Here is a thought I would like you to consider before you continue reading this article: In the last day or two, what types of conversations have you had about money?

Perhaps you complained to a friend about how poorly business is going. Maybe you were unable to sleep last night because you aren’t sure you’ll be able to pay your mortgage or handle the credit cards bills this month. Looking back at the last 24-48 hours, can you honestly say you’ve had optimistic thoughts and/or conversations about your financial situation?

I must admit that the amount of information out there about the “power of positive thinking” concerns me sometimes. I fear that many entrepreneurs who want to succeed financially spend so much time focused on this mindset that they ignore many of the practical action steps necessary to create success in any small business. This imbalance rarely leads to real forward progress or long-term results.

It is true, however, that the first step to making considerable positive changes in your business finances is to genuinely examine and shift some of your inherently negative thoughts about money. Much like physical conditioning, your financial conditioning is something you must begin to self-manage and be attentive to for the rest of your life. This isn’t as easy as checking the box and saying “I’m done; I’ve arrived.” Your psychology will always impact the decisions you make along the way on your wealth building journey.

Consider the last success you experienced in your small business. Perhaps you landed a new client or booked a lucrative speaking engagement. Now try to remember what your mindset was as you performed the tasks that led to that particular success. The odds are that you were extremely positive and energized. You probably felt, deep in your core, that you could do this, that you deserved it and that, no matter what, you were going for it! How many of us really believe that the results would have been the same had you gone into the process feeling depressed and lethargic. What would have happened had your thoughts been filled with all of the previous “failures” and worries about not being good enough?

I encourage you to take some time to actually jot down some of your beliefs about money. Then closely examine the list and truthfully ask yourself which of those beliefs are continually sabotaging you. Now, make a second list of how you would like to think about money. Start keeping those lists with you. Whenever you find yourself on a thought from the first list, stop yourself. Make a conscious decision to shift that thought to one of your new, empowering beliefs.