Think Like a Founder: The Entrepreneurial Mindset That Separates Winners from Quitters

0:01For me, this has definitely helped. And what you're doing as well with this, with all of these tactics, actually, you're training your subconscious brain. So today we are thinking like a founder, and it's all about the entrepreneurial mindset that separates winners from quitters. So hello from Brave Bold Brilliant. I'm Jeanette Linfoot, your host, and I am so glad you're here with me today. Now, whether you're running your own business, you're thinking about starting one, or you simply want to unlock a mindset that drives success, this conversation is absolutely for you. So as I say, today we are diving deep into the mindset that really separates founders from quitters.

0:54We're talking about the entrepreneurial mindset that really fuels that resistance, that resilience, creativity, and of course, the unstoppable momentum that we need when we're in business. Now, I know how tough it can be to keep pushing when the odds feel stacked against you. You know, I've had so many times in my career where self-doubt creeps in or, you know, when you see progress, but it seems so slow. But the secret to breakthrough isn't always about working harder or having more resources. It's often about thinking differently, thinking like a founder. So, you know, if you're in, you know, starting your own business, maybe you already have your own business or equally, you might be in a corporate world where actually you are almost having an entrepreneurial role within that.

1:45So this is absolutely for you. If you are in any of those categories, is you are in the right place with us here today. So let's just make sure we're connected, right? So as I say, you know, I'm Jeanette Linfoot, I'm the host of Brave Bold Brilliant, which is not only a really successful podcast and a top one and a half percent of podcasts, but also our YouTube channel where we've got so much content there for you. So please do connect with me on social media, Jeanette Linfoot, two N's and two T's. And also, you know, subscribe to Brave Bold Brilliant because you will be notified when we go live with a new episode.

2:25So we're here to help. We're here to support each other because it is not easy in business. And also, you know, go to www.brave-bold-brilliant.com, our website, and you'll find loads of free resources there that are there to help you. So let's get back into this then. What does that mean exactly? Having that mindset of thinking like a founder. So that's what we're going to unpack today as we go through this session. so you know before we jump in I do want to hear from you you know let me know what's your biggest mindset challenge right now you know if you're listening to this on YouTube or maybe on the podcast then please you know send us a message equally you might be watching this live and you know please do put a comment in the social media posts and we will come back to you so let's get started we're going to break this down into a number of sections and it might be helpful for you to grab a pen and paper, make some notes as you go.

3:22And of course, the great thing about having YouTube or having a podcast, whatever platform you listen to, you can stop, you can go back, you can listen again. So that's the value of having such amazing social media platforms where we can share and help each other. So the first part we're going to go into is really what does it mean to think like a founder? And when we talk about thinking like a founder, many people, you know, they immediately jump to business strategies or maybe to startup hacks. But, you know, it's so much deeper than that. Thinking like a founder, it means owning everything about your journey, not just your business, but your mindset, you know, your emotions, your growth.

4:05It really means stepping into leadership of your life, you know, with intention and courage. You know, it's about being the captain of your ship. and even when those waters are going to get rough because let's be honest building something from nothing is rarely smooth sailing you know there will be doubts setbacks they're going to be moments where you feel like giving up you know but founders don't wait for perfect conditions they start imperfectly and adapt start now get perfect later you know and they often view challenges as lessons and opportunities not dead ends and that mindset you know isn't just about business wins it's about how you manage your emotions stay motivated build resilience from the inside out and it really does mean embracing growth as a lifelong journey you know believing that with every failure every pivot you're becoming stronger and wiser you know and whether you're in a business you've started your own business you might even be part of a team or equally as I say you may be in a corporate organization where you have quite an entrepreneurial role.

5:13This mindset applies to all of those scenarios and you know it's something that I've had to work on every single day. I still have to work on this you know but if you can cultivate this kind of sort of ownership and growth focused mindset you're already ahead of many. So you know I would encourage you just to ask yourself you know how can I take more responsibility for my mindset today? How can I lead myself with more courage? You know, what are the habits and the routines that you put into place to work on yourself every single day? And this often comes in as well when we may struggle with feelings of imposter syndrome, for example.

5:56You know, that's something that I've struggled with over the years and I've definitely had to work on and I still work on it today. So, you know, having good routines, having really, you know, best practice where you do work on yourself really does make a massive difference. So that's part one that I wanted to cover to kick us off with this really important topic. So part two, let's talk about what separates winners from quitters. So one of the biggest questions that I hear, whether it's with the clients that I work with directly, as solopreneurs who are scaling up, whether it's, you know, small to mid-sized businesses that are going through change or indeed really large corporate organizations that are looking to expand and grow you know the the clients I work with are really quite far-reaching and it might also be someone that I'm working with one-to-one from a business mentoring point of view but you know the often often there are some commonalities actually you know and why is it that some entrepreneurs make it while others don't you know and it's tempting to say it's just about grit or luck.

7:03But the truth is, it's actually a lot more nuanced than that. And what really separates winners from quitters is how they interpret failure and setbacks. Winners don't see failure as a stop sign. They see it as a signal to learn and adjust. They reframe those challenges as feedback and use it to fuel their growth. They don't wait for the perfect moment. They start with what they have and improve as they go, even if those resources are quite limited. And crucially, you know, they learn how to manage their emotions, frustration, fear and doubt. So those feelings don't control their decisions. They're still there, but they actually find a way to be able to deal with them in a constructive way.

7:47And building that kind of mental toughness and emotional discipline, you know, it is a daily practice. It's not an overnight miracle. So if you want to succeed, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable, you know, and you keep moving forward anyway. So this is so, so critical. So let's go into the third part of what I wanted to talk about. And this is how to build an entrepreneurial mindset. What are the strategies that really work? You know, so this all sounds fantastic. You might say, oh, Jeanette, it's all right for you. You've already got your portfolio of businesses. You've already got your background in corporate as a CEO running global businesses.

8:28So it's all right for you. But the reality is we all have to start somewhere. And I've had to absolutely create businesses from scratch, grow businesses from scratch. I've made so many mistakes along the way and I've learned a huge amount. So I come from a very practical point of view as to how I can share what I've learned to help you on your journey. So, you know, how do you build this mindset in reality? Well, it's a journey, but I'm going to share with you some powerful tools that have helped me. And these are things that I do today, as well as what I've done for years and years as I've been on my kind of career and professional journey as well.

9:10So the first thing is daily reflection. I practice this in the morning. Now, you might actually find that your energy is better at the end of the day or later in the evening. So there is no there's no one size fits all for this. Find when it's right for you. OK, but daily reflection, just take a few minutes each day to either just reflect in your mind what went well, what you struggled with, what you learned. But equally, it's great if you're if you write it down, make some notes. So journaling can be a very cathartic process. And of course, it allows you to look back and see how far you've come and how you were feeling at the time and how you shifted over, you know, your journey, really.

9:58So that does a couple of things. It builds self-awareness, but importantly, it also sets a perspective and context of where you are. Now, the second thing is, as you're doing that daily reflection, you know, you might be reflecting on some things that haven't gone so well. And it's really important here to reframe those failures. So instead of beating yourself up and, you know, actually ask yourself, what lesson is there here? How can this help me grow? And that allows you then to learn from those failures and not see it as failure, but see it as learning. Now, the third tip that I do as well is visualization.

10:39visualization picture yourself succeeding and overcoming challenges in whichever way is you know relevant for you this could be around a life goal it might be something around the business that you're you're intending to create you know and this it's almost like a mental rehearsal really that can boost your confidence and your emotional readiness but here's the thing when you actually do visualization, go into detail. Imagine how you'll feel. What does it feel like? What's around you? Who else is there with you? You know, what does it smell like? What are you seeing in terms of the setting? You know, because the more detail you can bring into your visualization, the more powerful it will be and I'm a big believer in in all of this stuff and some people you know it's not for them and I appreciate that they go all that woo woo stuff I don't think it works but for me this has definitely helped and what you're doing as well with this with all of these tactics actually you're training your subconscious brain right and you're raising your energy.

11:54You're raising your openness so that you start to attract these things into your life. So the fourth tip that is really useful in this is affirmations. You know, use positive statements to reinforce your belief in your ability and vision. Say it out loud. I say my affirmations every single morning out loud and I repeat them and repeat and repeat them. Sometimes I'll say it in the shower. So whatever works for you. But again, you're training your subconscious brain. And then let's talk about community. You know, I'm a massive believer that you, who you surround yourself with is critical, not only to support you, but also to challenge you and hold you accountable.

12:38You want to be around people that are a few steps ahead of you, perhaps, but are on a similar journey. And, you know, you can share and support each other. It's going to call you out when you need to be held accountable. And then, you know, another tip, micro goals. Break those big dreams into small manageable steps, you know, because then it's so much easier to achieve. You know, you're going to celebrate each win. You're going to build momentum, avoid the overwhelm. You know, a mindset is like fitness. You have to train it regularly to get stronger. Your brain is like a muscle in the same way as you would go to the gym to work out and maybe do weights or cardio or whatever you're into.

13:18your mind is the same thing it has you need to keep it active you've got to treat it like a training session and the more you do it the more regularly and consistent you are the stronger your mindset will be so it's super powerful I think we only use a very very small proportion of our brains actually and there's so much untapped there that we can lean into but some of these tips one they have certainly helped me so I'm talking from personal experience but I have also seen the impact of these tools that I share with my clients and with my one-to-one business mentees and how powerful it is for them and the results that come.

13:55So this is real stuff that works. All right, so are you still with me? I told you there was going to be quite a lot of content here. So part four, what are some of the signs your mindset may need work, right? So how do you identify if you actually maybe your mindset isn't where it needs to be or could be? You know, because sometimes, as I say, we have limiting beliefs that can become so familiar, we start to think they're reality. So some of the signs that you might need to refocus on your mindset, you know, are if you're feeling stuck or you're overwhelmed by fear and doubt, you know, you might be procrastinating or avoiding decisions because of fear of failure, you know, putting things off.

14:38Hold your hand up if you've ever been, you know, guilty of procrastinating. I 100 % have been guilty of procrastinating at multiple times. You know, are you constantly seeking external validation before feeling confident? You know, that again is another sign that maybe you need to work on your mindset and you might be losing connection with your original purpose or why. So try to come back to that. You know, why are you doing things? What's your reason why? And, you know, if you're feeling isolated or like you're carrying the weight alone, you know, again, that's another sign to watch out for.

15:12Now, these are not failures. They're signals. They're signals that your mindset is ready for some attention. It needs some TLC. And if you recognize this early on, you know, it's really key to shift in your trajectory. So, you know, I always really like to get feedback to understand what's going on in your world. So, you know, if you've got a question that you want some help with, please reach out. Let us know. You know, what mindset struggles are you facing? You know, have you had moments where maybe your thinking has shifted and it's opening some new doors? You know, what questions do you have about developing that, you know, that kind of mindset, that founder mindset that we're talking about?

15:56So if you've got questions, feel free to drop them in a social media, in the post if you're listening to this live. Send me an email. Absolutely connect with us on the website. Drop me a DM. Send me a message on LinkedIn because we're here to help. And that's why we have Brave Bob Brilliant as a community to support and help each other. so we can really, you know, lean into and creating the best life, the life that you deserve, the business that you deserve, the career that you deserve, you know. So it's a community where we want to lift each other up, share wins, push through challenges together.

16:37That's what we're all about. So, you know, I just want to say a massive thank you for spending this time with me and investing in your mindset, you know, by watching or listening to this. That is the foundation for your success. And of course, if this talk inspired you, please like the video and hit subscribe so you never miss our conversations. And of course, share this with someone who needs to hear this message today. Remember, your mindset is your greatest asset. So keep showing up. Keep believing in yourself. Keep building your dreams. Literally one day, one decision, one mindset shift at a time.

17:16That's all you need to do. so until next time you know be brave be bold and of course that is going to unlock your brilliant i really hope you've enjoyed this episode of brave bold brilliant remember check out our new website www.brave-bold-brilliant.com you're going to find loads of resources on there that's going to help you with your leadership journey and with the businesses that you're trying to scale up and grow so take care everyone and remember there are no limits to your growth but it is by being brave and bold that you're going to unlock your brilliance.