4 Mindset Shifts for Female Entrepreneurs

Mindset. What even is mindset work and why do you keep hearing it in the business world? Does it even matter? Does mindset even apply to small business owners? As a female entrepreneur who has been running a business for over a decade, I’m here to share how vital working on your mindset is. Even more, I’m sharing four mindset shifts imperative for running a successful business.

Before diving in, let’s talk about what mindset work even is and what mindset shift means.

Mindset deals with how you think about things, and how you see yourself as a business owner, as a mom, and as a human being. According to Very Well Mind, “Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation. It means that what you believe about yourself impacts your success or failure.”

In otherwords, what you believe about yourself and the world, will impact how well you do at things. It will impact the success of your business. Thus, mindset shifts are vital for female entrepreneurs.

Now you’re ready to dive into the four mindset shifts.

The first mindset shift you must make is that mindset work is for you.

If you’re reading this article, you’re on the right path. However, I know firsthand how easy it is to think that there’s no time for mindset work. Highly successful CEOs and entrepreneurs will share how they focused on their mindset and it would feel way out of my league.

However, once I shifted my thinking and started focusing on mindset work, my business truly began to grow.

If you’re feeling unsure if mindset work really matters, trust me. It does. I’m not talking about the “woo-woo” if you speak it into existence it will happen, but do you believe your business is important? Do you believe that you can be successful?

While I could go on about many different areas of life mindset shifts may be needed, I encourage you to dig into areas you struggle most in. Further, look for resources to help you begin to make those shifts.

For now, let’s move on to the next three mindset shifts you can make for your business. These, too, are a good place to start your mindset work.

The next shift is believing in your core that your time is valuable.

When you believe your time is valuable, you will act like it. It feels simple. However, are you still trying to do everything yourself? Are you holding onto tasks to save money, even though they take you 2 or 3 times as long to accomplish them? Are you stuck in business because you don’t have enough time to get everything done? It is time for a mindset shift.

Your time is valuable right now. As a small business owner, as a mom, as a “nobody from small town U.S.A” – your time is valuable. You do not have to make 6-figures, be Oprah Winfrey, or write a book for your time to be valuable. Your time matters right now.

Until you believe that, you will be holding yourself back. Until you make that mindset shift, you will be stifling your business growth.

So say it with me right now. “My time is valuable.” Say it out loud. Say it in the mirror. Write it over and over in your journal.

Then let’s begin working on the next mindset shift for female entrepreneurs.

Another mindset shift is using the word “just” when you talk about your business.

“I am ‘just’ a photographer.”

“This is just a little business idea.”

“I’m just a stay-at-home mom with a little business.”

You are belittling your own business when you use the word “just” to describe your business. Honestly, you are belittling your life when you use the word “just.” You are not “just” anything.

Remove the word just. Notice when you use it and how it feels to remove that word.

“I am a photographer.”

Don’t you feel empowered already? This was the easiest mindset shift but will have big impact on the way you view yourself and your business.

Another understanding that will help you in business (and life) is about seasons.

This is an area that I personally still struggle with from time to time. As a mom with 6 growing kids who have ever-changing needs, I’m often in a new season. It’s easy to get stuck in thinking “I can’t do it a certain way, I might as well give up.”

We know that winter will end, spring will eventually come, and then the warm days of summer. Rooting down into the fact that summer is coming helps on those long, dark Seattle days. However, the same goes for our lives and our business. If you shift your mindset to thinking that there are seasons in business you’ll be so much better off.

This mindset shift is a little more abstract. Here’s a concrete example of embracing the season.

My youngest child did not sleep through the night for most of her first year. Before she was born, I would wake up early before the kids were up to journal, and work on blogs for my photography business, all while having a quiet cup of coffee. It was a routine that grounded me and helped me sneak in some work time before a busy day of mom-life.

However, after being up several times a night for months on end, waking up early just wasn’t possible. I would set an alarm, but come morning I could not force myself to get up to work. At the time, I worried about my business. I kept pushing against what season I was in. My mindset needed to shift.

Once I did shift my mindset, once I remembered that this was a season, remembered that one day my baby would sleep, change happened. I found a new routine that was for that season and began to make progress in my business without feeling guilty about not getting up early anymore. Now that she’s sleeping better I have returned to early mornings. Another season for my life and business.

Guess what, that year in my business, my revenue grew by 18%. In a year I had a baby and took maternity leave, and my business grew.

My story is simply one example to help you see that mindset matters.

These mindset shifts may seem small, or easy to see in someone else’s life. However, where are you getting in your own way with your thoughts and beliefs?

Know that mindset work is for YOU. Believe that your time is valuable. Shift from saying you are “just” anything because you are a badass female entrepreneur. And finally, embrace the season you are in. Find ways to work with the season you are in.

Looking for a community of support as you continue making mindset shifts? I have a Facebook Community for Female Photographers. Come join.

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