Move Your Mindset

All of us have a view of ourselves and of the world that we’ve constructed over the years from our experiences and relationships with others. It is grounded in our values, our beliefs, our aspirations, and our successes and failures. We couldn’t function effectively without it. And yet, if we are not open to new experiences, to new ideas and to change, it can become an impediment to our progress and happiness.

Many of my designer clients first contact me because they feel stuck in their business or they feel like they have tried everything to make it a success but with little result. When I begin to question them about their practices and approaches, I often find they have boxed themselves in to considering only a few options. Somewhere along the line they have acquired notions that limit them in their thinking and their ability to imagine a different way of doing things. They may question their value as a designer, believing that if they were good enough the business would take care of itself. They may be reluctant to market or “sell” themselves and their services because they feel it somehow is inherently dishonest or degrading. They may be unwilling to hire the help they need, thinking they should be able to do everything themselves. The list goes on and on.

In working with these clients, one of the first things I have to do is get them to unlock their mindset. I can tell they think external factors are impeding their success, but it’s obvious to me that they are their own worst enemy. Until I can get them to accept that there are other ways of doing things, ways that have helped other designers just like them to be more successful and satisfied in their businesses, I can’t provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to move forward. They have to be open to trying new things and to accepting change. Once they’ve crossed that threshold, amazing things can happen.

Here we are at the start of a new year, a time when traditionally we reflect on the past and hope for better things to come. This is an excellent opportunity to take some time to examine your own mindset and ask yourself what assumptions, beliefs or unfounded fears are keeping you from reaching your full potential. Make a resolution to change old habits that no longer work for you, to seek out new ideas and new ways of doing things, to be open to new experiences. Be willing to move your mindset, and you’ll discover worlds of possibility that lie just outside the borders of the life you’ve been living.

Schedule a call and learn more about what we have to offer at Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting…it may give you some great ideas for your future.