Episode 16: Using Mindset To Grow From COVID-19

As we continue to wade through COVID-19 pandemic, the positivity of people coming together has been incredible. For this episode of To The Point, we are grateful to have the opportunity to sit down with a leader in creating winning mindsets that translates to success in both business and personal life. Stephen Christopher is owner of Wit Digital, a respected digital marketing agency out of the Denver, CO, area. Like RYNO, Wit Digital specializes in serving the home services industry.

Matching Values

Both the RYNO and Wit Digital teams want everyone to win. We’re all a part of the trades, so we feel coming together to share tactical advice and strategies that can help the trades come out of this situation for the better is valuable for everyone.

Every business in the trades is dealing with the same issues right now, and the ones who choose to have a positive mindset are the ones who are going to come out of this on top. If you have a positive outlook, you’ll learn the most, grow, find new staff, retain the most business, and grow your brand in your market. When it comes to creating this mindset, there may be no one more knowledgeable than Stephen.

The Power of a Positive Mindset

Now more than ever, mindset is of the utmost importance. In fact, it’s the most important thing that you can ever make a decision on. You have a choice in every moment of your life. You may not be able to choose how our governments roll out quarantine, what is and is not an essential business, or how long COVID-19 wreaks havoc, but you always have a say in what you focus on. You can always choose the emotions that you have, how you react to your environment, and the actions you take in response to your situation. These are the things that we have control over to ensure we come out better on the other side than we went in. It is a choice to have a positive, focused mindset, and no one can take that away from you.

Controlling The Monkey Mind

For the most part, worry is a completed wasted emotion. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t be practical. There are of course things you should be worried about, and take the right steps to consider worst-case scenarios to make sure you’re prepared. But worrying and letting that voice control your emotions isn’t a healthy part of this process. Most of your fears are completely in your control, and you can change the outcome.

You have a choice in every moment, and way more control over the outcome of situations that affect you than you realize. Still, there’s that little voice in your head that tries to get you to worry, or panic, and it’s a snowball effect. You can trap yourself with that voice, but the good news is that you also can gain complete control over that voice. Stephen refers to this voice as the “monkey mind”, and points out that by nature, the monkey mind is a negative force in your life. You don’t have to listen to it. You can make it say whatever you want. That voice isn’t actually you, and you can change what it’s saying in that moment, and redirect it.

The “monkey mind” is a negative force in your life, but you don’t have to listen to it

Start the Day with Intention

Every single day, you can set yourself up for success by creating your intentions for the day. This doesn’t mean you have to sit cross-legged, burn incense, and chant your Oms (unless you want to!). It can be as simple as a prayer, a few minutes of meditation, or a bit of journaling. Do whatever inspires you and helps you get in that positive mindset that will allow you to quiet your monkey mind and give yourself a great chance at a productive day.

The Path to Success is a Process

The key to changing your mindset is recognizing that it is an ongoing process, and simply attempting to change for the better is already a win! Don’t set expectations of perfection, and allow yourself to make things easy. You don’t have to be able to meditate perfectly for 2 hours on your first try. Even sitting quietly for a full minute in the morning can be counted as a success, because you made the effort.

Simply attempting to change for the better is already a win

It’s just like going to the gym. The first time you go, it won’t be easy because you don’t have the routine set and you don’t have the muscles developed. It might be a shock to your system, and that’s perfectly fine and normal. Sooner or later, your effort will make things click and you’ll start to see those mind muscles grow and develop.

The whole point of meditation and these other ego-quieting activities is to allow the mind to be untangled, and gives you the ability to clear your head and make it easier to focus throughout the day. From a business point, this achieves incredible results. It also spills into every other aspect of your life, including family life and your personal self. Commit to just one day, and then a second day, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a foundation for a positive mindset for yourself.

Start the Process Today

Don’t worry about the how, or the details. When your reasons for wanting to change are strong enough, the details tend to fall into place. Be determined to be a better version of yourself when this crisis is over. Set your intentions to give your business or career the best chance at success on the other side of this thing. Remember, all of the calls that aren’t coming in right now aren’t lost, but simply delayed. When they come flooding back in, are you putting your mind and business in place to succeed?

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Recommended Reading:
The Alter Ego Effect