What is an entrepreneurial mindset? An entrepreneurial mentality is a group of assumptions, mental models, and worldviews that motivate entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs typically have a strong belief that they can better their lives and live on their own terms. They also have confidence in their capacity to succeed and learn, develop, and adapt. In many ways, the mindset of successful business people differs from that…
Many businesses begin as a method to meet a need or address a problem, and they base their success on making people’s lives better. This indicates that, whether they are aware of it or not, community involvement is a fundamental value of entrepreneurs. It requires a certain kind of strength to be a leader, and this strength is frequently found in commitment to bigger objectives….
Never Stop Learning You must make a commitment to personal development if you want to reach your greatest potential as a leader. There is always room to improve as a leader, no matter where you are on your journey. You must prioritize learning and have a plan for your professional growth if you want to improve leadership skills. There is always time to learn, regardless…
Do you struggle with motivating your employees? Many business owners do. They find themselves thinking on a particularly frustrating day, “The business would grow and prosper if only my employees would do what I want them to do.” Instead, you find them chatting in the halls, taking long lunches, and acting busy while not really accomplishing anything. That’s if you find them at all. Some…
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, and difficulty.” My take is this: good things come with challenges. And as a leader and entrepreneur, I know this to be true both personally and professionally. Stepping up into a leadership role—whatever it looks like—is not always easy. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth…
The term networking has gotten a bad rap over the past few years. Networking evokes an image of large conference rooms or local bars filled with people in business attire who’ve come to the event to see if they can drum up some business. Often, these people aren’t shy about trying to sell you something on the spot. They have no interest in you or…
Any entrepreneur, business owner, or leader knows that lifelong learning is the key to success. Complacency and arrogance about our knowledge and skill are sure ways to get left behind. Instead, investing in yourself, your skills, and your knowledge will help you grow and reach new goals. One of my favorite ways to invest in learning, personal development, and building my Garen Armstrong brand is…
One of my favorite quotes about leadership is from John C. Maxwell: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the ways, and shows the way.” It speaks to three important qualities of leadership: knowledge, action, and mentorship. And while all three are important, that last one—being a good mentor—is what will really take your leadership to the next level. Leadership is not just…
Have you ever had to deliver bad news to your employees? I have, and it’s not fun. Not at all. There’s a reason why many business executives run from this task, preferring instead to delegate it to someone else if possible. While delegating might temporarily get you off the hook, the bottom line is that you’re the boss. You’re at the top. And that means…
Limiting beliefs are one of the key reasons why entrepreneurs find themselves in a rut and unable to hit their goals. Garen Armstrong had to overcome such beliefs after finding out that he needed a new heart. It is important to recognize what limiting beliefs are and how they can keep you from growing and getting better at what you do. Most importantly, one must…
1. Supply the tools your employees need to succeed. Every person and employee has a different work style. Some are best given little instructions and others need a detailed description of how to best accomplish their job. A leaders job is to give these employees the tools they need to succeed. If your employee is best left on their own, do so. If they thrive…
Employees who are engaged in their work are committed to their companies and go above and beyond their requirements. People want to have satisfaction, support, and be recognized for their work. They want to feel that what they do matters and feel a sense of pride in their job. So that brings the question: What should leaders do to create these engaged employee? Employee engagement…
When you own a business, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily details of delivering your product or service. In an effort to provide the best customer experience, you may find yourself pitching here, there, and everywhere to help out, move things along, and get the job done. That’s all well and good as long as you have the time for that. But…
When was the last time you showed empathy toward one of your employees? I don’t mean sympathy – feeling sorry for them and their situation. I’m talking about empathy, the ability to see a situation from another’s point of view and feel what they’re feeling. The ability to walk in their shoes, so to speak. Many managers believe that showing empathy is a waste of…