Let’s talk about Employee Mindset and how it can interfere with the way we run our business.

I’m going to put myself out there and say I’m guilty of this mindset. One particular thing I struggle with is boundaries. While I’ve gotten better this past year, this was very hard for me to grasp. It’s so easy to just get wrapped up in work and just answer when someone sends me a text, email, etc.

It really hit me when I was going on a weekend trip when I first got into my business. On paper, I put that I only work Monday-Friday. However, I was answering emails & texts and taking requests on the weekend as well, so why wouldn’t it be expected for me to work?

Instead of putting the phone down, I was answering texts and sending out emails when I should’ve been relaxing. When you leave a trip, you are supposed to come back relaxed and ready to work. That wasn’t the case for me. I didn’t use an off switch and instead, it became just another work day. This is when I realized that I needed to do better.

We can get so wrapped up in our work that we forget we still need to live our lives. I believe many of us struggle with this. We need to acknowledge this and find ways to actively stay present in our lives.

Before I get too carried away about staying present, that is not the only problem with an “Employee Mindset”. These can be up to debate, but this is what I believe the mindset is made up of.

• Not sticking to work hours

  • Yes, sometimes we need to go over our hours to get a big project done, re-brand, etc. However, this should not be a habit.

• Being a Yes Woman or Man

  • Did you know, you are a business owner/entrepreneur? You are not required to say yes to everything. If a project or assignment is cutting into your personal time, you have the right to say no.

• Not having Legal Protection

  • A common downfall I see is other business owners/entrepreneurs not having contracts in place when it comes to working. Just as a 9-5 career requires you to complete paperwork, you should run with the same standard. As I’ve mentioned, people will not always do the right thing. Make sure you have everything clearly defined for both parties.

• Staying with someone you don’t get along with

  • Didn’t I say you are the business owner? Stop staying with someone for money. There is no reason to keep yourself miserable with someone when you have the power to choose who to work with.

These are just a few examples that came to mind.

Ready to lose the “Employee Mindset”?

• Keep reminding yourself you are in charge and follow the boundaries you set (office hours, not checking your phone after a certain time, etc)
• Post those affirmations around you if need to
• Keep your goals front and center. Remember why you started this journey and where you want to be. Live as that future person

Remember, if you run your business as a hobby, it will stay that way. Run it like a business, you will continue to grow.

You haven’t seen the last of these mindset posts! In the meantime, leave a comment with your thoughts. If you have something to add to the list, leave it below. It may get added, with credit of course!