How is the MINDSET of a Business Owner Different from the AVERAGE PERSON?

Well said @photosbydepuhl!

Hi @Jeff :smileyhappy: 

A business owner thinks outside of the box and is very solution-minded. I think they have an incredible mental ability to overcome self-doubt and fears. Giving up is not an option. 

The key to being a sucessful business owner starts with a mind set.  You have to stop thinking I do this, and start thinking the business does this.  Once you divorce yourself from the business in terms of your thought process, many seemingly complex issues get easier.

Like your PERSISTENCE, @photosbydepuhl.  As a business coach, I help my clients realize that more work is not always the solution to what ails them.  However, as strong workers, we think that working harder, longer, and not resting is going to work for us.  Unfortunately, it ends up burning us out and clouding our thinking and making us quite grumpy with those that ought to be doing the work for the company.  Hardwork is a left over of our worker brain.

Great addition, @AudreyPratt.  I love the 'solution minded" idea.  I would also add that business owners can usually consider many more options than the typical worker... and that's why they tend to come up with solutions that elude the average person.  I also love the "ability to overcome self-doubt and fears".  That is why business owners can take risks that no others will take.   Sounds like you may be a successful business woman.

I love this answer, @Rustler.  Not sure I would use the word "divorce", but I completely agree that you need to be a player in a bigger organization; and not think that it is all about you.  Unfortunately, the personality profile of most CEO's and Business Owners contains a strong EGO component; and they forget to separate themselves from the business... and get absorbed into ME; instead of into US.

@Jeff, I'm not talking about working harder, just to work. I'm talking about not being discouraged by obstacles. A business owner has to work efficiently in order to maximize his resources, especially those of us who work as solopreneurs. I'm with you 100% resting, recharging, recalibrating and reevaluating are all skills we need to remember. Check out how I make a Post-It note work really hard, so I don't have to:

I have a bit of trouble with the use of "Average Person," personally. I know a lot of Average people that are business owners, and Successful and Proud.  There are two perspectives I see: The average or typical person that decides to start a business (and perhaps doesn't shift gears in response); and, the average or typical worker that is the Incredible resource to the business owner.

I would examine this as, "What mindset does the business owner Need?"

Because, not everyone needs to learn everything or excel at it.

A successful Business Owner needs to be able to stand back when they are In the Way, step Forward when it is their time to Lead, and know that difference. Sometimes that means, get out of your own way.

This is a great mindset, @Rustler! 

@Jeff - thanks for sparking this conversation! So many wonderful ideas and inspiration have been shared. 

What a fantastic questions @Jeff! What came to mind first is COURAGE. When I started my business, non-entrepreneurs asked me so many questions that showed their own fear: "Aren't you afraid you are going to lose money? Aren't you afraid you might fail? Aren't you afraid you might lose everything?" Fear, fear, fear. And NO, I wasn't afraid of those things. I was convinced that I would succeed because we were going after a very real problem that wasn't being solved. I woke up every day with hope, not fear. I think that was a big difference in mindsets - my friends who were entrepreneurs never asked me those kinds of questions.

@qbteachmt... probably could use a different word than AVERAGE.  However, it is a fact that most people who attempt business ownership fail while only a few succeed.  To me, this is an above-average person... at least as far as business leadership goes.

I like your answer about knowing when to get involved or get out of the way... and knowing the difference.

I think this is a good one, @LeslieBarber.  In order to achieve success as a business owner, you have to be fearless and determined.  However, I have met a few folks who were fool-hardy and didn't balance their courage with wisdom.  Although, I've met many more that were too afraid to "go for it".  Thanks!

My mindset as a business owner is one of taking full responsibility for my day and every day in the future too.

I was already a workaholic as an employee, but I was working hard for other business owners to be a success.

In fact I was often working much harder than the managers or owners above me which made no sense to do. Now when I work hard, my clients benefit and I benefit in return, because they give good referrals to me also. So now I say I am in control of my own destiny. I work when I want, where I want and with clients that I choose. I could retire today if I wanted since I have enough money, but I love my work and have no desire to stop yet. 

That is awesome!

@Teri, it sounds like you own a practice that is primarily you.  I applaud your steller work-ethic.  I think I'm a lot like you when I started my first business.  Unfortunately, working hard can get in the way of being a great business leader.  My work ethic got in the way of me delegating to others and figuring out how to empower and lead; instead of DO.  Because hard-workers tend to devalue good leadership; and value DOING.  Hope you are doing well!

Yes Jeff.  My S Corp is just myself and my assistant.  No need or desire to grow with more employees but get lots of interesting offers to do so, such as requests to partner, be hired, etc.  I have no interest in spending my time administrating staff, did plenty of that in Corporate for 20+ years.  I would rather do the work I like to do. 

Since I train other business owners, that is a bit challenging to be able to teach someone else to do your way.

@Teri, I'm not really advocating a "My Way". I'm in the same boat as you.  I prefer to be on my own and coach business owners; instead of become one.  Almost all of my clients have to shift their Mindset from DOER to LEADER.     If you are coaching other business owners who are trying to grow and empower others in their organization; it takes a mindset shift.  Otherwise, you become an ineffective leader. That was the primary purpose of my question. 

Ah, I see what you are saying and yes, some of my clients have to shift to being LEADERS vs. DOERS, but some still have to do both.  For example, I have some small biz clients who are one owner/employee who do direct task work on Govt contracts with no other employees or subs under them, so they must still do both, and they don't really have anyone/anything else to lead except for the project they are working on. Another example is my client with three IT guys who are partners with all three working direct on Govt subcontract so all three are DOERS primarily since they do not lead anyone else, except as a team they manage the company and I am their CFO.  A third long-time client is husband and wife where the husband started as a one-man company working direct on Govt subcontract as the only DOER and now has hired wife and 5 employees, so yes in their case, I am now teaching them to be LEADERS on top of DOERS. 

Keep up the awesome work @Teri! I was in that position too: working 110%+ for someone else. Being able to work 110% for myself is incredibly gratifying. 

Yes, sometimes I momentarily think I should have made that move sooner, to escape the Corporate rate race, but if I had, I doubt I would have been as successful since it is all those years of experience that add up to the expertise I'm able to share with clients now.  Plus it was last few W-2 years that really convinced me to get out, not to mention the 3 acquisitions I went through surrounded by people worried about losing their jobs again. Fortunately, I was never concerned for myself since I was always in a good position, but hated seeing so many co-workers plagued with so much uncertainty and concern about their futures and worst of all having to tell subordinates the bad news, but everyone survived and I was able to help some secure new positions as well. Truthfully never planned any of it, so there was no plan or period of time that I had to debate or decide to do, so I am not as brave as those who actually made the big leap intentionally.

We are forever turning adversity to advantage! 

I just saw this post. I feel like business owners are big picture thinkers, risk takers and ambitious in the sense that they want more for themselves and their quality of life. That's just my arm chair perspective. 

I was talking about this a bit with my biggest client. They are getting ready to exit their business and trying to figure out why more people aren't like them, ready to take ownership. As well as, all that entails. And the difference between the average person, and the owner is the willingness to "own" it. They don't want to have their hand held, and be guided through to the next opportunity. And as independent as most people are, they are independently minded along a set path. Business owners create their own.