The importance of mindset for small business owners
What I’m finding with entrepreneurship, is that success isn't solely about the business plan or the market trends — it’s about the lens through which you view challenges and opportunities. Mindset can often be underestimated, but cultivating the right mindset can have a profound impact on business growth. It’s the silent force that shapes decisions and influences our direction!
In this week’s Connect for a Cause small business networking event, held on Tues 28th Nov 2023, the group undertook a perhaps unconventional but powerful experience - a glass walk facilitated by Fiona Leishman of Unleish Your Mind (and then a Lego walk too!).
Connect for a Cause
My quarterly small business networking events are run at the Prince and Princess of Wales hospice, located within Bellahouston Park in Glasgow’s Southside. The hospice might be an unlikely venue for a networking event, but it’s another way that I can give back to the charity (I also volunteer here most weeks, where I deliver mindfulness meditation sessions for the out-patients). If you haven’t heard my story, I lost my mum to cancer when I was 19 years old, and I’ve always wanted to give back in some way.
The PPW hospice is actually a lovely environment, with a welcoming energy. The calm colour palette, beautiful soft furnishings and artwork throughout make it a beautiful space - it definitely does not give vibes of a hospital. The networking events are held in the Education Suite on the upper level of the hospice, and the Bargacree café cater for the guests. I’ve been told it’s the best networking event buffet! (This week we had a selection of canapes, including honey + mustard sausages which were delicious, pulled chicken quiche, finger sandwiches, fruit kebabs, chocolate cake and some lovely mince pies!).
Ryan Yule on confidence
At each networking event we have a guest speaker, alternating between inspiring entrepreneurs who share their story to guests that come to educate the audience. So far we’ve learned about the importance of branding for small businesses from Julie Christie-Clark of Branding by Juls, and social media and marketing strategy from Susan Ferguson of Sunshine Strategies. We’ve also heard inspiring stories from Gail McPake, Darren Green and Marie-Claire Donnelly.
This week was no different, and we were joined by Ryan Yule, Fat Loss and Confidence Coach at The Better You Project. Ryan shared about his past and challenges he has faced with bullying, resulting in a lack of confidence and self belief growing up. His talk was about building confidence so that you can become the person you have always wanted to be… which was a perfect segue for the glass walk!
The glass walk
We need a sense of self belief as we grow our businesses, and the glass walk helped show us that you can overcome the inner critic in your mind, be open to new experiences and take on challenges.
I was a little apprehensive about it. I had watched as Fiona laid out the glass, and realised it was very sharp looking in places!! And when I stepped up to take my turn, my hands were sweating!! However, Fiona was very reassuring, and politely held my sweaty hand as she helped me traverse the glass walk. In all honesty, it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined it was going to be!! (And the Lego walk was actually harder than the glass!)
Joining the next event
That’s the 2023 calendar of Connect for a Cause small business networking events come to a close, but I’m prepping ahead for the 2024 season! Our first networking event will likely be in February 2024, and I tend to launch tickets to my mailing list first (you can sign up to receive my emails here).
Sponsorship opportunities
Would you like to sponsor a future networking event? Sponsoring this event will include being featured in the events listing with a link to your website/social(s), a tag on social media for every promotional post and story and a link shared in my email newsletter. Find out more here.
Photographs by Anna Laska