The best proponents and strategists of the game are the ones who know how to use their strengths and skills to help them win. They ask themselves this question – “Given the rules, what should I do to win?”

An entrepreneurial mind would look at the game differently. It would ask more penetrating questions, and wonder what the purpose behind the game was. If the game is meant to entertain an audience, why should the ball ever come down to the field? Why can’t it have rockets, and be guided by drones?

An entrepreneurial mindset is characterized by the critical, analytical, and fundamentally disruptive perspective that it brings to the world. However, this isn’t necessarily an innate ability – like with many other perspectives, it is something that can, and should be learned by all those with entrepreneurial dreams. Making the ‘switch’ to an entrepreneurial mindset can be challenging. Recognizing the required shifts in mindsets and how they can contribute in making you a better entrepreneur is vital; with that in mind, here are some changes in your thinking that you should consider.

Fear makes you grow, not shrink

Fear is one of the greatest motivators for the human mind. Fear of loss, pain, rejection, harm, and the unknown have prevented us from making many terrible decisions, from childhood to adult life. Being human involves growing up as part of various systems, the influence of which is often perniciously subconscious. Not conforming to the rules of the system – whether written down, or just socially understood – is often not an option we even consider.

An entrepreneurial mindset requires, first and foremost, an implicit understanding of these systems and their many flaws. The fear that drives others away from confronting its problems is what an entrepreneur uses to drive himself to innovate and work hard to fix the systems, and conquer the fear instead of succumbing to it.

Mistakes – avoidable errors or important lessons?

Errors of judgement and execution that are seen as calamitous mistakes have a strong impact on human behaviour. In business and commerce, mistakes are perceived to be costly exercises that are to be avoided as far as possible. Corporations and their systems will go to extreme lengths to avoid mistakes, often by preferring to avoid the situation or the activity that led to it. The goal is to never make mistakes, and be ‘perfect’ in doing some small set of activities through innumerable repetitions, to make you…‘perfect’.

Successful entrepreneurs never imagine that they are perfect and know it all. Their curiosity for knowledge and their motivation for self-improvement transcend any setback that a mistake can create. Mistakes are opportunities to understand yourself and the problems in your approach or your implementation. As long as your intentions are correct, making mistakes and persistently trying to resolve them lead to better growth as an individual.