Mindset issues to work on when you have a company

What I needed to fix, to get better at doing business

Photo by Tyler Franta on Unsplash

I can honestly tell: I was a mess regarding anything around business:

• no clue what-so-ever

• complete newbie

• blinded by misconceptions

• full of fears & worries

• limiting mindsets basically from birth, e.g. money is evil

And yet, I started a business in a country I came to as an expat, only having a PhD and loving art & doing scientific illustrations.

This was how I started out.

Oh well, let’s not forget the big idea I had: to become a successful scientific illustrator with my own company.

Yes, even with 0 knowledge about business. And no Plan B, cos that was the only thing I wanted to do.

Now, six years later: did it work out?

Totally! I still have my company, did not get bankrupt & am exploring new ventures!

So, for you who want to do the same, for you who are scientists, or artists, or teachers or anyone else, with a vision of having their own company:

HOW DID I MANAGE?

I can tell you:

• with lots of help from people who knew better

• & with lots of facing my fears & limiting mindsets to unravel what blocked me

It took a while, during these six years I worked through different aspects of my personality & approach to business-life.

Let’s start with the practical aspects, before I dive into the mindset issues:

• I got my first jobcoach after I defended my PhD

• She referred me to an awesome accountant that I still work with

• I went to business-school classes in light-swedish for entrepreneurs

• I joined a start-up incubator

• And I got myself a part-time position for my first year having my company

I swear to you: All these were priceless! Without any of these amazing people & opportunities, I would have struggled way more!!

What did I learn?

1. I learned how to do a first, general business plan (which now I don’t know if its really needed, but it was a great exercise back then!)

2. I did a survey which was great to find out about needs of potential clients.

3. I got an accountant: priceless!! My fear about messing up anything around taxes and bureaucracy drastically decreased, making me feel way less stressed!

4. I learned what I need to do to start a company in Sweden, how to do it the official, correct way.

5. I learned about marketing, sales, idea development, pricing, webpages & portfolios and brainstorming potential business models with my jobcoaches in the incubator

6. I did not have to worry about my basic costs, cos they were covered by the journal I worked for part-time in my first year. I learned about social media, did more illustrations and technical editing of manuscripts.

Now, how about the mindset-thingies I mentioned before?

Plenty to unravel!

How did I do it?

Again, by getting myself help from people who knew better.

I got myself a money-mindset coach, a personal branding and LinkedIn coach, I started Mantra Meditation with a teacher & a class, which made a HUGE difference, I got some other business-specific spirituality related coaches, one that is focussed on quantum energies, and little courses & trainings here and there.

If all of that sounds too woo-woo for you: that’s okay, I can live with that.

Cos I know, that everything within me, in my deepest self, my innermost psychology, the traumata and issues I experienced, the limiting mindset bits & pieces I had: all affected my business too.

If you are a solopreneur, or want to be one, meaning running your own business yourself:

YOU are your Business!

Your energy, your thoughts, your feelings & your inner world steer your busines ’s success or failure, mostly subconsciously!

What does this mean concretely?

• If you hate money & think its evil: you will have a hard time pricing properly

  —> this could lead to more stress, fear & potential business failure

• If you have low self-worth, you will price lower too, cos money is value, and if you don’t see your own value, you will not adequately value and price your time and skills in exchange for enough money to make a living.

• If you hate sales, cos you believe its manipulation, you will have a hard time selling your services, even though they help people.

• If you hate social media, you wont be able to build a network that sees the value in what you do and even recommends you to people thye know.

• If you fear to speak to people, it will be difficult for you to create a trust bond and trust is maybe the single-most underrated important currency when you are a solopreneur!

I could go on and on. But let me share with you the concrete steeps that helped me to get over these limiting mindsets, cos I can tell you: I had all of them, and more! Well, maybe not the fear of speaking to people, cos that I love!!