As a business coach working with entrepreneurs, I frequently hear these comments:

“I’ve never been good with money.”

“I hate tracking my sales and expenses.”

“I’ll never be a 6-figure business.” 

“My market won’t pay premium prices for my products and services.”

If you’ve ever had these statements come out of your mouth—or even in your thoughts— then you’re engaging in a damaging habit known as negative self-talk. By telling yourself these lies (and yes, they are lies) you’re reinforcing the beliefs that go along with them, and your ability to  reach your full potential will be limited. 

What you visualize and believe is what becomes true. 

If you continually tell yourself that you are not good with money, or that you will never have a 6-figure income, then you won’t. This is not a “deep secret”. It’s a scientific fact known as a self-fulfilling prophecy; this type of self-talk results in poor performance simply because we act as if it is already true.

The ability to make progress and achieve the results you need for success will be adversely affected by this thinking. If you continuously tell yourself that you’ll never have a 6-figure business, you will not do the things that 6-figure business owners do. You won’t work to grow your mailing list (“No one reads my emails anyway”), you won’t increase your pricing (“It’s not like I’m some top-earning entrepreneur”), and you won’t build a brand worthy of a 6-figure income (“A beautiful brand isn’t necessary at this income level”). 

By contrast, if you act and think as if you are already a 6-figure earner, you will present yourself and your brand in a very different way to your prospective clients. Your confidence level will increase and you will find it easier to sell your products and services.  This confidence will be evident in your marketing materials and clients will be more willing to pay your higher rates. When this is achieved, your attitude will improve, and working in your business will be more enjoyable. Why? Because you will finally be working with your ideal client who is willing to pay you for your talents!

How to Combat Negative Self Talk

The first step toward changing your negative self-talk is to simply acknowledge that you do it. Tick a mental checkbox every time you catch yourself making negative statements, whether out loud or in your head. These statements are called limiting beliefs and we need to erase them from your mind.

Make a note of the ones that come up most often for you, and identify their origin if you can. For example, if you struggle with debt or haven’t made the best “buying” decisions, you may tell people “I’m no good with money.” It’s time to turn that thinking around.

The next time you catch yourself saying “I’m no good with money,” take a minute to recall 5 instances where you were good with money. Maybe you paid off a credit card or saved for a house or built an emergency fund. Rephrase your self-talk to, “I used to be bad with money [if that’s true], but now I make smart choices to achieve my goals.” Take steps each day to address these negative thoughts and over time they will become less evident in your life.

Just as negative self-talk becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, so does positive self-talk. Reframe your thinking, and your business finances will certainly improve. 

Here is a simple exercise called the 5 Beliefs Turn-Around. List 5 limiting beliefs about your self, business or industry. Next, take time to “reframe” those beliefs. Turn them around into a positive or seeking solution question - or into a new mindset you’d like to adopt. After you have completed this exercise, write your new beliefs on a large post-it note and display it in a prominent spot so you will read it frequently.

Examples:

Belief: I’m too old to start a business.

Reframe: My wisdom and experience is a natural attractor for my ideal client.

Belief: I’m not sure I can start a coaching business and still keep up my photography skills.

Reframe: How can I incorporate my photography skills into my coaching business?

If you are experiencing “negative” self-talk and/or lack of confidence in any area of your business or life, you would benefit from a Mindset Coaching session. Mindset coaching will address these issues and bring you more confidence and less stress. Give it a try!

To get started, schedule a free “DISCOVERY” call with me. Schedule Your Call Here!