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THIS WEEK
Are Your Beliefs Holding Back Your Business?
ALSO IN THIS EDITION
Are Your Beliefs Holding Back Your Business?
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I watched the highly successful senior executive wriggle uncomfortably in her seat in front of me. Her eyes were downcast as she shuffled her feet. The merest hint of a tear could be seen in her eyes.
"You've given yourself a very low score on your self-appraisal," I said gently. "Why is that? Is there something I should know about, given that everyone else has given you great scores?"
"I'm such a fraud!" she blurted out. "If they really knew about me, they would give the same rating I gave myself. I'm just not good enough!"
That same conversation was repeated across the years, over many executive performance reviews – both male and female. I lost track of how many executives thought they were not good enough - there are an awful lot of people carrying negative beliefs about themselves.
Beliefs Create Actions - Which Create Results
I've been fascinated by beliefs and the impacts beliefs have on our performance for decades. You see, beliefs govern our actions. What we believe about ourselves and the world governs what actions we take. If our beliefs are negative, then our actions are not as effective.
But beliefs are not just linked to your self-esteem such as whether or not you are good enough or whether you are deserving; they are also about the world and the people in it.
There's an old teaching story of an old man sitting outside the walls surrounding a village. A pedlar comes up to him and asks, "What are the people like in the village?" The old man replies, "What were they like where you came from?" The pedlar says, "They were stingy, wouldn't buy anything and were only out for what they could get". The old man replies, "The people here are much the same". The pedlar enters the village, muttering under his breath.
A second pedlar comes up to the old man and asks, "What are the people like in the village?" The old man replies, "What were they like where you came from?" The pedlar says, "They were fantastic. They bought lots, were very friendly and referred loads of business to me." The old man replies, "The people here are much the same". The pedlar enters the village, whistling.
Beliefs are just stories we have told ourselves to explain something that happened or something we have observed. The brain hates not knowing, so we explain the situation to ourselves the best way we can. When the situation repeats, we re-tell ourselves the story. The repeated story becomes entrenched in our mind as our neural pathways form around the story in the same way a groove is formed on a walking track.
How to Shift Beliefs
Shifting beliefs is all about jumping the tracks. It is all about seeing the world through new eyes and interpretations, and through shifting our normal response.
You can shift beliefs through data and logical analysis such as keyword reports or financial reports, you can shift them through a radical experience, or you can shift them through an emotional response. There's as many ways to shift beliefs as there are consultants in the world, but unless the belief shifts, then things return to business as usual.
That's why when I work with a new client I spend so much time working out their beliefs around themselves, their business and their customers. If I don't surface the beliefs, and shift their negative thinking, then no amount of action through new websites or marketing, will change the situation for them.
What are Your Beliefs?
So here are a few questions to get you started understanding some of your beliefs about your business.
- My clients are ...
- Bad clients are ...
- The difference my business makes is ...
- The reason I am in business is ...
- I can't succeed because ...
- What is holding me back is ...
- My team are ...
- If people really knew me, they'd know ...
- If only I could ...
- If only I was ...
- I am a ...
- I'm not ...
- Around here, we ...
- Money is ...
These are all just stories you have told yourself over the years. They may or may not be true - they are just one interpretation of the situation. Isn't it time you had another look at your beliefs to see where they may be holding you and your business back?
PS: As an aside, there is a useful program from ReCreate Your Life you can access to help eliminate limiting beliefs . You can try it for free (and no I don't get any commission from it - I just have usef it myself and found it useful). Other great strategies include NLP Time Line Therapy - you can usually find a practitioner somewhere near you.
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Eack week I take calls from people building their first website. Most times, the people start off confused, a bit anxious and not confident in their approach. Much like learning to drive a car really!
exuberantly yours
Ingrid
Heart Harmony
Legal stuff: This newsletter is intended as only a general guideline for Australian businesses. You should seek specific advice for your situation rather than relying only on this newsletter
Earnings disclaimer. Some of the content may include advertorial information, which means I may receive financial compensation for the products I recommend. But - unless I know and trust the product, I will not recommend it.
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