When you think of what can help you achieve business success, what are the first things that come to mind? A plan to grow your email list from 500 to 5000, an eye-catching logo, or ways to drive more traffic to your website? Well, I will share a free tool to help you, but it’s probably not what you think. It isn’t the latest technology. In fact, it’s something you already own. It’s your mouth. Yes, the very words you speak can help determine the trajectory of your business. Tony Robbins’ calls it “transformational vocabulary.” Here’s how your words can mean success or failure in your business.
There is a quote from the Bible that sums it up best, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV). Many of us speak death on ourselves all the time. In the last week, have you uttered these phrases or something similar about your business?
– I don’t know how I’m ever going to make money at this.
– The stress from this new client is giving me a headache.
– People will never pay that much for one of my programs.
You say these things enough and what happens? You don’t make very much money. When you see that annoying client’s number on the Caller ID, you literally get a headache, and when you release your programs to the world, you get very few sign ups. Why does this happen? Because those negative, self-sabotaging phrases feed the actions we take.
Let’s take a client named Mary as an example. She was a work-at-home expert. After working in customer service, sales and transcription in her pajamas, she was ready to create programs to show other people how to do the same thing. She had the experience. She even a few clients, but she doubted herself and how she could truly make money at this venture. After a slow week, her go to phrase was, “Anybody can find this information online. Why would somebody pay me for it?” Not only did Mary say it, but she acted like it.
– She was slow to respond when potential clients emailed her about her services.
– Mary gave away a lot of information for free and undercharged those who offered to pay her.
– She limited her marketing efforts and turned down opportunities for networking or joint ventures.
Before long, Mary’s words became her reality. She did what is known as self-sabotage. The words we use to describe how we feel and our experiences become our reality. Think about it. If you knew that everything you said came true, would you start speaking differently? Commit to being more intentional about your words. That’s when the phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” comes in handy. 🙂
Even if you are feeling negative about your business, fake it ’til you make it. Tell yourself that you will be successful and actually start taking baby steps to make those words a reality. Reach out to an entrepreneur you admire for help. Write that next blog article. Draft a marketing plan and stick to it. Network online and offline. Before long, those positive affirmations will be real.
Next Steps: Remember that your words have more power than you think. Don’t believe me. Try this exercise. For the next 48 hours, only speak positive things. If someone asks you how you’re doing, tell her in an energetic tone, “I’m doing really well. How about you?” instead of your usual, “I guess I’m all right,” even if you’re running on fumes. If that negative family member comes around asking how your fledgling business is doing, tell him, “It’s going great” and why it’s going so well even if you just launched a program and are waiting on that first person to hit purchase. If you can do it for 48 hours, you can do it for 72. Just keep going and watch your words bring life to your business.