The Best Business Mindset Books and Tips to Support Your Entrepreneurship Journey
When it comes to building a successful business and achieving your dream life, mindset is EVERYTHING. And I can tell you that from personal experience because I’ve lived it.
Five years ago in 2020, I was a corporate fashion buyer, working for some of the biggest brands in the world including Burberry, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, and Diesel. On paper, I had a dream job, a great salary, and my own property as a result of it all – but inside, I was burnt out, anxious, and craving a lifestyle that felt truly aligned with who I am.
Fast forward to January 2025, and I’ve found a way to live my dream life: working from surf towns, taking beach walks on my lunch breaks, watching sunsets daily whilst building multiple streams of online income that give me the freedom to live life on my terms.
But none of this would have been possible if I hadn’t prioritized mastering my mindset.
In this post, I’ll guide you through the importance of mindset in business, share my personal journey, recommend some must-read business mindset books, and show you how to take your first step toward mastering your mindset – starting with overcoming imposter syndrome.
The Reality of Imposter Syndrome: Why It’s Normal and How to Navigate It
When I first started my business, I was full-on faking it till I made it.
I didn’t know how to package a service, create passive income streams, or market myself. But I went for it anyway and fumbled my way through, figuring it out as I went along.
From the outside, I looked like I had it all together and knew what I was doing, but my inner critic was screaming at me…
“Who are you to do this?”
“You’re not good enough!”
“This isn’t going to work.”
These nasty little thoughts are called imposter syndrome. It’s something almost every entrepreneur faces, especially in the early days.
The bad news? It sucks and can linger around for a little while.
The good news? It’s perfectly normal.
The better news? It doesn’t have to hold you back and you CAN overcome it!
Here’s the truth: Faking it till you make it can only take you so far.
If you’re in your business for the long haul – and I know you are – you’ll eventually need to shift from just surviving to truly thriving. That shift starts with mastering your mindset.
Why Mindset Is Crucial for Long-Term Success
So, why is mindset important in achieving success?
Your mindset dictates how you show up in your business. If you’re constantly battling self-doubt or letting fear dictate your decisions, it’s nearly impossible to grow. But when you develop a mindset of resilience, confidence, and purpose, you can get through any challenges or crappy situations thrown at you, because, let’s be real, the entrepreneurial journey isn’t always a smooth sailing one.
A successful mindset isn’t about toxic positivity or ignoring challenges. It’s about building mental tools to navigate those challenges, pivot when necessary, and keep moving forward.
5 Mindset Tips for Entrepreneurial Success
Embrace a Growth Mindset
Success isn’t about being perfect; it’s about progress. Every mistake is a lesson, and every challenge is an opportunity to grow. Be open to changes and growth within yourself in your business, the biggest mistake you can make is not moving with your business.
Prioritize Mental Health
Burnout doesn’t serve anyone – not you, not your business, and definitely not your clients or customers. Make space for rest, mindfulness, and self-care so you can show up as your best possible self.
Surround Yourself with Support
Building a business can be lonely. Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, mentors, or coaches who understand your journey. Collaboration is usually key, especially in the early days.
Visualize Your Success
Take time to imagine your dream life in detail. What does it look like? Feel like? Use that vision as motivation to stay focused on your goals. Keep your purpose and goal of why you’re doing what you’re doing at the forefront of your mind.
If you’re not clear right now on WHY you are setting up an online business you can sign up for my FREE masterclass “Find Your Freedom Model” where I’ll guide you through an exercise that helps you figure it out. Click here to sign up now.
Invest in Yourself
Whether it’s a mindset coach, a course, or a business mentor, investing in your growth is one of the best decisions you can make.
Looking for an online business mentor? Find out how I can support you here!
Must-Read Business Mindset Books
If you’re ready to dive deeper into cultivating a mindset for success, these books are a great place to start, I’ve personally read all of these and I can honestly say they have all changed my way of thinking about both myself and my business:
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
Learn how small, consistent changes can lead to massive results.
“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
Discover the importance of living in the present and letting go of fear and doubt.
“The Untethered Soul” by Michael A. Singer
Explore the inner workings of your mind and how to break free from limiting beliefs.
My Personal Journey to Mastering My Mindset
When I started my business, I was working at London pace – even after I moved to Bali. It didn’t take long for me to hit a wall. I realized I couldn’t sustain my business without prioritizing my mental health and mindset.
Over two years, I focused on shifting my belief system to KNOW that I could:
Build a successful business.
Achieve my dream life.
Show up with purpose every day.
Even when everything came crashing down last year, those mindset shifts got me through it. Instead of giving up, I pivoted my business and life in a direction that felt more aligned with my purpose.
How did I do that?
- I got REALLY clear on the exact type of life I wanted to live and purposefully put myself in an environment that was supportive of that lifestyle. Think of yourself like a plant—the environment you’re in will either help you grow or cause you to wilt.
- I focused on creating a healthy morning that set me up for the day and calmed my nervous system so I was in a stronger state of mind to tackle anything that came at me. That meant slow wake-ups, no screens for the first hour, meditations daily, movement, and brain dump journaling – If you need a new basic morning routine to follow try this one from the TINAH website.
- I started doing subconscious manifestation meditation through the To Be Magnetic membership which helped me reprogramme many of my limiting beliefs and work through any stuck emotions I was feeling that were holding me back. If you want to try TBM use the code Sophie1928 at checkout.
- I adopted a trial-and-error process and truly learnt from my mistakes. Instead of being frustrated when something went wrong and telling myself how much of a failure I was, I reframed mistakes and failures as lessons. This has been the most powerful shift I’ve made as I can clearly see what happened and how to change it going forward.
- I practiced setting firm boundaries and I said no to things I didn’t want to do.
- I wasn’t scared to change direction when something felt like it was misaligned or it wasn’t working. I pivoted many times to get my back on the right course of direction until something stuck.
- I blueprinted, created templates, and systemized everything I did in my business so that I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel every time I did something, making it easy to rinse and repeat certain tasks and free up my brain’s capacity for new things.
- I gave in to my pride and asked for help – hiring a virtual assistant, business mentors, social media managers, and financial assistance as I realized I COULD NOT DO IT ALL. Despite this being a big financial risk and at times a strain, I knew me trying to do everything was causing me more harm than good.
Ready for Growth? Take the First Step to Improve Your Business Mindset
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward, I want you to know this: You already have what it takes to succeed.
You just need the right tools, mindset, and support to make it happen.
That’s why I’m inviting you to join my free masterclass: “Find Your Freedom Model.”
In this masterclass, I’ll help you take the first step towards starting your online business, by helping you overcome imposter syndrome and showing you how to use your existing skills and passions to start an online business that aligns with your dream life.
Click here to sign up.
Let’s make 2025 the year you step into your potential and start living life on your terms.