How Self-Awareness Can Help You Succeed
Think for a moment back to when you selected your business idea. Did you wake up in the middle of the night feeling inspired? Or, was it formulated after a long, deliberative process?
However you made the decision, there was something that drew you to this particular business plan. If your business growth has stalled, self-awareness can help you get back on track.
Self-Awareness Leads to Fulfillment
There are many traits that successful entrepreneurs share. These include, leadership, problem solving and motivational skills. But not the least of the necessary traits is self-awareness.
The best entrepreneurs are the ones who don’t just jump on a business idea because it is popular or destined to bring in a lot of money. They carefully select a business that appeals to their core values (see my article on business success for more details) and use a mission statement as their guide.
When you talk to entrepreneurs who practice self-awareness, you discover that they all share a common thread: they are all incredibly happy with their business choice. In good times and in bad, they feel a commitment to their business plan and a deep sense of fulfillment.
Self-Awareness Leads to Greater Success
Not only do entrepreneurs with self-awareness select business models that lead to fulfillment, they are also met with greater success.
Why?
Well, there are two reasons The first is that when you find a job you love — one that speaks to your deepest self – you are motivated to work hard every day. Growing your business is a labor of love, not a chore.
The second reason is that with self-awareness, you are very much in tune with your strengths as well as your weaknesses. You discover that you enjoy the creative process behind the products you sell, but you get burned out when it comes to closing sales. So with that awareness in mind, you find someone who loves selling to fill in the gaps. You don’t try to force yourself to do something you don’t love. That’s why there are employees, partners, and independent contractors.
How to Become Self-Aware
Over time, we can become programmed to think and feel a certain way. For example, society perceives busyness as a sign of productivity. So, if you ask many people what is important to them, they may run off a long list of activities without really considering whether those bring them joy. Instead, they have assigned those activities a value because they think that’s what society tells them should be important.
To get at the heart of what really drives your success, you need to slow down and take part in some serious self-assessment. If you aren’t sure where to begin, try these paths to self-awareness…
1.) Meditation: Carving out just 5 minutes a day to sit in a quiet is sometimes all it takes to discover what makes you tick. Find a place where you won’t be interrupted and let yourself relax. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Then consider your hopes and dreams for your business. Don’t get hung up on the details — this isn’t a business planning session. Instead, focus on how you feel when you work on your business.
What activities do you love and which ones do you dread? Are you energized or exhausted after work? Why did you pick this business? Was it out of love or out of obligation? Once you start to carefully consider these and other questions, self-awareness will quickly follow.
2.) Self-Awareness Exercise: To improve your self-awareness, you need to tune into your inner dialogue. As you go through your day, what is your mind telling you? Are you trying to psyche yourself up or is that little voice in your head mainly negative? If so, it’s time to put away the whips and chains! To fulfill your true potential, you need to adjust your inner voice and exercise a little patience, compassion, understanding and loyalty. Believing in yourself is crucial to creating an atmosphere of success.
3.) Coaching: If you are having trouble with self-assessment, it may be time to turn to an expert for help. Personal and business coaches use a variety of methods to help clients gain clarity. At Mindset Success Coaching, we encourage living your life’s purpose and incorporating that with your vocation. A good coach will act as a trusted guide who leads you to self-discovery and self-fulfillment.
Image via Esparta on Flickr
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