It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling entitled to success as an entrepreneur.
We see the overnight success stories on social media and assume that if we just have a good idea, success will naturally follow.
But the reality is that success is never guaranteed and rarely comes without a lot of hard work and dedication.
It’s important to remember that you’re not entitled to success, even if you put in a lot of effort. In fact, some of the most successful people in business have faced numerous challenges and failures before achieving their goals.
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, spent years building his company before it turned a profit. It wasn’t until 2003, nearly a decade after its founding, that Amazon reported its first full-year profit.
Oprah Winfrey faced poverty, abuse, and discrimination before becoming one of the most influential people in the world having a net worth of over $2.6 billion.
Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, faced numerous rejections and failures before becoming the multi-billion dollar business owner she is today.
These entrepreneurs didn’t achieve success overnight. They had to work hard, show up consistently, adjust their strategies, and stay focused on their long-term goals even in the face of short-term setbacks.
Challenges and obstacles are the name of the game when it comes to being an entrepreneur and having a sense of entitlement can work against you in several ways.
- An attitude of entitlement can lead you to believe that success is owed to you simply because you have put in the work and stayed consistent. This can cause you to become complacent and stop actively seeking out new opportunities or working to improve your business.
- Entitlement can make it harder for you to adapt to changes in the market or in your industry. If you feel entitled to success, you may be less likely to see the need to make changes or pivot your business strategy when necessary. This can make it harder for your business to stay competitive and adapt to changing conditions.
- Feeling as if you deserve success can lead to a lack of humility and an unwillingness to listen to feedback or advice from others. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to stay open to feedback and new ideas, even when things are going well.
- Entitlement can make it harder to accept feedback or criticism, which can limit your ability to grow and improve your business.
When it comes to overcoming an attitude of entitlement in business, there are several key strategies that can help.
First, it’s important to shift your focus from the outcome to the process. Instead of obsessing over the end result and feeling entitled to success, focus on the daily actions that will help you achieve your goals.
Second, it’s important to stay open to feedback and willing to learn from others. No matter how successful you become, there is always room for improvement and new ideas.
Third, it’s important to embrace failure and learn from it. Failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey, but it can be difficult to accept when we feel entitled to success.
Instead of letting failure bring you down, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Analyze what went wrong and use that information to make better decisions in the future.
Finally, it’s important to focus on the impact you want to make. Remember why you started your business in the first place and focus on the positive impact you want to make in the world.
Use this as motivation to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough. When you are driven by a sense of purpose, you’re more likely to stay committed to your goals and maintain a humble and determined attitude.
In conclusion, by embracing every part of the entrepreneurial journey and staying humble, you can find joy in the process and achieve your goals.
So go out there and make your own success, one step at a time.
