Abundance Mindset - 3 Ways to Shift your Mindset in Business
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to find ourselves trapped in a negative mindset. Because #wearehuman. The reality is we are experiencing an unprecedented global shift in how the world works.
Recently, while reading a few interior design-related forums, I was struck by the doom and gloom conversations regarding the state of the industry as a result of Covid-19. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “These people are looking at this all wrong. Where is the creativity?
To be clear, I’m in no way trying to minimize what is going on. The struggle is real and we don’t know how long this will last or when...errr...if things will return to “normal”. Real lives have been lost, jobs lost, families separated, businesses shuttered. I get it. I see it. I know it’s real.
What I also know is that Home has never been a more sacred place than it is right now. AND people are having to re-evaluate how they use their homes. Dining rooms are becoming school rooms, guest rooms are turning to home offices, and back patios becoming extended living rooms. And we can help them.
People need designers like never before. They need you and your creativity. And while the ways and methods we provide services may be changing, the reality is our industry has the ability to survive - and perhaps even thrive - even during these very challenging times.
But we need a mindset shift - individually and collectively.
I’m talking about an Abundance Mindset. I’m not talking about woo-woo, manifestation, magic. I’m talking about science.
The science that says our thoughts influence our feelings which influences our behavior. Period.
The term Abundance Mindset was originally defined by Stephen Covey in his Book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, as ”a concept in which a person believes there are enough resources and successes to share with others.”
By contrast, someone that operates from a Scarcity Mindset feels there is never enough or if someone else “wins”, that means you “lose”, or that someone/something is going to take advantage of them.
Let’s talk about Abundance vs. Scarcity thinking in your interior design business.
Since our thoughts influence our feelings which influences our behavior, let’s look at how this may show up in business.
Scarcity Mindset in Business
Thought: I’ll never get that project
Feeling: Someone else is more qualified
Behavior: When you don’t hear back, you don’t follow up
Thought: No one is hiring interior designers right now.
Feeling: My design career is ending
Behavior: Stop business development habits (ie. posting, reaching out, etc.)
Thought: All my clients are going to end their projects for good
Feeling: “This” is going to last forever
Behavior: You stop nurturing your clients
Thought: If I give away, all my best ideas during a consultation, my prospective client won’t need me anymore.
Feeling: My value is limited
Behavior: Shrink back, keep your ideas and creativity jarred up
Abundance Mindset
in Business
Thought: I’m going to get this project.
Feeling: I’m qualified.
Behavior: You follow up with a client - even when you don’t hear back.
Thought: There are many people still hiring interior designers.
Feeling: I will attract my ideal client.
Behavior: Continue to develop relationships and seek new opportunities
Thought: My client’s need me now more than ever.
Feeling: I can help them.
Behavior: Perform activities that keep you top of mind for your clients (i.e. handwritten notes, commenting on their social posts, check-ins) and your client resumes their project with you.
Thought: If I give away all my best ideas in this consultation, they will start to see the value I can give them.
Feeling: My value is limitless.
Behavior: Expand your generosity, give ideas and creativity away freely resulting in people wanting more of you!
3 simple ways to shift from a mindset of Scarcity to one of Abundance.
#1 Become Aware of your Thoughts - Slow down and pay attention to your thoughts. For some, just a simple 5-minute journaling exercise will start to reveal your limiting beliefs, allowing awareness to take place.
Exercise: Think of one area of your business or life that isn’t getting the results you would like. What are your thoughts around this area? Have you felt un-appreciated, under-valued, afraid of failing? Write them down, or share with a friend. You don’t need to try to change anything yet, that will come. You simply want to practice becoming aware of your thoughts.
#2 Practice Gratitude - There has never been a better time to practice gratitude. One of the simplest ways is to look at your normal, everyday, mundane things around you and express gratitude for them. It becomes a habit. I promise!
Exercise: Think of 3-5 things you “have” to do today, that you normally do such as make breakfast, wash clothes, call clients. Now write these things down like this: Today I get to __________ when so many people do not __________. For example, “I get to do laundry today when so many people do not have clothes to wear or access to a washing machine.
#3 Give Your Ideas Away - Generosity is a key characteristic of people who practice an Abundance Mindset. I understand it can be hard to share what you know. In reality, with most ideas, they are just that...an idea. There is always more to be expanded on. And just because someone knows “what to do” doesn’t mean they know “how to do it”. That my friend, is where your creative genius really shines.
Exercise: Think of 3 interior design ideas you can share with your ideal client. Perhaps it's a few pro-tips, your 5 favorite ________, or how to do something. Now, how can you share this when your audience? Is it a freebie on your website? Is it a blog post or a social media post? Start to come up with ways to share your ideas with the world. The result, people are going to want more of you.
I realize this may not come naturally at first, but making the decisions to at least become conscious of your thoughts and how they might influence your actions will put you on the path to living a life -and running a business - from a place of abundance.
