3 Limiting Beliefs You Need To Overcome To Start Your Business
By: Chichi Ukomadu
Tags: Startup Lessons, Startup, Side Hustle, Mindset, Entrepreneur

Happy New Year to you! Welcome to 2020! Welcome to a new decade!

Goal setting for the new year is always a hot topic this time of the year. The fact that you set a goal for 2020 and scheduled it on your calendar doesn’t mean you’ll achieve it. Your success in life and goal achievements is all shaped by our mindset.

Mindset is a collection of stories in your mind that forms your belief system. It shapes the way you think. In December 2017, I first heard about the concept of “ Limiting Beliefs” from my role model Michael Hyatt.

Limiting Beliefs are negative stories we tell ourselves in our minds. Stories like “I don’t have what it takes to run a business” or “I’m always sidelined for a promotion because of my gender” or “I’m too old to get a job” e.t.c. Sound familiar?

In 2011, I set a goal to start an international personal shopper business. But 3 limiting beliefs held me back from accomplishing my goal.

Limiting Belief #1

“I’ll never be successful or fulfilled in life without a Corporate job.”

I suffered a lot of rejection trying to find a job in Corporate America. I believed the lie that my success and fulfillment could only come from a corporate job. I felt any endeavor outside a corporate job had no value. This limiting belief blinded my eyes to other possibilities of success and fulfillment in life.

With several disappointments from job interviews, I slipped into depression. I didn’t know success and fulfillment can come from starting and running a business too not only a 9–5 job. I’m not naive about the fact that both sides of the coin have their Pros and Cons.

But success and fulfillment can come from both and not one only. Your self worth is not determined by your corporate achievement at your job. You’re worth more than your corporate job! You have so much more value than you think!

Limiting Belief #2

“Everyone is already doing what I want to do.”

This limiting belief is a major reason why people never take action on their dreams or goals. Those who have valuable content to share are often paralyzed by this limiting belief. I used to be one of them. I’ll scroll through other people’s social media feeds and tell myself how I could do better than them. But, I never took action to do anything.

It’s amazing how we have the perfect business ideas all planned out in our heads. But the belief that “everyone is already doing it” keeps us from taking action. I believed this lie for a long time. Like Marie Forloe says “There’s always room for that special something you have and the world needs to hear it”.

Limiting Belief #3

“My service offering is not valuable because it’s not rocket science”

This limiting belief still had a stronghold on my mind 5yrs into running my service business. I graduated with honors. I had a Bachelors Degree. I had a Master’s Degree. I had a Project Management Certification. I had other academic accomplishments and all I was doing was shopping and shipping for people I’ll often say to myself.

I felt my life was wasting away. I felt my intellectual capabilities were being underutilized. I would reminisce on what life could have been like working a high powered corporate job with all my qualifications. Until one day! I got a call from a customer, she needed my help to buy a medical device for her daughter’s surgery.

The device was not available in the country where she resides. It was available only in the US where I reside. I sourced for the device and found it. But her daughter’s medical condition had deteriorated to the point that even if I shipped the item, it would no longer be helpful. Her daughter died but something came alive in me that day.

For the first time in 5yrs, I felt free from the shackles of this limiting belief. I felt the service I was providing was valuable even though it wasn’t rocket science. Every item I buy for a customer is solving a problem for them. Whether it’s snacks for their kids’ lunch kit or a medical device to save their child’s life. It is valuable to them and that’s all that matters.

“You become what you believe, not what you want.” - Oprah Winfrey

To achieve the goals you set this year, become aware of the collection of stories you’re telling yourself. A movie director can change the script in a story to achieve a specific goal. You can do the same to your limiting beliefs. You can overcome your limiting beliefs and achieve your goals!

In my next post, I’ll share the 3 Liberating Truths I used to overcome my Limiting Beliefs and start my business. I’ll also share how I create a set of Liberating Truths each New Year to help me achieve my audacious goals.

What limiting beliefs are holding you back from taking the next step to start a business this year? What negative stories are you allowing to play in your mind? Please share in the comment section. I’ll love to hear from you.