Reframing

I didn’t always see myself as an entrepreneur. As a kid pet sitting for my neighbors and doing yard work I was just looking for needs in the neighborhood and filling them in exchange for money.

A pretty simple, but effective outlook.

As I got older that mindset changed.

Until an old boss pointed it out, I didn't think of myself as an entrepeneur (still don't really). I just thought of myself as a hard worker and a doer. Someone who makes things happen and get things done.

Anytime I thought about starting something, I asked myself, “could this make money?” or “will people buy this?” or "could this make a LOT of money?"

Those are valid questions, but recently I've realized that I’m asking the wrong questions.

We all want to make money. But you don’t make money by asking about money.

You make money by asking what people need. By searching for solutions to problems and when you don’t find one, creating the solution yourself (or improve the one already in place).

People care about what your business can do for them. They don't care about you making money. How will it help them? What’s in it for them? Will it solve their problem? Will it make their life easier?

Asking money questions is a selfish question. 

So I'm reframing my focus from my own selfishness to the selfishness of others. What do THEY need? What problems do THEY have? Will my solution overwhelmingly solve and satisfy THEIR issues?

Instead of chasing money, I’ll be hunting and chasing needs. Where can I fill a gap? Where can I improve something that’s already in place?

Is this is an obvious mindset for you? Do you usually think in terms of needs to solve or money to be made? Or something different?