Why not having a winner mindset?
Historically, fortunes have been made more so in times of great economic downturns than in times of great prosperity. We are in the midst of the worst depression in most of our lives and there has never been a better time to make a lot of money and do some good in the world at the same time.
Most people will tell you that now is not the time to start a business. Now is not the time to take a risk. You need to hold on to that crummy J.O.B. (just over broke) because it pays and it’s hard to find a job right now. These people will tell you that you are crazy for taking
a chance.
Everyone is one of “those” people at some point… scared to take a chance. But not you. Not anymore. In fact, it is precisely because of “those” people that now is the time to start your own thing. Why? Because no one else is. Everyone is scared to think outside the box.
And that’s why you’re going to make your fortune and they are going to toil away in the “safe” jobs with all those great benefits (insurance that they pay for, loss of time and freedom, bending to the will of others, paying more taxes than the average millionaire etc.).
Starting your own business
So what should you tell those people about why you’re starting a new business and what it’s all about? Nothing. Don’t tell anyone anything about your plans. There are two reasons for this.
1) Statistically you are less likely to follow through with your plans if you start blabbing about them. The reason is that you subconsciously feel like you have accomplished them simply by talking about them and are less active in actually fulfilling them. How many times has someone told you their great plan to make money and then never followed through with anything? My guess is a million.
2) People will tell you that you are crazy or dumb or both. They will come up with all kinds of reasons and excuses to try and talk you out of doing anything. Deep down no one wants their friends and co-workers to do better than them. That’s why you simply don’t say anything.
So now you know what not to tell people. Now you’re asking yourself what kind of business to start and not tell people about. Well, I could give you all kinds of ideas about businesses to start but they wouldn’t mean anything. Deep down in your heart of hearts you know what type of business you want to start. You may not be able to put your finger on it but you will, eventually.
I spent years trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I knew what I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to wake up every morning, put on clothes I didn’t want to wear, rush out the door to sit in traffic for an hour, get to a job I hated, let them tell me when I can take my break, sit in another hour of traffic to get home. All for – what is now in hindsight – a crummy, crummy paycheck.
What does it take?
For those wanting to start their own business I would suggest leading a minimalist lifestyle. I do mean getting rid of things you don’t need. There is no point in paying a $1500 mortgage if you can rent for $400. There’s no point in leasing a Jag for $700 a month if you can buy a running Toyota for $2,000. There’s no point in going out to eat every night if you can survive and make your own healthy meals at home. Now is not the time to be wasteful with your money. You need every dime you can get your hands on and it’s ok to live like a bum. It will pay off in the end.
Ask your self this
Ask yourself these questions: “Will this $100 cable bill with 500 channels help me reach
my goals?” If the answer is no, cancel the cable! “Will going out tonight with my friends
and spending $75 on food and drinks help me reach my goal?” If the answer is no, don’t
do it!Imagine this scenario
Imagine this scenario: a man wants to be self-employed, hates his job and wants to be in
business for himself. He feels that he cannot do so because he has so many payments to make there is just no way he can make enough money right away to take care of all those obligations. So he just endures. He keeps at his soul-stealing job so he can keep
making those payments, keep consuming, keep himself down.
The opposite scenario is this: a man wants more than anything to start his own business.
He feels extremely passionate about it. He will do anything to make to succeed. He has all
the same bills and junk to pay for as the other man. This man, however, is willing to do what it takes. He sells his car that he is making
payments on and he buys a cash car. He cuts up his credit cards and is determined never to use them again. He turns off his cable TV, and instead sends the money in to pay off those credit cards.
He sells all his extra junk, electronics and so forth, anything that is not absolutely needed he gets rid of. He sells his house and moves into a cheap little apartment. He cooks his own food instead of eating out all the time.
He uses all his energy and resources to make his business work. He doesn’t care about having the latest cool phone, he knows it doesn’t matter. It’s hard but he finally makes his business work. It’s 5 years later and the man is basically retired. His business is on auto-pilot and he is living the good life.
The other man who was scared to quit his job is
still going into the same miserable job, buying the same miserable junk, living a miserable
existence.As your business you need to either pick something you love or something you are an expert at. You need to devote all of your time and energy to that endeavor. Start reading books every single week. I don’t mean the new Michael Crichton or the new Stephen King, or that new romance book you saw at Wal-Mart. Start reading books that have to do with your chosen field. Start reading business books and motivational books. Read all of those books you can get your hands on. Never stop reading those books.
The importance of physical fitness
Start exercising! A healthy body is a healthy mind. You will need to be in good shape to start your own business. There will be very, very stressful times ahead and it will help if you are in good physical shape.
Lay off the cigarettes and booze too. Those do nothing to help you achieve your goals. They only help to kill you faster. Even if you don’t have a business idea yet, you ARE
waiting for the opportunity. Opportunity comes to those who are prepared.
