It’s true that some people are natural born entrepreneurs. Maybe it’s the way they’re wired, or possibly business ownership runs in the family. But these people are few and far between. And so, if this isn’t you, not to worry. The entrepreneurial mindset can also be learned.
Just as with any skill, it can be practiced and mastered. This doesn’t mean that it will be an easy road. Dropping old habits and changing your mindset requires perseverance, dedication, and courage.
Let’s talk about what sets successful professionals apart from the rest of the crowd.
What is the entrepreneurial mindset?
Although we believe you’ll have a good idea what the entrepreneurial mindset is all about by the end of this blog, we want to start out by defining it! Hubspot articulates it perfectly by stating that “’The entrepreneur mindset‘ is a frame of mind that lends itself to big-picture thinking, professional leadership, value-creation, solving for others, and other positive tendencies most entrepreneurs generally exhibit.”
Considering this definition, we want to unpack the characteristics of an entrepreneur so you can assess your own mindset and begin aligning it with that of a dreamer, doer, and world shaker.
Six characteristics of the entrepreneurial mindset
Before diving into these six qualities, we want to remind you and emphasize to you that if you feel you aren’t “there” yet, it’s okay. It’s not always as simple as flipping a switch. The point of sharing these characteristics is so that you can check yourself and make the necessary mental adjustments.
With that being said, let’s get to it! Here are the characteristics that the professional with an entrepreneurial mindset has attained.
#1: They prioritize what’s important.
It’s not all about being wildly successful—unless that success allows you to live the life of your dreams. Many times, aspiring business owners set out to build their big vision dreams only to find themselves unhappy, unfulfilled, and unsatisfied.
The entrepreneurial mindset prioritizes what’s most important and keeps those things front and center. We’ll give you an example of what’s at the top of our list:
- Health
- Faith
- Marriage
- Children
- Finances
These values always come first. And every decision we make is made with this lens. This is how you, as an entrepreneur, will be sure to stay on track to your dream life.
#2: Their values dictate actions.
Entrepreneurs have strong values and convictions, and these are what drive them to continue to work hard and persevere through challenges.
Because let’s face it, challenges will surface, unfortunately, over and over again. And what sets entrepreneurs apart is that they don’t let their emotions and feelings dictate their actions. If we did that, we’d all stop as soon as we’re required to stretch and grow in order to elevate to the next level in business and in life.
They keep their values at the forefront, and that’s what drives them day after day.
#3: They are outcome focused.
Here’s where the “big picture thinking” part of the definition comes into play. This is all about starting with the end in mind through the lens of your priorities—see characteristics #1 and #2!
You might think that having big picture thinking means that you’re not detail oriented. But the opposite is true. Being able to see the outcome first helps you to break down your goals into detailed steps to reach your vision for the future.
Need ideas on how to practice this? Read more about what Indeed has to say about big picture thinking in this article.
#4: They have a “builder” mentality.
There’s a difference between an entrepreneur and an employee. The employee is trading time for money, and the entrepreneur is working to build their dreams.
We want to be clear that there’s nothing wrong with the employee mindset of working. We only define it so that we can expound on what it takes to adopt the entrepreneurial mindset.
The “builder” mentality is one of grit and grace. Grit to push through the beginning stages of entrepreneurship when you don’t always get paid for your hard work. And grace to allow for mistakes and learn from them—because there will be mistakes!
#5: They take responsibility for their future.
It’s all about ownership. Those who have larger than life goals take responsibility for their future and don’t rely on others to build their dreams for them. They don’t play the blame game for shortcomings. Instead, they seek to stretch and grow until they master the skills necessary for success.
And most importantly, they learn to appreciate the journey because they know it’s leading them to their destination.
Take a look at this article on “Learning to Be Self-Reliant” to help you take this characteristic to the next level.
#6: The entrepreneurial mindset chooses growth.
When it comes down to it, the entrepreneur is willing to get comfortable with being uncomfortable because that’s where the magic happens. They are, and always remain, learners. If you feel as though you’re stuck, try some of these activities:
- Read a book by thought leaders in your industry.
- Listen to motivational podcasts.
- Attend live business events.
- Mastermind with other like-minded people.
- Stay plugged in with your business coach.
- Learn something new like a language, hobby, or skill!
Entrepreneurs don’t shrink their dreams to match their skills, they expand their minds and hearts to make that dream come true.
Be a doer.
When all is said and done, you must be a doer. Putting your plan into action is the only way forward. We hope that this has encouraged you. Having an entrepreneurial mindset will change the course of your life. You have it in you. Just take one step at a time.
If you’re ready to dive into upleveling your life, we’ve compiled a blog about three “Small Habits That Will Change Your Life.” We think you’ll appreciate it!
