Growing Your CEO Mindset

The Biggest Decision You’ll Make in Business

The first business I owned after quitting the corporate world was a medical massage clinic. I worried that I would go in the hole financially. I’d quit a multiple six-figure corporate job and then spent an entire year commuting 200 miles a day to train in massage and neuromuscular therapy. Because of my decision our household income was cut in half. I felt responsible. So when it was time to start my new business I made one critical decision. Even though I was starting from absolute zero, I made the decision to think and act like a CEO of a multi-million dollar business. 

My main objectives were:

• Grow a customer base from absolute zero.
• Serve every customer to the very best of my ability.
• Pay my bills.
• Be profitable.
• Become known as top notch, the best in my industry.

This meant I had to show up, every single day, in every way I could.

If a business owner wanted a Monday morning massage before his week started, at 6:30 AM, I was there. If another business owner wanted a massage at the end of a long day of working on her own patients and it was 8:00 PM that same day, I was there. If someone wanted Sunday morning at 9:00 AM I was there. If someone called just as I was shutting down and need treatment, I stayed over.

I had one goal. My goal was to grow my customer base, serve every customer, pay my bills, be profitable, and be top notch. In other words, to be successful. I had to be all in.

Growing Your CEO Mindset

Showing up is one of the top ways you stand out as the CEO of your business. You show up and show up and show up, no matter your preferences. Eventually, you create a reputation and a customer following that allows you to structure your business in a way that is more pleasing to you personally. You can take from that business, rein your hours in, charge higher prices, say no to those who are not ideal for you. But at first, you show up. You put your CEO hat on and do what it takes.

This and this alone is the defining factor of whether you will make it big. This and this alone gives you the reputation of being a serious player versus a lightweight. 

It’s not hard to find stories about business owners who are lightweights, who don’t show up. 

• An online entrepreneur told me that she had prepared to be a virtual speaker for another business owner’s group, prepped her presentation, showed up in the woman’s Zoom room, and waited half an hour. Messaged the woman and 3 hours later heard back, “Oh, sorry, the day got away from me.”
• Earlier this year I listened to a pitch from a brand new entrepreneur who said his goal was to build a summit about how to have flexibility in your business and build it around family. He asked if I would speak, and I agreed. A few weeks out he called me and said, “I didn’t realize how much work a summit is, I’m just going to interview everyone for my podcast, is that OK?” But then, after the podcast recording date was set, he emailed to say, “That day won’t work, I’ve got to do child care.” I declined the interview at that point, and he was surprised. Here’s what I know. Sometimes taking care of your children means showing up in your business, so that it will grow and you have a good reputation. He’s shortsighted. He’s not got a CEO mindset.
• Some people who have affiliate programs don’t ever get around to paying their affiliates. You have to go chase after them for your money. Then they wonder why next time around you are not anxious to promote their offers. They are not business like with their money. 

Over time, when you have your reputation, you’re making money, you’re paying your bills, you have your customer base, you’re serving in a useful and additive way, then you can start to shape your business more to your own desires. If you know me very well you know I am a big believer in work hard, play hard. Those with no CEO mindset think of playing hard without working hard. 

About 4 months ago I had a potential new client meeting with a woman who had never owned a business and for that matter she had never worked, either. She had graduated from college, gone back to live with her parents, and had spent the last 4 or 5 years basically hanging out and travel the world on her parent’s money. She had a business idea and wanted to hire me to help her build it out. During our conversation she said, “Now listen, if I can’t build this to at least a half a million dollars in profit in the next 3 months, I’m out. Who wants to work that hard?” 

I don’t know how to help someone who thinks like that. She’s not CEO material. But if you are wanting to step up to being the CEO of your business and be successful, I can help. My six-month weekly program is open now. I can teach you and guide you to be the CEO of your business if you are ready to show up. We will specifically work on promotion while we’re at it, too. Take a look and see if it’s for you.