What's Holding You Back from Your Business Success?

What's Holding You Back from Your Business Success?
Many business owners are struggling with their success and
don't know why. Are you one of them? Perhaps you've
analyzed the workings of your business with a fine-tooth
comb. You've even hired a consultant to come in and poke
around. You've tweaked here, nipped there, and still
something's not right. What could it be?

Well, have you checked your thoughts lately? Yes, thoughts.
While many factors can contribute to a lack of business
success, the one most often overlooked is what you are
thinking about. Ignore your thoughts, and you will be
dispensing with one of your most powerful business allies.

Why are thoughts so important? Because your thoughts
influence your feelings. How you feel influences what
actions you take. And the actions you take have a direct
influence on the results you achieve. Here's how to align
your inner thoughts with your outer business success.

Step 1 - Identify What You Want

Below is a list of 20 words and phrases often used to
describe a successful business. Circle the three that most
represent how you want your business to be:

- Prosperous
- Thriving
- Successful
- Inspirational
- Booming
- Solid
- Doing Well
- Exciting
- Gratifying
- Lucrative
- Sustainable
- Strong
- Growing
- Flourishing
- Profitable
- In the black
- Cost Effective
- Rewarding
- Stimulating
- Fun

Next, copy the three you circled and add two more of your
own.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Now, put feelings to your thoughts. Beside the five success
words and phrases listed above, jot down the first one-word
feeling that comes to you about that thought.

1. Example: Successful - Thrilled
2.
3.
4.
5.

Next to the feeling, rate on a 1-4 star scale just how
strong this feeling is for you.

1. Example: Successful - Thrilled - 4 stars
2.
3.
4.
5.

Now, write any clarifying comment about your thought and
feeling.

1. Example: Successful - Thrilled - 4 stars - This is
exactly how I want my business to be.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Step 2 - The "Yeah, but What If . . ." Process

This is a very important step, so don't skip it. It
examines your business from the inside out by identifying
any doubts, worries, anxieties, or fears that the voice
inside your head is expressing.

The "Yeah, but what if..." process will help you silence
the chatter of your mind so you can identify which thoughts
are getting in the way of and undermining your business
success. Best of all, this step will get your thoughts down
on paper, making them tangible and releasable.

Of the five "clarifying comments" you wrote down (above),
circle the one comment that most deeply resonates with you.
Then, write next to it all the doubts, worries, anxieties,
and fears that pop into your mind that begin with the words
"yeah, but what if."

Example: This is exactly how I want my business to be
(clarifying comment). Yeah, but there is no way I'm going
to have the kind of success I want. I don't know what I'm
doing and don't have enough money. What if I don't attract
enough clients to make this work, run out of money, get
sick, and don't have enough time to put into my business?

Step 3 - The Release

Now it's time to do a symbolic release of the thought that
is keeping you from your business success. This one act may
not entirely get rid of the thought. It will, however,
alert your subconscious mind that you intend to release
that thought and replace it with one that is more aligned
with your business success. Have some fun with this release
process!

Take the piece of paper containing your clarifying comment
and "yeah, but what if" worry, doubt, anxiety or fear and,
with great enthusiasm and vigor, crumple it up and get rid
of it. You can throw it away, burn it (safely), or shred it
to pieces. While you're doing this, say out loud: I release
all doubts and fears that hold me apart from my business
success. I am willing and ready to be successful now.

Finally, remove the thought from your sight by sweeping
away the ashes, flushing the pieces, or emptying the
wastebasket into an outside trash bin.

Congratulations! You've now gone through a very powerful
process.

Quick and easy to do, this process will reveal which
thoughts are keeping you apart from your business success.
Then it will align your inner thoughts and feelings so that
you can take the most inspired and productive outer
actions. Whenever you find yourself struggling in your
business, turn to these three steps to help you find out
why.

----------------------------------------------------
Susan L. Reid, DMA, Small Business Start Up Coach &
Consultant is the author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai:
The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success.
Hailed as The Secret for business, Susan is known for
taking the fear out of small business start-ups for
entrepreneurial women. For intuitive small business
solutions, powerful attraction marketing tools, inspiration
and direction, visit http://SuccessfulSmallBizOwners.com