09 Sep 2021

Attitude & Aptitude

 

Head trash is an all-too-common affliction among business owners. It was present and “stinking up the joint” in a clear majority of the conversations I’ve had in the last year. It’s a very apt term that I adopted during conversations with my good friend Anson Ross Thompson of the Thompson Group (Commercial and Personal Insurance) a long time ago.

I describe it as the voices in your head you hear all day long in every quiet time, discussion and interaction with people. It’s the little guy/gal sitting on your shoulder talking to you—telling you “you’re not good enough,” “you can’t do this,” “that is stupid,” “you’re not really prepared to launch,” “you’re not a leader,” “don’t do it,” or my personal favorite “they’ll never listen to you.” Yes, we all have it. Anyone that says they don’t either isn’t a business owner or leader, OR they are gravely not self-aware!

So, what are you to do with this “head trash?” Realize first, it’s just that…in your head. Your brain makes it up! It’s feelings. But feelings are just that. They are NOT necessarily the primary motivator for taking (or not taking) action. Let them exist freely without feeling obligated to do anything further. The fun part of this is to let your other voices (e.g., your can-do persona) argue with the “head trash” guy. Or simply move on past the voices! Seek out counsel from a friend or advisor…or dare I say, a business coach. A few good bible verses on this subject:

Proverbs 12:15 ESV The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 15:22 ESV “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Ultimately, you’re the master of what you think, feel and act upon. You can ignore or incorporate voices as you see fit. The first step when it comes to “head trash” is to shed sunlight on it. Use your self-awareness to identify it, pull it out of the shadows, and decide what—if anything—to do as a result.

Work on yourself, get to know yourself, inside and out – spend some time/energy on it. I guarantee it will be worth the investment in time/money/energy. I can help you shed some light on your “head trash” and how best to manage it. Contact me to start down the path.