Why the Typical Type A Personality Can Hurt Your Business

When I look back at the 20 years I spent in corporate life, I often feel like  my career happened to a totally different person. My life is so different now and I feel so much more joy and peace than I ever did.  In fact, I can honestly say I have never had a single bad day since becoming an entrepreneur.  I’ve heard this from others who have made the transition as well. We often talk about making the leap…that’s just part of the equation. The part that is the biggest obstacle is often making the mental leap. Let me explain.

Many entrepreneurs have the typical Type A personality. This served us well in our careers. However, most of us decide to start businesses because we say we want more flexibility and purpose in our lives. Unfortunately, too much Type A may build you a business that makes money, but will probably find you working in an 80-hour a week job of your own creation!

A friend of mine who left a six figure career and made dramatic changes to her life jokes that her Type A was so intense, she was a Triple A (You’ll meet her soon). That got me to thinking – what if we reframed that? What if Triple A meant something completely different? So here’s my Triple A Approach to business: Align, Act, Allow. Watch the video below to get the full explanation.

Align – To build a business you’ll love, it has to align with what you really want. Instead of building a business you think you need, to get what you want, build the business that you want without feeling you need to pay your dues and work your way up to the eventual dream destination Make sure your services express who you are, and that you are matched with your ideal client.

Act – There are two elements to this. Make sure you’re taking the right actions that are consistent and strategic, based on your goals. And act as if you already have what it is you say you want, without feeling you need to qualify yourself or wait for expert status. Believe that you have what you need already and embrace the feeling of being the CEO of your life and business (watch the video for my take on the phrase “self employed” – I think we should ban that phrase).

Allow – Allow and accept the opportunities that come your way with grace and ease. Let yourself enjoy and experience your business. Instead of thinking that the only way to make more is to do more, allow yourself to believe that it is entirely possible to work less, love life and be financially rewarded. Go about your business peacefully and purposefully instead of aggressively. And finally, allow yourself to be yourself and not the Type A person you may feel you need to be.

Want to use this article? You can as long as you include this footer: Sherri Garrity is the Chief Corporate Fugitive and creator of the Five Keys Success SystemTM for ex-corporate employees and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to break free from the confines of their corporate experience and live outside of the ordinary. The Corporate Fugitive system demystifies the business of setting up, managing, marketing and growing a successful and extraordinary business. Visit www.corporatefugitive.com for information and step-by-step resources to take you from overwhelmed employee to extraordinary entrepreneur.