I had a very brief conversation with someone at a networking event, who doesn’t like to use the word, as they work with business owners who don’t want to grow.
More specifically: Grow their businesses.
After the meeting had finished, I went for a walk, and suddenly my brain was like: “Hey, wait a sec – that doesn’t make any sense? Or does it?” And it spiralled me into a stern walk, admiring a beautiful (but VERY cold), sunny, blue skied, fluffy clouded Scottish afternoon, whilst my brain worked out the belief system behind it. And it decided that I am right. LOL (Just kidding, everyone to their beliefs!)
During my self-development, it took me YEARS to learn to adapt a growth mindset. Without growth you’re stuck in the past. You become this person who constantly talks to their old acquaintances about their past together – and is unable to tell you something that is NOT related to “back in the days”. They are usually also the ones who can’t formulate a future plan other than a shoulder shrug, a “Dunno.” and “We are going on holiday to Mallorca, like in the last 30 years.”
Without growth, you get stuck in the 90’s, so to speak – where business had been done the same way since the 1950’s and will be done until the end of time. 🤭
Growth doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to grow your business over a certain turnover. As much as I love Tony Robbins, and as much as I aspire to “be” like him – I do not want to grow to the size that his business has grown to (at this moment in time – ask me again in 5 or 10 years).
But you can still grow IN business. Change processes, grow to the point where you can hire people and free up your time. Grow in acceptance that you can (and must) leave the micro manager behind. Grow to trust. Grow to be comfortable with Change.
If you are triggered by the word “grow”, how about using “expand”? Expand your knowledge, expand the way you do things, expand to points where the only answer to “Do you like what you do?” is “HELL, YES!”!
Growth (or expansion) and change are key elements in human development. They are the inevitable things that propel you forward, towards new levels, towards new horizons, and towards brand new “Hell yeah!” moments.
Have you seen “Limitless” by Chris Hemsworth on Disney+? Not only is it watch worthy because of him (please imagine a dramatized *fainting* motion here), but he did the experiment over a full year, of pushing himself further and further, and discovering more and more things about the way he sees life, family and his personal growth, topped up with deepest revelations about human connection. He has the growth mindset, and he worked on finding out what’s possible.
You might be asking now, how to “grow” into a growth mindset?
You could start by very simple, small changes to your daily routine, or even better, your mindset about things you consume.
Just to give you an example: I have been vegan/vegetarian for over 15 years now, and I had quite some discussions with people about products I use. (Just to be clear, I am not a fanatic, but when asked, I’ll explain.)
I have a wee glass jar in my bathroom, in which a roll of black thread is at home (it kind of looks like a little cocoon of some sort). Visitors asked me “What is that?” (with a slight disgust in their voices, which makes me chuckle each time).
It simply is dental floss. Made of bamboo and infused with activated charcoal.
“Why would you use that? And isn’t that super expensive? And that can’t work?”
So, here’s the thing with this example: I was using plastic dental floss for more than ¾ of my life, because I thought the same. It’s what the industry and society tell us to believe. During the transition from omnivore to herbivore, you inevitably learn about the impact of even such a small thing. So, I changed my mindset and grew into the new direction of more sustainability – and frankly, something healthier for me on top of that!
And where’s the business in there? Everywhere! LOL
How many business cards have you thrown away in your life, because you have bought too many, and had a change in details or design?
Why not try a branded pen with just your name and just your website that you consciously give to a potentially great business connection? Grow into the mindset of discarding having to have business cards (which 95% of the people throw away anyways!) and expand on the idea to come up with a new form of “business card”.
The ONLE network I am in had sent me a welcome package a while ago, and there was a branded coaster and bookmark in there, alongside a pen (where is this, by the way? Haven’t seen it in ages), and a wee notebook.
I use three of those items still (ok, now I want to find the pen. No clue where I put it. But when I find it, it’s FOUR items I use!).
They had sent me this around October last year. And I am still using it. I am SEEING it. And that networking community is at the forefront of my brain, and the first one I suggest to a good connection with the human connection mindset (perfect branding there!).
And speaking of which, I received a similar welcome package from the amazing Vanda Varga, with whom I will be doing my NLP practitioner course! (perfect branding again – memorable, and usable!)
Who says you need to have a business card? That’s “old school” (no offense, I do see the sense, but there are also other options available). Who is not happy to receive something usable, like a pen or coaster?
Grow into liking new mindsets. New ideas. Be a rebel. Stand out from the crowd. Change old stuffy things.
And on that note, I am toddling off now and try to find the ONLE pen.
Have an A-MA-ZING, beautiful, fabulous rest of the day!
Yours truly, Heike 🤘🌊🤘
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