Are You Thinking Too Small?

By Drue Lawlor, FASID
Director of Coaching, Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting & Design Success University 

“You say I dream too big. I say you think too small.” Unknown

“It all begins with a single thought…” I recently came across an article on how the habit of thinking big will help you achieve your goals and the author identified one major factor that separates the most successful people from the rest. He identified that one major factor as “a single thought.”

Have you really taken the time to develop that single thought – that vision of what you would like your business to be? Are you able to think beyond your current circumstances? Incorporate the habit of thinking big into all aspects of your daily life – don’t be afraid to think creatively and outside the box.

Identify how big you want to grow – have you even thought about your long term vision for your business – do you want a large firm, licensing products where you become your brand and your name creates value for the business? Or do you want to stay smaller in size with maybe just 3-4 on your team – possibly with less projects but much larger is size that will double or triple your bottom line? Both of these are examples of expanding your thinking to focus on what you envision your business to become. Develop your vision and then stay focused on that vision.

Now it’s time to ask yourself what is keeping you from achieving your vision. Maybe you’ve never really taken the time to expand your thinking beyond the day-to-day operations of your business. Andrew Wall, business trainer states, “Simple as it may sound, many small companies stay small because their owners never dare to think big.”

The key for many is a change of mindset. You need to realize that you may be your biggest challenge. Recognize the need to change what you have been doing and then seek help. After all, if you are relying on what you currently think, know and do and have not achieved your goals, then don’t you think it’s time to change?

Develop a strong “Why”. Write that “Why” down and keep it where you see it every day. Why are you building this business? And remember, entrepreneurship is a marathon not a sprint.

Financial discipline is also a large part of thinking big. If you don’t understand finances you’ll never make money – it’s that simple. And along with understanding finances, you need to be comfortable with making money. That may take another mindset change. Envision yourself as being very successful and what it would mean for yourself, your family and your team. Think of how making money could help you do so many positive things in your life and in the lives of others. Get comfortable with those thoughts and that vision.

Finally, valuable advice from William Danforth, author and founder of Ralston Purina: “I dare you to think bigger, to act bigger, and to be bigger, and I promise you a richer and more exciting life if you do.”

Imagine what you could achieve if you took the big step and committed yourself to be a stronger leader, a better owner of your business, and a better person who has dreams that require courage. Your dreams are possible when you take positive action, and that’s the choice you have today.

In case you have been on the fence about Strategic Business Transformation, be sure to ask yourself how your life and business will be different in one year if you wait until next time… or what if you never took that important and confident step…

Choose your success! We’ve mapped out the journey for you and we’re here to walk with you through the process.

We still have a few 12-month coaching spots available. We’ll be closing enrollment soon, so take a bold step. . If you still have questions, reach out now and we’ll help you decide about which option fits your situation best.