How to Be the Best Version of You: Practical Tips to Become a Better Business Owner

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Being a business owner is not always easy.

You need to be decisive, perceptive, and ready to face challenges at any time.

With that in mind, how can you become the best version of yourself as a business owner?

How can you thrive, rather than just survive, as an entrepreneur?

The answer lies in the combination of character, affirmations, and habits.

In short, it’s creating a plan to be the best version of you that you can.

To learn how, you can watch the video or scroll down to read the text.

1. Know yourself

The first step on the path to success is knowing yourself.

Making time for self-reflection and getting to know your strengths and weaknesses will help you focus your energy on what is most important.

There are many ways to get in touch with your inner self: meditation, journaling, or even just reflecting on a recent challenge or the way you handled a situation and the outcome.

A good self-assessment will help you understand what areas you need to improve. At W5, we use DISC assessments with our clients.

For example, if you are someone who is very eager to take on new projects but struggles to follow through, you will want to focus on building your discipline.

2. Commit to constant self-improvement

At the age of 20, Ben Franklin created a system to develop his character. He identified 13 virtues and set them as a Code of Conduct – a set of expectations for himself.

Each week, he would select one of the virtues and make that his focus for the week.

One of the best ways to stay motivated and push yourself to become a better business owner is to make constant self-improvement a priority.

There will always be areas to improve — and it’s up to you to recognize those areas and make the effort to improve. Start by looking at your weaknesses (they are often easier to spot than your strengths).

What habits can you change? What skills do you need to learn?

Emphasize the development of your character traits that are crucial for success, such as self-discipline and confidence. Seek out opportunities to put these characteristics into practice — even if you feel you are not yet 100% ready!

3. Use affirmations

The two most powerful words in English language are “I am.”

Affirmations are statements of who you hold yourself to be.

They all start with an “I am” statement and are stated in the present tense.

You always want to affirm what you WANT…not what you don’t want.

Because our brains can’t do a don’t.

Here’s a quick test to prove that: Don’t think of a polar bear.

Bet I know what you just thought of!

If you’d like to use the same guide I used to set my own affirmations, see Jack Canfield’s guide here: how to do affirmations

4. Set goals and be productive

Let me ask you a question: Would you get on an airplane if you knew the pilot didn’t have a navigation plan?

Of course not! That’d be crazy.

Now let me ask you another question: Are you living your life without a plan of who you’re becoming?

If you don’t have a plan to become the best version of yourself, you’re doing the equivalent of a pilot without a flight plan. You’re just flying in the fog, hoping that it leads to an OK place.

Setting goals is one of the best ways to get yourself motivated and produce lasting results. It can even help reduce anxiety.

When goals are specific, you can track your progress and adjust along the way.

Goals can relate to your business or your personal life. You might want to set goals such as increasing your customer base, improving your marketing efforts, or increasing your profit margin.

No matter what your goals are for this year, make sure to write them down and keep them somewhere you can see them every day. This will help you stay motivated and on track to achieve them.

5. Develop habits to build confidence and mastery

Building habits is important for any successful business owner.

It helps you build confidence in your ability to push through challenges and make the most of opportunities as they arise.

Find one habit that will help you take your business to the next level.

Whether that’s reading more about your industry, scheduling your time more effectively, or learning how to delegate better, the right habit could make all the difference.

Once you’ve found a habit to focus on, break it down into small, manageable steps.

This will make it easier to get started and stay committed over time. A great reference for building habits is James Clear’s book Atomic Habits.

The journey of business ownership can be challenging, yet extremely rewarding.

To thrive as an entrepreneur, you need to be deliberate with your efforts to become the best version of yourself.

At W5 we say that if the owner wants a better business, first, the business needs a better owner.

The best way to do that is to start with self-awareness and understanding where you need to grow.

With these tips in mind, you can begin to cultivate a positive mindset that will help you grow and thrive as a business owner.

If you’d like some help with that, consider working with a business coach!

To get started towards a better version of you, book 15 minutes on my calendar to chat: book time with John.