man we, as entrepreneurs, know that our character is inside us and our potential is waiting to be released or enhanced it is just a case of following well worn strategies that we all know, but seldom re-evaluate.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road, the Lions and Tigers and Bears of fears and frustrations are out there but we can overcome them with self analysis… Oh My!

Regards
David
@OneLifeNoFear