Just like elite athletes competing in the Olympics, you need to have your head in the game when you’re trying to grow your business and your brand. Becoming mentally tough is as critical to your success as regular training, says former tennis pro and performance coach Steve Siebold, who has worked with top athletes like Andre Agassi. Siebold says the same psychological strategies that help elite athletes power through tough times can help ‘treps persevere and become great. Here are three you should adopt now.
Remember the ‘why.’ Elite athletes don’t shed blood, sweat and tears because of the money, fame or glory. They do it for the love of the game, says Siebold in his book, 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class (London House, 2010). Similarly, most entrepreneurs don’t launch their businesses to get rich: They do it because they believe in their business idea and themselves. When the rigors of being an entrepreneur seem like too much, refocus on why you started your business in the first place. Visualize the rush that you felt as it began to grow, like when you landed your first big client.
“When I was losing all the time in tennis, what kept me going wasn’t winning or losing. It was about playing the game,” Siebold says. “Truly successful entrepreneurs are the ones who keep going–the ones who are up at 3 a.m. thinking about how to make their business better or get over that obstacle.”
Empowering Women 