1. "I'm not an expert."
No one starts off doing anything as an expert. Expertise is built up over time. You have to make yourself an expert. When considering a project or business, don’t ask if you’re an expert. Rather, ask if you love the subject matter. If you're passionate about the subject, you’ll do everything you can to soak in as much information as possible.
2. "It's already been done."
You may see your ideas unfold elsewhere in the marketplace and be developed by other people. But that doesn’t matter one bit. If you know that a lot of people need your product or service, the fact that competitors exist validates your plans. Bringing an idea to life and then executing your plan better than others matters a whole lot more than the uniqueness of your concept. Challenge this thinking by asking, "How can I do this better?"
3. "I don’t know the right people."
Tap the contacts you have. But if you don’t know the right people, make it a point to get to the right people. Contrary to what you may have heard, reaching out to the right people can work if you try hard, even if you don’t have a special connection. Turn this thought into “Whom do I have to get to know -- and how?”
4. "You need money to make money."
You don’t need money to make money. Lack of resources might prompt you to keep your operations lean and mind fresh and sharpen your focus. You can be extremely successful by being smart about expenses and business planning.Think instead, "How can I do things better because my operation is small?"
5. "I always …"
When you run your own business, the lines between your personal and professional life blur. Your personal attributes often dictate the success of your business. When you think about yourself, you often think of what you are now. But when you think of your business, think of what it could be. Mastering the way you think is the first step toward success in any business.
