Have you heard of the 'entrepreneur mindset'?

It’s a frame of mind associated with some salespeople who have particular productive tactics and tendencies, putting extra effort and strategic thought into their daily tasks and responsibilities. These salespeople tend to think of the bigger picture and take initiative, whilst embracing leadership opportunities and learning what they can at every possible moment.

Do you have an employee mindset or an entrepreneur mindset?

If you prefer to focus on an individual task, preferring to move on once it’s completed, you’re likely to be a more entrepreneurial salesperson. However, if you prefer to jump from task to task, you have an employee mindset. This habit can limit focus and productivity, which is a tendency that entrepreneurs avoid and employees fall into. "Multitasking" isn't actually a thing. It's just a buzzword that means quickly jumping from individual task to individual task, sacrificing quality and thought along the way.

Another sign of an employee mindset is often fixating on your mistakes, allowing them to take a toll on your confidence and becoming frustrated by them. Entrepreneurs see the good in failure. They understand that every mistake is a learning experience and that the world isn't over with every hiccup. After giving the situation some thought, they determine how they can apply what they've learned as a result of it and thereby increase their sales.

Do you tend to build on your weaknesses or your strengths? Entrepreneurs spend more time building on what they do well rather than remedying their weaknesses. Employees spend more time building a robust body of skills, encouraging themselves to goodness as opposed to greatness. Entrepreneurs understand they need to stand out and know they can probably surround themselves with the right people to compensate for their weaknesses further down the line. That kind of faith in their strengths and future sets entrepreneurs apart from employees.

Likewise, salespeople with an entrepreneurial mindset are smart about risks but don't avoid them entirely, whereas employees are risk-averse. They are reluctant to embrace failure and avoid any possible exposure to it, valuing stability, a steady salary, and job security. However, these are not necessarily an entrepreneur's first priority as they understand that risk comes with ambition and know that you can't hack it in business without boldness. The key difference here is a matter of initiative. Entrepreneurs take it upon themselves to take the risk, whilst employees generally follow behind.

 “But I’m not an entrepreneur, I’m an employee”

It's worth understanding that the entrepreneur mindset isn't necessarily specific to being an ambitious business owner. Any salesperson can demonstrate it in a professional context, although it might take extra thought, effort, and persistence, it is possible to embrace the patterns of behaviour that define this frame of mind. While going above and beyond can take a lot out of you, it might be the best way to reach that next level professionally.

Here at Osmii, we’ve noticed more and more of the businesses we work with will encourage entrepreneurial mindsets and for you to be your own boss. If you’re looking for that change, take a look at our live jobs www.osmii.com/jobs