The 1 Major Difference Between Failed and Successful Entrepreneurs所有这一切都归结到一个心态。你有它吗?

Okay, maybe there's more than one thing. But there's onereallyimportantthing. Hint: It's not a piece of software, a management style or a willingness to innovate.

It's a mindset.

I'm talking about the mindset of, "Can I?" versus, "How can?" When you ask, "Can I [accomplish something]," you deserve a pat on the back. You'rescanning the horizon for possibilities可以表示,比很多不太和谐le. But pats on the back won't help you validate an idea, attract (and retain) top-tier talent that are drawn to your vision or effectively scale a company.

All you need to do is make one teeny, tiny change, and you might just find yourself face to face with a whole new world of opportunity.

Ask, "Howcan I?"

When we ask "Can I?" our only real frame of reference is the past. Whatever it is, have you done it before? If not, then how do you convince yourself you can now? The question intrinsically limits you to a binary set of answers. At best, it's 50/50 whether you'll decide that "you can."

When we ask, "Howcan I?" instead, we're exploring without predetermined boundaries. For example....

This to-do list is really long:Can I complete it?

This problem hasn't been solved yet:How can I solve it?

Related:How to Create a Growth Mindset as an Entrepreneur

See the Difference?

This is also where the commonly quoted advice to "fall in love with the problem, not the solution" comes from. If you really care about a problem, niche or opportunity, you'll be comfortable spending time with it -- as much time as you need to figure outhowyou're going to make the most of it.

Bottom line, asking whether youcanaccomplish something is inherently self-limiting and largely unnecessary. If you're asking the question, you probably already know deep down that you can. By comparison, askinghowyou can accomplish something presents you with a path to action, and will yield a plan for actually accomplishing it. In practice, it's the difference between a fixed and growth mindset, and the importance of the latter truly can't be overstated,especially for entrepreneurs.