Millennial Entrepreneurs — We're constantly being pulled in a million different directions. It can lead to us feeling burned out, bummed out and generally less effective in every aspect of our lives. A study conducted by America’s Small Business Development Centers partnered with The Center for Generational Kinetics showed that 30 percent of millennials currently own a small business. So what is the solution to managing it all effectively? In a word: mindfulness. As a single mom/very busy wellness entrepreneur, I promise you it’s a valuable business tool, not just a “woo-woo” buzzword.
Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment without judgment. This simple concept is not always so easy to implement when we are balancing having so many things on our plates at one time. Incorporating mindfulness into your business practices can allow you to meet the moment as it is, viewing situations on purpose for better outcomes. It’s a way of turning off autopilot and not becoming reactive or overwhelmed in situations.
Mindful practices allow you to learn from experiences objectively, a valuable ability to have when you’re an entrepreneur. This conscious awareness allows you to bring non-judgmental attention to internal and external experiences.
A good illustration of the practice of mindfulness is to view your thoughts and experiences as clouds floating by, or cars driving past you. You observe them intentionally with interest, but without judgment. This intentional observation can lead you to have an integrity of decision-making within your business that you might not have been able to have otherwise.
This awareness, or focus, is the opposite of distractedness and inattention, two major factors that can contribute to the failure of an entrepreneur. Mindfulness means that you’re viewing things on purpose, but not taking them personally. It’s all a valuable learning experience that you can gain helpful information from as an entrepreneur.
So how do you implement mindful practices as an entrepreneur? Basically, take yourself and your feelings out of the equation. When a situation or experience occurs, take a deep breath, and consciously choose to view the experience with open-minded neutrality and you'll have your (entrepreneurial) groove back in no time.