Everyone has a past. Our histories inform who we are, often impacting the decisions we make in the present.

However, what happens when your past becomes a barrier to creating today’s business success?

This is an important question to consider as you build your business. Believe it or not, the obstacles that you face in reaching your goals are not always the ones in front of you. Instead, the choices you make today can be also be influenced by the long shadow that you carry behind you.

And these choices can make or break your business.

That’s why it’s important to look at your past when trying to create business success today.

Embrace Lessons Learned in the Past

Think about some examples from your past or lessons you learned that have continued to influence you today.

For example, let’s say that you were shy as a child. Maybe you learned to be shy because you found it hard to trust others. You discovered that when you told someone a secret, they didn’t keep it to themselves. Instead, they told the whole class, embarrassing you in the process.

Ultimately, you learned to keep to yourself.

However, when running a business you often need to interact and trust other people, and speak openly and with authority. While this may be hard for you to do now, there are effective ways of dealing with shyness, mistrust and other underlying issues.

How Experiences Shape Who You Are

Humans usually make decisions based on what has occurred in their past.

This makes sense when you think about it. If you touch a pot that has been sitting on a hot stove, you learn quickly not to touch it again until it is cool. The same is true when attempting to create business success.

For example, let’s say that you learned early-on about taking risks. You were the child that loved to climb trees or explore the woods near the neighborhood.

Now, as a business owner, you feel comfortable taking risks (especially calculated ones) if they can improve your bottom line.

This didn’t come out of nowhere, you learned to this in childhood.

Another example of skills learned in childhood is the person who grows up in an emotionally empty or abusive environment. This child often learns to be vigilant and to develop effective plans and strategies for worst case scenarios.

They learn to ‘forecast’ the emotional climate at home, and become adept at predicting patterns of parents’ behaviors.  These skills get “baked-in” in childhood and each one can be an asset in any business environment.

Use the Past to Create Business Success

You can use your past to create business success for yourself, but you need to know how to do it the best way you can.

For starters, take some time to mindfully reflect on your past. Use meditation to do this or perhaps begin keeping a journal – write down your spontaneous thoughts and feelings – whatever comes to mind at the time.

Also, consider your successes and failure, and then ask yourself these questions:

• What did I learn from these experiences?
• How can I apply these lessons to my business?
• What is it about my past that informs how I make choices now?
• What aspects of my past are holding me back?
• How do I create the change I need for the success I want?

Record your thoughts and feelings in your journal so that you have something to refer back to. Remember to let your stream of consciousness flow from your mind to your hand and onto the paper you are writing on.

What NOT To Do When Reflecting on the Past

To create business success, it’s tempting to focus on your mistakes.

Do you have any instances in your life that you wish you could “do over?” Of course, you do!

Really, just about everyone has a time in their lives where they wish they had made a different choice. However, if you find that you are getting down on yourself with guilt and even shame, it’s time to treat yourself with kindness.

Instead of dwelling on the past, use those experiences to make better choices for the future of your business.

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The path to creating business success is never straightforward. There are many things that can alter the direction you take. By mindfully reflecting on your past experiences and being honest with yourself, you can make better choices that will positively impact your business and your future.

If you’d like support and guidance on your path to success, please contact me today.

Call 949-760-7171 or text 949-244-8572 or email jimswaniger@gmail.com.