11 Secrets: A Look Into the Mind of an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship encompasses skill, lifestyle, and, most importantly, mindset.

The mind of an entrepreneur works differently than an average person.

Don’t get me wrong – even ordinary people become successful entrepreneurs, but only if they shift their mindset in the right direction. 

Everyone is born with potential, and we all have something to contribute to the world.

The thing that separates those who make it big from those who stay in the background is perspective. 

How we think dictates the choices that we make and what we welcome into our lives.

If action is what makes our lives progress, then the thoughts behind our actions should set us up for success. 

mind of an entrepreneur

The Pareto Principle 

The Pareto Principle gets thrown around the entrepreneurial sphere a lot, and for a good reason.

This principle states that 20% of any activity will yield 80% of the results.

How do we make this information work for us entrepreneurs? 

We generally think of financial success as our ultimate goal.

If we use the Pareto Principle, 80% of what’s going to make us achieve our goal is psychological, meaning it’s your mindset.

Only 20% will account for strategizing and action. 

It will be easy to sway ourselves to make the correct business moves even if they prove to be difficult choices. Why? Nothing is that inconvenient with the proper mindset. You know what you want; therefore, you don’t mind what you have to do to get it. 

Related Reading: Benefits of (having) a mentor – Check Them out Here

Reshaping Your Mindset 

When we want to improve or ensure the success of our entrepreneurial endeavors, people have a tendency to act rashly. We immediately throw ourselves into creating a new business plan or sales system. Maybe we’d jump right into a new marketing platform or think about new products to sell. 

Sure, there’s nothing wrong with execution, but it has to be timed perfectly. Remember, according to The Pareto Principle, strategy and account only account for 20% of success. The rest relies entirely on your mindset. 

So what is involved in changing one’s mindset? Well, you need to view your opportunities differently. You have to boost your creativity. You need to enhance your emotional intelligence and be willing to innovate. When you get the hang of it, it’ll be easier for you to use your newfound tenacity to turn your thoughts into reality. 

What exactly is the Entrepreneurial Mindset? 

So what’s in the mind of an entrepreneur? There are three elements that comprise the entrepreneurial mindset. 

1. Beliefs 

First, you need to believe in your abilities and know that the success that you desire is attainable. The best entrepreneurs have faith in their business, products, sales practices, and employees. 

It would help if you channeled the power of belief to determine what actions you’re going to take and what aspects you’re going to focus on. This, of course, is easier said than done, and it requires a lot of confidence. 

2. Focus

What all successful entrepreneurs have in common is their ability to direct their focus. Running a business is a precarious thing, and it requires a lot of your attention, time, and energy. Without enough focus, you can’t mitigate whatever is holding your business back from its goals. 

Where others only see obstacles, you have to be able to spin situations and see opportunities instead. When you map out goals, focus on each one with laser-like precision and not let anyone’s negativity derail you. 

Focus can also get rid of your doubts and fears. With focus, you’ll be able to assess risks, understand what scares you, and take the appropriate actions to counteract those fears. 

3. Attitude 

It will be infinitely more challenging for you to succeed as an entrepreneur if you don’t have the proper attitude when going into business. When we examine the lives and traits of famous entrepreneurs, they all are: 

  • Adaptable 
  • Curious 
  • Eager to collaborate 
  • Focused 
  • Confident 
  • Enthusiastic about learning 
  • Enterprising 
  • Inventive
  • Assertive 
  • Bold 

Having or lacking these attitudes will make or break your entrepreneurial career. It makes sense that people who inherently have these traits are more suited for entrepreneurship. These aptitudes encompass the mental and emotional facets of a person. That’s why most successful business people are well-rounded. 

How do you get into the Entrepreneurial Mindset? 

1. Constantly work to understand yourself and the others around you. 

You don’t just magically have an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s something that you consistently have to work on. Every day, you should be in the process of profoundly understanding yourself, your abilities, and the value of the people in your life. This is how you get the mind of an entrepreneur.

When you know yourself well, you have a much higher chance of excelling in your chosen area. If you fail to realize your capabilities and your worth, no one else is going to think you’re worth any attention. 

Being in touch with yourself also unlocks your ability to understand others. It’s extremely rare that someone achieves success on their own. You need help from others, so you need to be able to collaborate well. 

2. Have set ideals and be sure about what you want to do. 

Ordinary people go through the motions. People with entrepreneurial mindsets have a much richer inner life. They take the time to analyze their thoughts, envision their future, and set out a purpose in life. 

It helps to put your mind on paper. Mental images are helpful, but it’s better to see your goals in a tangible form to guide you through your journey. Don’t be resigned to being someone who just wings it. 

You most likely have a vivid imagination, so you have a higher chance of executing a spectacular life. Just be confident in your life choices and never stray from your principles. 

3. Value nothing more than time. 

Time is an entrepreneur’s most valuable asset. Yes, we can have grand ideas and make plans to realize them, but we only have so much time in the day to do so. If you study the lives of successful entrepreneurs, they usually follow strict schedules to optimize their days. 

4. Be results-oriented. 

No matter who you are, we’re all bound to fail every once in a while. Even successful people aren’t exempt from setbacks. However, if you’re a results-oriented person, it’s easier to get back on your feet and see a clearcut plan to achieve your goal. 

The road to success will not be as taxing to you because you can see the payoff clearly in your mind. 

5. Manage your emotions and focus on facts. 

It will be hard to succeed if all your decisions are based on emotions and assumptions. Fact-based thinking is required to keep a clear head and to make effective choices. When you deal with facts, your words and actions will be hard to contradict. To have the mind of an entrepreneur, you must do this.

6. Desire to contribute. 

Whether you offer products or services, you have to believe that you’re contributing to the world. You have to be confident that what you provide has real value to others. 

Take a look at the Law of Reciprocity. You can only expect good things to come your way when you send them out as well. Since a business’s success relies on other people, you need to offer them something helpful. 

7. Let go of your past self. 

On your journey, you’ll find that you rarely resemble the person that you used to be. If you’re always trying to improve, learn, and adapt, there’s a good chance that you’re becoming a better person. 

As you grow, the more you’ll find confidence within yourself and boost your self-worth. 

8. Be focused. 

One thing you can’t be is scatterbrained. You need to concentrate on your plans and acknowledge the many opportunities that abound. Indecisive people have no room at the top of the entrepreneurial game. 

Can you imagine someone like Bill Gates vacillating between options and actions? No. Don’t put your resources and forces to waste. Focus on the task at hand and keep your eyes on the prize. 

9. Rub elbows with the right folks. 

Hang around with like-minded people, and give yourself a chance at success by association. Be friends with people who inspire and motivate you. Whether you’re young or old, always be on the lookout for a mentor who can quicken your progress. 

People are great resources, and we can always learn a thing or two from someone with different experiences than ours. 

10. Be accountable for your actions. 

The only person responsible for what takes place in your life is you. If people wrong you or you fail from time to time, look at these situations as learning opportunities. Never give up control of your life and blame others for what you find less than ideal. 

This kind of personal responsibility will give you complete control of your life and its trajectory. When you realize that you alone are responsible for your future, it gives you more incentive to perform better. 

11. Be grateful. 

The mind of an entrepreneur is grateful. No matter where you are in your journey, never focus on what you haven’t achieved yet. This negativity will only impede your progress. Instead, look at how well you have it compared to others less fortunate than you. 

When you’re always grateful, you’ll stop constantly sweating the small stuff. It also pays to be thankful to those who help you along your journey. These people may be mentors, employees, friends, and family. Eventually, being grateful will become a habit and will attract abundance. 

Related Reading: Vanderbilt Family – See Here.

Final Thoughts 

There you have it, everything it takes to have an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s definitely a tall order, but it gets easier as you practice it. There is always going to be some difficulty when we try to shift our brains to a different mindset, but in this case, it’s worth it.

Disclosure: This article might contain affiliate links to the resources I refer to. It's at no cost to you, and it's how we pay the bills. Get more info here.

Brooks Conkle Banner Image
Brooks Conkle

Brooks is an entrepreneur, father, husband, & follower of the golden rule. He has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur after graduating with a Finance degree from Auburn University. Addicted to starting new business projects, he believes in creating multiple income streams and a life of flexibility. Business should work around your life, not the other way around. He creates content on his website, sharing his projects to help other hustlers in marketing, personal finance, and online business.