Nothing is more important than an open mindset. But I didn’t realize that in my early 20s when I decided to start a business. The psychology behind sales and human buying behavior fascinated me. The ability to use that knowledge to make money was my main driver back then.
I didn’t stick with anything for very long at that time. I struggled with a mental health crisis, having been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder. I dropped out of school and felt the weight of my parents’ massive disappointment, as they expected I would go to a university.
Instead, I connected making money with being successful. I knew after I started working in multi-level marketing (MLM) that one day I would have a business of my own. I became obsessed with sales, money and human psychology. But I wasn’t successful and, at 21, I went bankrupt with what little I knew about business.
I assumed that I would need to wait until this passed before I started another business. I spent a few years building a career in sales, creating sales systems, processes and training for companies like MetLife and Bayer. Finally, I realized I could start a business any time I wanted.
During my business journey, I spent the first year attending a series of live events, paying my entire salary each month to walk away even more confused and lost. I built a website over several weeks, but I never ended up using it. Additionally, I fussed months and months over creating the perfect program with no idea how I could sell it. I never ended up selling that very first program that I created with my blood sweat and tears.
To top it off, I consumed several hours going back and forth with design people over logos but didn’t even know what I needed a logo for. Making matters worse, I bought an expensive camera, lighting, and backdrops to record a program, only to be told by my business coach that the people I wanted to sell my program to were not my ideal clients. Instead of sales professionals, I needed to teach entrepreneurs how to sell.
These learnings led me to teach coaches how to close sales for their high-ticket programs. It was probably close to a year and a half before I signed my first client. During the 12 months that followed, I went from zero income to over $200,000.
Today, I am convinced that simplicity is key to execution and success. People can learn any skill or outsource tasks that require skills that that they lack.
Most people remain stuck where they are because they hold themselves back or lack discipline or the ability to face rejection, or they lack belief in themselves. Thus, when outcomes are not desirable, people tend to pull back rather than push forward. Success is all about having an open mindset to keep pushing through the challenges.
Having an open mindset allows you to stretch yourself, see possibilities in failures, and continue on the path to success.
Woman up! Put your big-girl pants on and prove yourself wrong. I spent close to 10 years of my life, fighting for my mental health. Plenty of times, I didn’t feel good enough; but the fact that I wanted more for myself kept pushing me. So I kept turning up and trying.
Not recognizing my value is a confidence issue, and the only way to fix a confidence issue is to turn up and do the work, do the uncomfortable things over and over until you build that muscle just like any other muscle.
Eventually, when you prove to yourself time and time again that you are enough and you can do whatever task is in front of you or overcome whatever challenges you face, confidence becomes part of your identity. You become someone who will always be more than enough and can achieve anything without questioning herself.