Breaking Through Business Plateaus: 3 Strategies for Turning Setbacks into Success
As “the mindset guy” here at Early To Rise, I often speak to our clients who are facing challenges and need to reframe how they’re thinking. Luckily for you, I’ve been taking notes and found a few key themes that summarize how I coach most people who are facing challenges.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re facing a tough month, a plateau, or even a period of panic about your business. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Many business owners find themselves in similar situations. Today, I want to share three key principles to help you navigate through these challenging times and emerge stronger.
1. Reframe Failure as Feedback
The first step in overcoming a business plateau is to change how you perceive setbacks. When things aren’t going well, it’s easy to spiral into negative thinking—believing that everything is falling apart and that you’re doomed to fail. However, failure is actually a powerful source of feedback. It’s a signpost pointing you towards areas that need improvement.
Imagine you’re driving and hit a roadblock. Instead of seeing it as the end of the journey, view it as an opportunity to find a better route. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? What is my business trying to teach me?
One of the most valuable shifts you can make is moving from judgment to curiosity.
Judgment says, “I’m failing,” with a period or an exclamation point behind it.
Curiosity, on the other hand, asks, “Why did this happen? What can I do differently?”
By replacing judgment with curiosity, you open up a space for growth and learning.
2. Understand the Safety of Your Current State
The next principle involves understanding why your current state, despite its frustrations, feels safe. There’s a concept from Joe Dispenza that our nervous system prefers a familiar hell over an unfamiliar heaven. In other words, even if your current earnings are lower than desired, they might feel safer than the unknown challenges of higher income.
Reflect on what feels safe about your current situation and what feels scary about where you want to go. For example, earning double the money might seem daunting because your subconscious believes it will require you to work twice as hard. This belief has served you in the past by keeping you in your comfort zone, but it’s no longer serving you now.
To change this, use Byron Katie’s four questions to challenge these limiting beliefs:
- Is this true? You might have some evidence supporting it, but not conclusively.
- Can you absolutely know that it’s true? Usually, the answer is no.
- How do you react when you believe that thought? This often leads to self-fulfilling prophecies because we sabotage our efforts, which leads to the belief coming true.
- Who would you be without that thought? Imagine the possibilities if you no longer held that belief.
Once you’ve answered these questions, you can create a new, empowering belief. If you believed making double the money would overwhelm you, you can counter it with, “I have the tools and systems to manage double the income without feeling overwhelmed.” Look for evidence to support this new belief and take inspired action to reinforce it.
3. Rely on Data, Not Drama
Finally, when faced with a business challenge, base your decisions on data rather than emotions. Emotions can cloud judgment and lead to decisions driven by drama rather than facts. Instead, gather as much objective information as possible.
If you’re struggling with lead generation, analyze your data. Do you know where your best leads are coming from? How many conversations do you need to start to secure one qualified sales call? Without this data, you’re making decisions based on assumptions and emotions, which is counterproductive.
Similarly, if sales are lagging, examine your process:
- What is your close rate?
- Are you practicing your sales pitch regularly?
- How many calls do you need to make one sale?
In terms of fulfillment, evaluate your product delivery:
- Are clients getting the promised results?
- Is your team meeting performance markers?
Without data, you’re left with subjective judgments, which often lead to drama. Collecting and analyzing data allows you to make informed decisions that can steer your business in the right direction.
When you’re having a tough month or hitting a plateau, remember these three principles:
- Reframe challenges as feedback. Shift from judgment to curiosity to uncover valuable lessons.
- Understand the safety of your current state. Identify and challenge the beliefs that keep you in your comfort zone.
- Rely on data over drama. Use objective information to guide your decisions and actions.
By implementing these strategies, you can break through plateaus and transform setbacks into opportunities for growth. Remember, I’m here to help you get out of your own way and achieve the financial success you deserve.
Keep pushing forward, stay curious, and always base your decisions on solid data. With the right mindset and tools, you can overcome any obstacle and reach new heights in your business.