3 Ways Successful Entrepreneurs Fight Against Self-Sabotage

One of the most challenging aspects of entrepreneurship is the drive to implement action. What comes naturally to some is the dream or aspiration to want something more for themselves. However, the thought of taking action toward making those dreams a reality simply paralyzes most.

Now, we all know that true change can only come from action. Yet despite knowing, why do we cringe at the necessary steps to cross the threshold between dream and reality? What’s holding us back? What’s keeping us from our own success?

Over the years, during my entrepreneurship endeavors, I’ve discovered a theme to most self-sabotage causes – fear, mistrust, and doubt.

We fear to do the unknown, failing, or even succeeding. We tend to not trust our own judgment, decision-making, and confidence in our capabilities. We continuously doubt the dreams and visions for ourselves – that they will not come to pass. When we don’t see the return on investment (ROI) in our efforts immediately, we begin to make despairing decisions and seek advice from individuals who don’t want to see us succeed.

Fear, mistrust, and doubt are the 3 masked vigilantes that continuously fight against our success. What’s even worse, their internal voices take root to the very core of ourselves when it is ourselves who also responsible for taking action toward our dreams.

The sooner we combat our inner vigilantes, the sooner our dreams and visions can become a reality, working in alignment as an advantage toward our success. If these 3 masked terrors have been haunting you for however many years, here is what you can do to K.O them for good!

1. Retrain your mindset to say “NO” to the self-sabotaging and negative thoughts.

While trying to redevelop yourself or shift gears to greatness, the screams of fear, mistrust, and doubt seem to be the loudest and the most dominant. During times like these, we may not have the internal strength to encourage ourselves, so it is vital to seek positive outlets.
Surround yourself with positive people. Read positive material. Speak positive thoughts to yourself – even if you don’t feel it all the time. Replace the words “I can’t” with “I won’t,” with “I will” and “I can.”

More importantly, remove the individuals around you who are not inspiring you to become better, think better, and grow bigger. Often times, these particular individuals are the ones who the closest to us.

As a Christian, I value the golden nuggets from the Bible. One verse that comes to mind can be found in Mark 6 verse 4 NKJV.
“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

Instead of encouragement from those closest to you, you may receive the complete opposite. Don’t allow anyone to deter you from your goals and success. Even if it means a necessary separation period, while you grow stronger and can confidently stand with your decision to increase yourself. You must be inspiring to others, but most importantly, you must continually inspire yourself – especially during the hard times.

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher” – Oprah Winfrey

2. Celebrate the small wins.

When concentrating too much on the larger picture, we sometimes don’t celebrate the small and wins. When we don’t celebrate the small wins, we don’t see progress. When we don’t see growth, those 3 vigilantes come back into our mindset and delude us into believing we’re wasting time. As a result, we quit before we even get started.
Celebrate your small wins and be proud! Celebrate the 3 out of 10 tasks completed on your to-do list. Celebrate the writing of your first post on your new blog. Celebrate sending out your first mass email to your list on behalf of your new company.

Despite the long journey ahead, these ARE true WINS to be celebrated because it means you’re taking action. You are punching fear, mistrust, and doubt in the face – and that my friend is what it’s all about!

3. Cheer yourself on and welcome prosperity.

You are your own cheerleader. Don’t depend on others to always uplift you, but try to get that encouragement from yourself. Build yourself up spiritually, physically, and mentally to prepare yourself for the upcoming prosperity. You have to walk in faith and speak as if your prosperity is already there.

Mike Todd, the pastor of Transformation Church, did an awesome series called “Crazy Faith” that spoke on faith and prosperity. I recommend anyone, Christian or not, to check it out. I find it extremely fitting to mention it here in this post.

Joel Osteen once said,
“If you want success, if you want wisdom, if you want to be prosperous and healthy, you’re going to have to do more than meditating and believing; you must boldly declare words of faith and victory over yourself and your family.”

I believe speaking prosperity into existence by our degree of faith in our creator and the power He has over ourselves. Surround yourself with folks who are prosperous mentally and are reaping positive fruits from the seeds they’ve sown.

By continuously combat fear, mistrust, and doubt with these three power moves, nothing will be able to hold you back. You will gain the confidence, boldness, and clarity you need to begin transforming your dreams into realities. Begin to walk in your purpose today. If you need help, ask. If you need to increase your knowledge, take steps toward doing so – today. You owe it to yourself and to the thousands you will inspire along the way.