Recognize. Care. Act.
I recently spent a weekend with 108 people who shared a mindset I knew I had to share with you.
Conversation after conversation, person after person, the same things kept coming up.
They were excited about the work they were doing and the mission behind it.
They knew that their work could be improved and they were excited about the opportunities that presented.
They were actively learning from others and trying new ideas in an effort to make those improvements.
In other words, they were entrepreneurs.
Maybe not in the traditional sense. Some of them were running their own companies or on their way to doing so, but most of these people were employees.
But that didn’t stop them from wanting to make the world a better place.
No matter their situation, these people were applying an entrepreneurial mindset to improve themselves and the world around them.
It was an inspiring environment. It made me want to be a better person. And it provided some insights that I think are worth sharing.
So in this post we’re going to explore what an entrepreneurial mindset is and how you can apply it across all areas of your life to improve yourself and the world around you.
What is an entrepreneurial mindset?
An entrepreneur does three things:
- Recognize – They see something that could be improved.
- Care – They care about finding a good solution.
- Act – They work at making it better.
Recognize. Care. Act.
That is the entrepreneurial mindset.
This isn’t just for entrepreneurs
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to benefit from this mindset. There’s nothing in that definition that mentions starting a business or building the next hot tech company.
You can do amazing entrepreneurial work no matter what situation you’re in.
Just this past weekend, I talked to multiple people who were exploring new ways to help their employers reach new types of clients.
I talked to people looking for tools and processes that would reduce the stress of their regular tasks, cut down on mistakes, and leave more time for the work they enjoyed.
I talked to people who wanted to improve their communication and connection with their spouses and children.
I talked to one guy who, over the past few years, has intentionally structured his life so that he can alternate between 6 weeks at work and 6 weeks off. That’s right. He only works half of the year.
Some of these people were business owners. Most weren’t.
And they all shared the same excitement about not only improving their own lives, but making the world around them a better place.
How you can be an entrepreneur
There are an infinite number of ways you could apply this entrepreneurial mindset to your own life. The only limit is your imagination.
But here are a few ideas that might help you get started.
Family
How could you…
- help your spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc. achieve their personal goals?
- raise the level of conversation at the dinner table?
- turn learning into a fun exploration?
Work
How could you…
- make one co-worker’s job a little easier?
- implement something that makes your company more profitable?
- learn a skill that increases your value to the world?
Personal
How could you…
- create time for a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try?
- say no to something you feel like you’re “supposed” to do but that drains your energy?
- surround yourself with people who understand and support your biggest dreams?
Money
How could you…
- bring in a little side income?
- align your spending and saving with your personal values?
- create a personal financial system that runs itself?
Empower yourself
An entrepreneurial mindset is all about empowering yourself to improve your situation and the world around you. It’s the recognition that hoping for things to change isn’t a strategy. Purposeful action is the way to make things better and it’s in your hands to take it.
“Purposeful action is the way to make things better
and it’s in your hands to take it.“ Click to tweet.
Now, this certainly doesn’t mean that you’re on your own. Entrepreneurs know that they don’t have all the answers and they are constantly seeking out new ideas and new people who can help them in their journey.
But in the end, they know that it’s on them to make a difference. And they’re excited by the opportunity.
Recognize. Care. Act.
What will you do next to make the world a better place?
I love this!! What kind of convention or seminar were you at? I really need to sit down and ponder these questions but I think it’s a great exercise! We have to know the why in why we are working so hard. What are we working for?
Thanks Tonya! I was at the FPA NexGen Gathering, which is a small conference for young (under 36) financial planners. It was my first time attending and I was blown away. Gave me lots to think about both for my practice and my personal life.
I always thought that being a great leader not only affects your work life, but it can affect all aspects of your life. This post definitely highlights that.
Absolutely! Thanks Lisa.