Why I shared mind-blowing news with only 4 people—the entrepreneurial mindset

You know when there are things you’d love to have, but you're not sure they'll actually happen? You don't want to get your hopes up too high, right?  It’s part of the complexities of an entrepreneurial mindset—aiming for the best but mentally preparing for the worst. 

I recently had one of those “castles in the air” type wishes, and I was shocked by what happened. 

In the midst of a book project with two colleagues, one teammate suggested we approach Donald Miller (yes, THE Donald Miller) for an endorsement. The great thing about teams is drawing your strengths together to accomplish more than you could alone. It’s our differences that solidify our strengths. 

Different aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset

My colleagues are go-getters, while I’m a quiet worker, light on self-promotion but big on doing things right and staying on task. The two of them are fueled by ideas. I’m fueled by walking alongside people who need help. 

When the idea to ask for an endorsement came up, I responded, “Only if you let me re-write the entire book first!” (There’s a free glimpse at the perfectionist side of my personality). 

The mere idea that Donald Miller would lay eyes on something I’d written stirred up a lifetime of insecurities. I imagined only one outcome: He’d confirm my imposter syndrome (a common element of an entrepreneurial mindset). I was not excited about moving forward.

When all was said and done, we did ask for the endorsement. After all, what was the harm in asking? Getting his endorsement would be like catching a snowflake on your tongue in the middle of summer. We didn’t have much to lose, and imagining the “what ifs” was a fun (and mildly entertaining) exercise. 

It became even more fun when it actually happened.

One Monday morning, before my first cup of coffee, I received the endorsement and immediately became a kaleidoscope of emotions. Excited, overwhelmed, humbled, and terrified all at the same time. My mind was also filled with amazing lessons that seemed to download in an instant.

5 valuable lessons I learned about an entrepreneurial mindset by obtaining my first “celebrity” endorsement

1.  Community is valuable.  

Receiving the endorsement felt like spotting an oasis in the middle of the desert—a moment of serendipity that may only happen once in a lifetime. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Yet when I paused to think about who to call first, precious few names came to mind.

That’s because we often feel alone and misunderstood as writers and entrepreneurs. We pour 100% of ourselves into our projects, but very few people understand what goes on behind the scenes or can grasp the significance of the milestones we celebrate.

The entire experience reiterated our need for community—connecting with others who have the same mindset. Those who experience similar highs and lows can understand our daily unique circumstances. And when we share our true, vulnerable selves, we get true, vulnerable connection in return. 

That means we need to work on point two,

2. Writers and entrepreneurs need to come out of hiding.

Repeatedly in the past month or so, I’ve had to face (and admit) my tendency to “hide,” and I know I’m not alone. Here’s how hiding looks in my own life. See if you can find any similarities. 

• I’ve hidden behind my introverted tendencies and share very little of my personal or vulnerable sides on social media. 

• I sometimes feel pushy when I share an offer (even a freebie) that can genuinely help others, and I prefer to stay quiet.

• Under the guise of being “too busy,” I’ve adopted a “networking is for other people” thought process.

This thinking stalls promotional processes, which means the people you want to impact aren’t receiving your help. Without a team pushing me forward, I would have written this book and hoped the right people would find it on Amazon. The same mentality kept me from reaching my ideal readers when I started blogging. Ugh.

This leads us naturally to point 3…

3. We go further with friends. 

Writing and business building (especially as a solopreneur) are lonely endeavors. We can allow ourselves to become trapped by our habits and tendencies. But when we partner with friends, we can inspire and motivate one another toward more extraordinary things. Community is one thing. Having a trusted network of friends is something entirely different.

Friendships take time to build. They require three essential steps:

•  Showing up as often as possible and sharing your genuine self.

•  Taking an interest in the “behind the scenes” side of the people you meet.

•  Being available when you’re needed and responding with kindness.

When friendships develop, you’ll find you can go further than you could as an individual. 

King Solomon gave us words to live by when he said, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken,” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV). 

But making new friends doesn’t always feel comfortable, leading us to point 4: 

4. The best things happen outside our comfort zones.

When we push through circumstances that make us uncomfortable, instead of avoiding them, we open new doors of opportunity. Like book endorsements. Or fitness milestones. Or we are building robust businesses.

Feeling uncomfortable is different from feeling afraid. When you’re uncomfortable, it’s because you’re unsure of what’s coming. Your circumstances feel unpredictable. But when you’re afraid, there’s an element of danger or the possibility of harm. Knowing the difference can propel you through uncomfortable situations.

It’s best to start small, move through minor discomforts first, and expand into more significant opportunities. Learning to become comfortable in uncomfortable situations is an investment in yourself, and you’ll never know what types of success you’ll achieve until you have a plan and push yourself to live outside your comfort zone. 

5. Every business needs a flight plan.

When we work alone—as many writers and entrepreneurs do—we frequently have great vision but no reliable system to help us reach that vision. But with a steadfast, proven framework, you’ll become a more professional, streamlined business with each step of the journey.

One of the things I genuinely love about starting and building businesses is the personal growth and self-development I experience along the way. As I build a business, I become a better person with greater compassion to help others. But that doesn’t happen by accident.

It comes through having an intentional plan that brings strength and freedom to business building if you’re a solopreneur or lead a team of hundreds. That’s why I developed the Small Business Flight Plan—a group coaching mastermind created for bloggers, small online businesses, and entrepreneurs. Inside, we’ll build community, discover ways to stop hiding our ideas and talent, go further than we could on our own, and push beyond the limits of our business that feel comfortable.

What is a group coaching mastermind?

A group coaching mastermind is a structured program that brings together a small group of like-minded individuals to collaborate, share ideas, support, and learn from one another. The groups benefit you if you’re looking to accelerate your personal and professional development, gain a supportive network of peers, have access to expert frameworks and facilitation, and enjoy opportunities for collaboration and accountability.

I invite you to apply for the Small Business Flight Plan today at www.cathymcintosh.com/flightplan. Come discover the journey to move from undiscovered to unstoppable.