6 Ways You May Be Sabotaging Your Business And Not Even Know It
I’m sure you’ve heard the term self-sabotage. Psychology Today defines self-sabotaging as behaviors that create problems in daily life and interfere with long-standing goals. So why do we self-sabotage our own businesses? And how can you stop this from happening in your business? The reasons can vary, but there are six common ways that many entrepreneurs self-sabotage their own businesses and either slow or halt their success in the long run. You may not be aware of it, but you could be doing these things and not even realize it’s harming your business and limiting its long term potential. Below I give six ways you could be self-sabotaging your business.
6. You’re winging it.
Many entrepreneurs have great business ideas but don’t know how to create an action plan that brings them to fruition. This can lead to self-sabotage because you’re not putting your all into your business. Instead of taking the time to streamline your processes, you’re just winging it and hoping for the best. This might work in the short term, but long term success requires a bit more planning and foresight.
Many don’t finish or aren’t successful because of poor planning. Proverbs 16:3 says commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Hence, you need a plan for God to establish and bless. I encourage you to develop a plan for your business and set goals. Then take a small step toward your goals each day.
5. You’re set on doing it all alone.
A big part of entrepreneurship is delegation. You can’t do everything yourself and expect to be successful. Ever heard a Jack of all trades is master of none? You can’t do accounting, marketing, sales, production, and etc all on your own. I guarantee more than one area is going to be lacking.
Instead build a team of skilled people who can help you with different aspects of the business. Trying to do everything yourself will only lead to burnout and could eventually lead to the downfall of your business. The more tasks you delegate, the more efficient and productive your employees will become.
4. You’re allowing doubt to hold you back.
I don’t think I can do this. I won’t be successful. I’m not smart enough. We’ve all had these thoughts at some point. Self-doubt is one of the biggest enemies of success. When you doubt yourself, you’re more likely to give up when things get tough. Self-doubt can creep in at any stage of the business journey, from coming up with an idea to hitting the launch button. If you’re not careful, it can stop you from taking action and achieving your goals. I see this happen all the time: someone has a great idea for a business but they never take that first step because they don’t believe in themselves enough to follow through.
Never forget that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). The only limitations are those that exist in your mind. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). Entrepreneurship requires courage and willingness to believe and act, regardless of what you’re feeling. You have what it takes! Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) Stop doubting yourself and go for it.
3. You procrastinate.
Procrastination can be a real problem when it comes to entrepreneurship. Missed deadlines, waiting until the last minute, these are all things that can harm your business. Stop postponing decisions and action items that can be done today. Being an entrepreneur is hard work and most entrepreneurs have no shortage of tasks to complete on any given day.
The truth is, if we don’t put our efforts in today, then there will be no tomorrow. There is always another opportunity but procrastinating on something may prevent the chance of ever accomplishing what we want out of life. To ensure long term success with your business, start by being more proactive!
If you find yourself continuously putting off work or getting distracted, then try the 15 minute rule. Pick an activity that’s been on your to-do list for way too long. Set a timer for 15 minutes and plug away at the task until the timer rings. I’ve found this rule to be very effective because starting is usually the hardest part. Once you’ve started you’re more likely to continue past 15 minutes or until the task is complete.
2. You split your focus.
In today’s world, it’s often assumed that multitasking is the key to getting more accomplished. False. Don’t fall for the trick of multitasking. Research has shown that multitasking is actually counterproductive. When you try to do too many things at once, you end up doing all of them less efficiently.
Ever heard the phrase you can’t catch two rabbits at the same time? Instead of multitasking, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention. You’ll get more done in less time and with better quality. Make sure to prioritize tasks based on what will help your business grow fastest. The goal is not to feel like you’re working harder than everyone else but smarter so you can enjoy success faster. By prioritizing tasks and staying focused, this will also help create a strong habit of following through with action steps which will lead to creating momentum for long term success.
1. You’re waiting for the perfect moment.
Are you waiting for the stars to align or for everything to be perfect before taking action? Waiting for everything to be perfect can be crippling to your business. You must take action and move forward even if things aren’t perfect.
Believe me – It’s okay to make mistakes. In fact, it’s encouraged. What matters is that you learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Some people think success means being perfect at every task. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In order to succeed at anything you need to get your mistakes out the way so that you can figure out what works before spending a lot of time and money on something that doesn’t work. Get moving! Stop waiting for perfection and just do it. The sooner you get it over with, the faster and closer you are to your ROI, fine tuning, and ultimately success.
