I have found that achieving business success, for most people (not all, there are some that are just lucky, or talented, or both, LOL) isn’t easy. Most of us don’t have “overnight success”. Sometimes understanding where we “get stuck” is the key.

While traveling and speaking, I like to hang out in the bar in the evening. Ok, some of you are not surprised, LOL! I like talking with people. There is this weird “safety” if you will. I think it is because most of us know we will never see the person again. Once in San Diego, I was at the Marriott Marquis. It is right next to the convention center, so the bar is always busy. I met a man who had his own business (defense contracts). We had a great time talking wine and business. Later, as I was really trying to get away and go relax (I had a class to teach the next morning), three women joined us. The gentleman said “Hi”, and suddenly we are in full conversation. It turns out they are from Chicago and one woman just started her photography business.

As the conversation continued, she looked him straight in the eye (pretty much leaned across me) and asked: “You own your own business. When does it get easier? What was the first year like? How do you get successful?” He proceeded to say that it has always been easy. His relationships allowed him to get contracts in the first year, and he has never regretted starting on his own.

I HAD to jump in! I shared my story. Eighteen years in business, successful team, primary bread winner in my family. And then I said: “The first year was AWFUL. I could barely afford the peanut butter, let alone the bread for a sandwich! Getting success was HARD that first year!”

She sighed, she knew I related to what she was experiencing. She shared her struggle a bit more. We talked about many things, but you know me. The depth of what you can achieve successfully has less to do with a brand, or a website, or even being GREAT at what you do. It has more to do with YOU, and how you THINK that determines your ability to be successful as a small business owner.

I shared with her that she has to train her mind to change her life and business. That so much of how we are taught to think fits the mold that requires you “go get a job and work for someone else.” That we are not trained to be on our own, and it requires a different mindset.

Do you need to train your mind to think differently? See, I find that many people decide to be entrepreneurs because they know they don’t “quite fit” in the business world. They are not so good at taking orders. They like to be their own person. Sounds like you shouldn’t be stuff right?

But have you made sure you have trained your mind to truly align with what you want now? Are you so comfortable with what you know now that you don’t even realize the patterns you fall into that aren’t helping your success?

Because success in business requires you can handle stuck. It will happen. You will have to push yourself again and again. Even I, right now, am having to push past stuck. I am comfortable with the marketing I do now. Guess what? To have greater success I have to move into something, new, unknown (for me). I know what IT is I need to do. I get it intellectually. It’s the process of training my mind, of getting through that place where I have no security blanket that is difficult.

Do you relate? I will change it though. Will you change it?