Limiting beliefs are very interesting. Most of us have inherited them from our parents or people of influence in our lives or even from the media. These can be beliefs that stop us from excelling in life.

I noticed an example of a limiting belief on a trip to Sri Lanka recently in an elephant orphanage. There were giant elephants that seemed held in place with a length of string around their back leg. Clearly the elephants could have broken the cord in a second but apparently they never did. The reason for this was explained by one of the handlers.

When the elephant babies are bought in to the centre they have a chain attached to the leg to hold them in their pens. Of course they struggle and fight, but eventually they give up, accepting that whenever they are chained it is pointless to resist. Over time the chain is replaced by a thick rope, then a thinner rope until it is virtually only a piece of string. But the slightest pressure on the elephants leg makes it think it cannot move from that particular spot. So without thinking about the ethics of this treatment, it is clear to see how the negative belief is used to control the elephants.

People are not a lot different. We have our own limiting beliefs and there are many books written on this concept and various ways to overcome our negative core beliefs. In business I see the following negative beliefs every day and I believe they really do stop people from succeeding and they make life so much harder for business owners than it has to be:

1. Small business is meant to be hard.
2. You have to work really long hours to be successful in your own business.
3. You can never make huge amounts of money in a small business.
4. You have to sacrifice a lot to have your own business.
5. Most small businesses fail.

Now if you have those core beliefs, why on earth are you in business? I have to admit, somewhat ashamedly, that I did have these negative beliefs for many years and I almost saw it as a personal challenge to prove them wrong.

Over time and with experience from too many people to list I realised they are not right.

1. There is no reason at all why owning a small business should be tougher than any other way of making a living.
2. Working really long hours is not a prerequisite to building a successful business.
3. I know many, many people who have made and are making millions of dollars per year from their small business.
4. I don’t consider anything I do in business to be a sacrifice, it is more a matter of determining my priorities.
5. Most small businesses fail for very predictable reasons. If you are aware of these your chances of success are very high.

What negative beliefs are holding you back? Search deep within and see what nerves are touched when you explore some of the above thoughts. Once you have identified your limiting beliefs, replace it with a positive belief and read it daily. It takes time to change these beliefs but with perseverance you will.

What can you do today? Identify your own negative beliefs, whatever they may be. Write them down and then write the belief you want to have next to it. From now on, read the positive belief every day for at least a month.

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I talk to a lot of small business owners around the world and interestingly enough, there seems to be a common misconception that small business is supposed to be tough otherwise you aren’t doing it right. I call this “Small Business Syndrome” and I believe that it really holds small business owners back.

Small Business Syndrome relates to all of the negatives of having a small business and yes, there are a number but in my opinion the positives far outweigh the negatives. And lets be honest, if they didn’t why on earth would you ever start your own business.

Anyone who has been in small business for any period of time will have heard all of the lines about how hard it is to run your own business. Staff are nothing but trouble, suppliers will let you down, money is always tight, the hours you have to work are crazy, the stress you have to endure will ultimately break you and so on. This mutual suffering is normally passed on in self pity workshops with other small business owners.
hese workshops a little later).

Personally I love my business. I describe it as exciting, energetic and stimulating. I come and go as I please, I get to make decisions on the spot about how we do business, if I work hard I earn more, I contribute to society through my business and get to build relationships with incredible people, many of whom work with me. Sure, I have all of the other stuff to deal with as well, but I don’t focus on that anywhere near as much as I focus on the good stuff.

Its easy to forget all of the good about own businesses. The grass is always greener and we think that everyone else’s business is better than ours. Well I have surprise for you – they are not! How hard can it be to run a restaurant? Cook a few meals, serve them up and the customers keep rolling in. I don’t think so. Ask anyone who has owned their own restaurant and you will hear a very clear story about running a hard business.

Every single business has good points and bad points. The difference is which points you decide to focus on.

What can you do today? Think about all of the positives aspects of your business. Write them down and when you find yourself feeling a little blue or depressed with what you are doing have a read through the list to remind you of just how good it really is.

Related items

• 7 ways ideas for staying positive in tough times
• Tony Robbins in Sydney – March 2011.
• Negativity kills productivity
• An interesting take on leadership
• You really are never too old…