sjsmith.com.au - blog

Cutting Free the Deadwood

Eliminate Negativity

When you take the decision to make your own way in the world you can find yourself surrounded by more than your fair share of critics and naysayers.  There's many reasons for this. Some of it is genuine concern for you. "How will you support yourself? So many new businesses fail in their first year!  Some of it is fear.  What if you are a great success? Will you be the same person, will you still have the same friends?  Will you leave friends and family behind? Some of it may even be jealousy. Why should you get to do what you want? Who are you to think you can grow a successful business?  Whatever the reason you have to learn very early on to ignore it.  Negativity for your venture comes for all sorts of reasons - very little of it has anything to do with you.  It's about others fears and insecurities.  As a business owner you'll have enough of those of your own.  You don't need to take on others peoples too!  

I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to constructive criticism - if it comes from an expert source who you trust.  Even then you need to weigh it up for yourself. What worked for one person may not work for you.  You need to have the confidence to back yourself and your own decisions.  If there is someone who continues to drag you down with all of the what-ifs and why-you-shouldn't you need to think about minimising this person in your life.  Other people's negativity is such an energy drain and as a business owner you need all your energy to keep your enterprise thriving and keep your life on track. Don't give away your resources (and your energy is one of your main resources) for a nil return on investment.  That's just good business!

Till next time,

Sarah-Jane X