How important is mindset when it comes to running a successful business and watching it grow? From setting goals to choosing what to prioritise, Harpreet Kaur shares her top mindset tips for entrepreneurs.
Harpreet won BBC’s The Apprentice in 2022 and gained a £250,000 investment for her small business, Oh So Yum.
Speaking at our Empowering Women in Business event, Harpreet told her inspiring story to an audience of female founders. Read on for her tips and watch back the talk recording for free.
Top mindset tips from Harpreet Kaur
1. Self-belief is important – but it takes work
Harpreet shared a realistic reminder that “Life doesn’t always go the way that you thought it was going to be. You get knocked back”.
“But one thing I never do is disrespect myself,” she added.
While there will always be more you want to achieve with your business, it’s important to remember how far you’ve come.
Harpreet said: “That to-do list is never going to go away.
“But think to yourself, ‘would the five-year-old you be proud of where you are today?’”
If the answer is yes, she said: “Make sure you give yourself credit.”
2. Set goals for yourself
Next, Harpreet shared how it’s important to set goals for yourself and your business on your path to success:
“Goal setting is going to set your life on fire.
“If there’s anything you want to achieve personally or professionally, write it down, and visualise it.
“Believe in yourself and go get it.”
And speaking from her experience on The Apprentice, Harpreet said: “I actually put the date that Lord Sugar was going to say to me ‘you’re hired’ and I calculated that when I did the application form.”
Read more: The secret to setting goals for your business.
Watch Harpreet Kaur’s talk
Watch Harpreet’s keynote speech in full below to hear more about her experience and tips as an inspiring female founder.
Harpreet was joined by Lucy Hitchcock, an entrepreneur with two successful businesses: Sassy Digital and Partner in Wine. Read more about key takeaways from the event.
3. Choose your priorities – you can’t do it all
The final tip from Harpreet was about unattainable balance and finding your focus.
She emphasised that balance doesn’t really exist, but as a business owner you need to choose what you want to focus on in your day.
Whether that’s building your business, cooking healthy meals, or going to the gym and spending time with family, Harpreet acknowledged that it’s not possible to do it all, all of the time.
She said: “Right now I just want to focus on work, work, work.
“But I know my balance right now will look very different to what it will look like later on in my life.”
She reminded small business owners to choose what to focus on, not compare yourself to anyone else, and think about what ‘good’ looks like for you right now.
“Then you’ll feel this sense of calm”, she concluded.
Photograph: Noah Da Costa
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Have you tried any of these tips for your business? Let us know your experience in the comments.
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Photograph: Noah Da Costa
Photograph: Noah Da Costa
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