Why a Positive Attitude Matters for Small Business Success

Every small business owner goes through times of doubt, frustration, and feelings of negativity.  This is normal!

But what differentiates truly successful business owners is the ability to challenge those negative thoughts and change their frame of mind.

In this post, we’re going to look at why a positive attitude matters in business, and what you can tell yourself whenever negative thoughts do arise!

5 Reasons Why a Positive Attitude Matters

Reason #1: It Will Allow You to Take Risks

If you’re continually stuck in a vortex of doubt and negative emotions, you’ll be far less likely to take risks in your business.

You’ll want to play it safe by doing what you always do; and in doing so, you’ll likely miss out on huge opportunities for growth in your business.

However, if you can change your frame of mind from one of fear to one of hope and positivity, you’ll start to realize that taking risks really isn’t so scary after all!

What to tell yourself: If I don’t take risks, I’ll never see my true potential fulfilled. I would rather take risks and fail than someday regret playing it too safe.

What to tell yourself: If I don’t take risks, I’ll never see my true potential fulfilled. I would rather take risks and fail than someday regret playing it too safe.Click To Tweet

Reason #2: Mistakes Won’t Overwhelm You

Having a growth mindset in business can make all the difference in the world.

But more often than not, you're operating from a place of fear and lack.  This leads to feeling overwhelmed and anxious.  No meaningful growth can happen when you feel like this.

Rather than seeing mistakes or failures as reasons to give up, you’ll see them as opportunities to learn and grow.

Instead of getting down on yourself, or beating yourself up, or telling yourself you’ll never succeed, you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and be excited about trying again!

What to tell yourself: Mistakes and failures are opportunities for me to learn and grow.

I made a mistake, and that’s okay. “Success is not final, and failure is not fatal. It’s the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill Click To Tweet

Reason #3: Those around you will pick up on your positive attitude

I love the Tom Stoppard quote, “A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier”.

I love the Tom Stoppard quote, “A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.”Click To Tweet

When you’re upbeat, hopeful and positive, your clients, customers, and team members will be sure to notice – and will be more likely to adopt a positive attitude as well.  This has many benefits.

First, your customer and clients will be more attracted to you and your business, which means they'll be more engaged.  You're also more likely to retain those customers for a longer period of time.  This means you'll build a business filled with raving fans.  This helps to attract more of the right customers to you as well.  This can significantly improve your bottom line.  Who doesn't want that?

Second, if you're positive,  your team members will likely follow suit.  It makes no difference if they are hires, independent contractors or outsources.  Everyone's positive attitudes collectively make for a happier and healthier work environment.  This means that team members are likely to stay with you longer, produce better work, collaborate better and be more productive overall.

What to tell yourself: My positive attitude helps others around me be more positive too. This leads to a better experience for me, my customer and my team members.

Reason #4: You’ll Be More Productive

While maintaining a positive attitude certainly feels good, does it actually contribute to your business’s bottom line?

According to one study, the answer is yes. Researchers at the University of Warwick found happy people were around 12% more productive.

According to one study, the answer is yes. Researchers at the University of Warwick found happy people were around 12% more productive.Click To Tweet

Of course, simply having a positive outlook won’t mean you’re always happy. But it will definitely be more effective than letting your negative thoughts run wild!

What to tell yourself: I can actually get more work done simply by adopting a positive attitude. This is an easy way I can impact the success of my business.

Reason #5: You’ll Kick Procrastination to the Curb

When you’re full of self-doubt, it’s easy to put off tasks and projects you know you should be doing.

Instead of moving forward and making progress, you get stuck – incapacitated by your fear of doing something imperfectly.

But when you get used to seeing the bright side of things, those feelings of overwhelming gradually start to be replaced by feelings of energy, motivation, and inspiration…leading you to tackle difficult tasks with courage.

What to tell yourself: This task may be hard, but I can do it. It doesn’t have to be perfect….it just has to be done!

Final Thoughts on Having a Positive Attitude

I hope this post has helped you see why a positive attitude matters in your life and business.

Maintaining a positive attitude is a decision – it’s not something that just happens by accident.

So, this week, make a commitment to adopt a positive frame of mind and to intentionally see the bright side of things.

Then come back and let me know what this does for your business!

Looking for more tips to foster positivity and change your mindset? Check out my post, Stop Sabotaging Your Success: My Top 10 Business Mindset Tips to Grow Your Business and Still Have a Life

And, of course, a positive attitude can also be contagious, too.  Why not be around other positive-minded professionals. Join the Daily Achievers' Facebook group.

Updated September 13, 2021