One of the most important personal practices you can develop is to expect that your business will be successful.  Believing you’ll succeed changes your approach to everything you do whether you’re starting a new business or growing an existing one.

Expecting Success Affects How You See Yourself and How Others See You

When you expect your business to be successful you focus your thoughts on your business, rather than spending needless mindshare worrying.

Confidence about your future success causes you to present yourself more energetically and more positively.  This draws people to you, resulting in more opportunities to talk to potential customers or clients.

I had the chance to experience this last week when I visited a local second-hand furniture stop that opened recently.  I was pleasantly surprised from the minute I walked in.  The shop had been tastefully painted and decorated.  The furniture was beautifully restored and well organized. When the owner greeted me and gave me a tour, I complemented her on the shop.  She thanked me, then spoke with enthusiasm and confidence about her plans for the shop and left me to browse.

I’d gone into the shop without the intention of buying anything, but the owner was so enthusiastic, I took a good look around and found a restored dresser that complements my décor.

Expecting Success Drives Your Business Decisions 

It changes how you run your business.  When you expect to be successful, you do the things early in your business’ lifecycle that will allow it to grow.  For example, many sole proprietors neglect to develop step-by-step procedures for how they produce their products, deliver their services, and manage their back office. 

When their business expands to the point that they need to hire an employee, it’s extremely difficult to train someone, because their time is completely consumed with running the business.   When you expect your business to be successful you develop procedure manuals for your future employees to reference when they have a question.  The side benefit is the boost in productivity the business owner achieves because the act of developing a written process causes you to improve how it’s done. 

How to Insure You Can Believe Your Business Will Be Successful

Start now to set goals you believe in for your business, then develop a plan you’re confident you can achieve to reach those goals and follow that plan. 

Make and follow a budget.  Keep a day job to pay your expenses.  Don’t put pressure on your business to be a means of support until it’s ready.

When you expect success, you recognize opportunities when they’re presented. 

Leah Ward-Lee is an entrepreneur and business writer based in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida and the author of

$1,000 Start-Ups.

Published by Leah Ward-Lee

Leah Ward-Lee, the author of "$1,000 Start-Ups", is a serial micro-entrepreneur. She opened her first business at ten after lobbying for and receiving a shoe shine kit for Christmas. She pulled her wagon through the neighborhood, going door-to-door, offering to shine her neighbor’s shoes for twenty-five cents a pair. Once her wagon was full, she took the shoes home and polished them. Unfortunately that business was short-lived. She hadn’t tagged the shoes and couldn’t remember whose shoes were whose, so her dad went with her to retrace the route until every pair was returned. Since then she’s had businesses developing and teaching college courses, instructing aerobic classes, owning half a plane that was rented to a flight and maintenance school, and renting homes. She’s also owned a consignment store, a gift shop, a gift basket business, a consulting firm, hosted The Executive Toolbox (a weekly radio show), and a publishing company. She also spent twenty years in the US Army, served as the Chief Information and Technical Officer for two major insurance companies, and has a second career as a management consultant. Leah resides in Dallas, TX and on Amelia Island with Sammy and Goliath, her two rescue dogs.

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