Is a Scarcity Mindset Holding You Back?
I believe one of the primary factors to achieve success and a happy life relies on your own mindset. Many times people are in the "scarcity" mindset instead of the "abundance" mindset. This mindset was probably developed from a very early age. If you have this scarcity mindset you were either raised with lack in your childhood, or heard someone who expressed scarcity often. Wherever it came from, it created a fear or anxiety of lack within you.
Imagine that you and I are walking down the street. You breathe in. You breathe out. I breathe in. I breathe out. We both need oxygen to survive. Would you worry that there would not be enough oxygen for both of us? Of course not-air is abundant.
Now imagine we are scuba diving together and my scuba tank starts to malfunction. I signal that I need to share the oxygen in your tank. Suddenly the air becomes a precious commodity. Its scarcity makes us worry. What if there isn't enough for both of us?
Can you see how your attitudes toward scarcity and abundance greatly influence your success?
True Perceptions has been consulting with private investigative firms, security companies, and attorneys for 15 years. The first thing I ask my clients to do is write a vision of what they want to achieve. I do this for three reasons:
- It helps my clients reflect about what they really desire.
- Writing moves their vision out of their head and solidifies it, giving them something tangible.
- I need to know what they want to achieve before I can take any steps to help them.
As we work through steps they need to take to achieve their vision, fear often rears its ugly head and halts the process. But why? It all goes back to the scarcity mindset. That's right, they are thinking about lack or scarcity, instead of abundance. Does this ever happen to you? If so, now you know what it is.
What they don't realize is there is enough of everything for everyone; abundance is all around us. Their scarcity mindset is sabotaging them and many times stopping them from achieving real success.
An individual with a scarcity mindset often thinks there will never be enough. They are suspicious of others and unwilling to share their knowledge. The scarcity mindset individual does not like to help others, and is afraid of change. They think small to avoid risk.
Characteristics of people with the abundance mindset include: a desire to always be more, a willingness to collaborate with others, and an eagerness to share knowledge with others. They enjoy helping others, they take ownership of change, and they think big and embrace risk.
When someone lives in the world of lack/scarcity, they compete for available resources, even when there is an abundance of them.
Leaders who allow a scarcity mindset in their life and business operate from a place of paranoia and fear even when resources-money, opportunity, recognition, are there. As a result, growth, teamwork, and innovation suffer.
Effective leaders who operate from a place of abundance create an environment where growth occurs. They positively influence their team and innovation thrives.
Below is a chart with some characteristics of both the scarcity and abundance mindset. Please be honest with yourself as to which mindset you most identify. If you have an abundant mindset, this is awesome. The sky is the limit for you. If you have a scarcity mindset, there's some work for you to do.
Here's some ways this scarcity mindset could be stopping you:
- You are a one man operation and want to grow. But, to start this growth you need to hire an administrator. Your thought could be..."Oh no, I can't afford to pay someone. Where would I get the business to pay for this staff member?"
- You want to specialize. Your thought could be... "I can't specialize or I will not get any business in my door."
- You know your website is now your companie's face and brand to the world and you know you need a new website. Your thought could be... "I can't afford a new website. There is not enough money."
- I know testimonials on my website will bring more business in my door. But, your thought could be... "I don't want my competition to know who my clients are, they might steal them."
- You know belonging to the True Perceptions' Investigator CEO Roundtable could help you learn and grow. But, your thoughts could be... "I don't want other PI's to know anything about my business. They might steal my ideas."
Here's what having an abundance mindset would look like:
- I want to grow. Your thought would be... "I need to hire an administrator so I have more time to work on my business and generate more revenue."
- I want to specialize. Your thought would be... "Once I start specializing, I will be in high demand and will be able to charge at least double what I am charging now."
- I need a new website to better my brand. Your thought would be... "Let me bring in one additional case this month and find a good marketing person who would create a dynamic website that will better my brand and provide a good ROI."
- I know testimonials on my website will create more credibility and bring more business in my door. Your thought would be... "I am going to obtain them and place them on my website."
- I need to grow our business faster and more efficiently. Your thought would be... "I need to be with likeminded people to share ideas so I will join True Perceptions' Investigator CEO Roundtable this week."
You might wonder why I mentioned our Investigator CEO Roundtable. No, I am not trying to sell you, even though it would greatly benefit you. I mentioned it because so many people do not partake because they are in the scarcity mindset instead of the abundance mindset; therefore, they are afraid someone will steal their ideas. I can tell you, the investigators who are part of this group have grown leaps and bounds over the last few months. It's wonderful to see!
So, how do you shift from the scarcity mindset to the abundance mindset?
- Pay attention to when your mind is telling you there is not enough and tell yourself, there is more than enough. I live in abundance.
- Offer sincere words of appreciation.
- Choose to see opportunity.
- Carefully select the company you keep. Mindsets are contagious.
- Spend time in reflection. Learn to acknowledge and appreciate all the positives in your life and business. Gratitude is a powerful aspect of an abundant mindset. A grateful heart is at the center of an abundant life.
- Stop long enough sometime in the day to recognize all the abundance.
- Keep a gratitude journal. Write down five things you are grateful for every day.
- Give more of what you want. Although it may sound counterintuitive, one of the best ways to increase your abundance is to give. Don't feel like you have enough time? Slip away from your obligations, even if just for an hour, to help someone in need. Don't feel like you have enough money? Give to someone less fortunate. In other words, be a river, not a reservoir. Giving is sure to put you in a more abundant and appreciative frame of mind.
- Continually remind yourself that there is more than enough.
We are all leaders. Leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing less. We influence the people around us wherever we are. As you build an authentic and sincere abundance mindset, you will find that your positive outlook will spill over and influence the people around you.
Let your mindset be your biggest asset!
Please email me and let me know how this article has changed your life and your business.
At True Perceptions we specialize in making your vision come true. We know how to build a brand that will separate and make you stand out from your competition. We leverage your brand and use it as a tool to help you create assets, attract new business and build consumer confidence every day.
Call True Perceptions at 678-583-0401 today for a free consultation.
