My Favorite Self-Help Book for Entrepreneurs (And What I Learned About Successful People)

I signed up for $3’000 mastermind coaching and my first task was to read a little book that I’d never heard of before. The lessons from this book are life-changing if implemented. This article is:

• The story of this book.
• Where I am in the process.
• Lessons learned: How successful people became unstoppable.

How The Book Landed In My Hands

Last year was a very difficult time for my business and I got close to just giving up entirely. Thankfully I didn’t! It’s hard to see it when you’re in the middle of a crisis but it’s always the biggest opportunity for growth.

During my crisis, I had the opportunity to finally reach the next level in my business and in my life. The questions I had to answer would decide my future and the future of my small family.

• Are we going to be financially independent?
• Will we be able to live in a place of our choice?
• Or will a boring job dictate where we live?

I went through something many struggling solopreneurs can relate to: My business didn’t grow and I started doubting myself. Sadly in that very moment, I crumbled and gave up: I abandoned my old business and started applying for jobs I wouldn’t even want to work in.

Thankfully, I also did something well: I realized that I couldn’t get over this hump on my own. So I invested in coaching classes until one thing turned it all around: In addition to my coaching classes, I paid $3000 for mastermind coaching.

Before I could join the mastermind, I had a 1-on-1 call with the coach and he gave me an old book, first written in 1986. I was tasked with reading the book and writing a report on it.

This little book turned my life around and catapulted my business forward. And I want to share my most important lesson with you on this page. The book report that I had to write, I’ve also uploaded it to my blog. You can read the entire book report here.

Amazon 1-Star Reviews

Personally, I am convinced that anyone can achieve anything they want in life if they truly understand what this book teaches and implement it.

Out of curiosity, I went on Amazon and read some of the 1-star reviews. It blew my mind how stubborn some people can be. I think it’s just the reality of life that even if you give someone all the information, most people will still stick to their excuses to avoid change in their lives.

So I invite you to keep an open mind for what I’m about to share with you. If you are ready for change, then this will help you.

“What To Say When You Talk To Your Self”

So what’s this little old book that essentially cost me $3’000 just so I could learn it even exists?

It’s called “What To Say When You Talk To Your Self” by Shad Helmstetter.

Back in his time, Shad Helmstetter was an avid consumer of self-help information and courses. He has made a discovery that really bothered him: Although the strategies and techniques were amazing, only very few people could stick with them for long enough to ever see real change in their lives.

That’s why he began to investigate this question and it led him to learn about self-talk.

What is self-talk?

• Self-talk is more than positive thinking.
• Self-talk is more than repeating affirmations.
• Self-talk is quite literally about what it is that you tell yourself, day in and day out, consciously and subconsciously, with your words and with your reactions.

Have you ever wondered, why it is that we don’t do what we’re supposed to do, even if we are fully aware that it will be more beneficial to us?

We see it every day:

• We don’t eat what’s best for us.
• We don’t exercise enough.
• We don’t sleep enough, and;
• We rather learn about business than put in the work.

At the end of the day, we know there are plenty of things we should have done, but we didn’t.

And most of us simply accept this internal conflict as inevitable, unable to ever do something about it. It’s just how humans are.

But not all humans are like that…

What Do The Most Successful People Do Differently

There are a few, maybe 1 to 2%, who do what they should be doing, and they are the ones who:

• Achieve bigger things in life.
• Feel more fulfilled.
• Stand out as role models.

What are they doing differently? At this point, you can probably guess that they are better at self-talk.

For the longest time, the book “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson was my favorite book. It perfectly described what I knew was the most important aspect of success: The things we do every day.

But there was always an issue: I know what I have to do, but why am I not doing it?

Today, I can tell you why: Because it doesn’t feel good.

• Eating healthy feels boring.
• Even just the thought of going running or to the gym is annoying.
• And working hard doesn’t feel inspiring.

Think about this very moment right now: What are you supposed to be doing, right this moment? Have you exercised, yet? Have you read 10 pages of a book, yet? Have you completed all your tasks?

Don’t judge yourself! What I want you to do is simply notice your feelings toward those actions.

Notice how you avoid doing it because it simply doesn’t feel exciting to do. You avoid doing it because it doesn’t make you feel good.

How To Take Action And Become Successful

Of course, ultimately, all success depends on our actions. We have to do something to reach our goals. We all know that. But what we don’t know is why we don’t do it.

Dr. Helmstetter really opened my eyes in his book “What To Say When You Talk To Your Self” and perfectly explained the process behind our actions, and it all relates to our self-talk.

Everything we do, every single action, it is entirely influenced by our emotions. We do what will make us feel good, and we avoid what makes us feel bad.

But where do your feelings come from? Imagine if you could control your feelings, then you could have fun doing even the most boring tasks.

According to Dr. Helmstetter, the author of the book, your feelings come from your attitudes.

Let’s take running as an example: Some people love running. Dedicated marathon runners get up every day and are excited to go running. It boils down to their attitude towards running.

All your feelings, positive or negative, can be traced back to your attitudes towards that thing or action. With a positive attitude, you will also develop positive feelings toward the same thing.

And where does your attitude come from? It comes from your beliefs. These are the deep-wired beliefs that you’ve learned from your:

• Family
• Culture
• Education
• Religion
• Work
• Social circles.

As we grow up, we are indoctrinated with many beliefs from our environment.

And finally, your beliefs are enforced by your daily self-talk. Whatever you tell yourself is what you believe. Your self-talk keeps your beliefs alive, the words you tell yourself literally program what your beliefs and attitudes are.

That’s why forcing yourself to do something doesn’t work long-term. As long as you keep your negative beliefs and attitudes, nothing will change.

Step-By-Step Process To Personal Growth

This right here is the message I want you to take home:

1. It all starts with your self-talk.
2. Your self-talk programs your beliefs.
3. What you believe about something determines your attitude towards it.
4. Your attitude determines your feelings for it, and;
5. Your feelings determine whether you take action or not.

Changing your beliefs and attitudes to the positive isn’t an easy task. There is only one way to do it: Intentionally changing your self-talk.

Don’t take this lightly: You have to change, word for word, the things that you tell yourself. And you have to do it every day, every time you catch yourself, and as often as you can.

Anything you say to yourself that doesn’t help you achieve your goals, replace it with a better version.

For example, something I was always struggling with was completing my daily to-do list. Since I’ve started working with my coach and with this book, every morning I tell myself: “I have a specific plan to get the most from my time and effort. I follow my plan and I reach my goals.”

I repeat this sentence every time I start to fall behind with what is on my to-do list:

• I am re-programming my beliefs towards these tasks.
• I’m starting to feel excited about the tasks on my to-do list.
• This means that my attitude has started to change and I’m experiencing more positive feelings.
• Taking action has become easier because with good feelings I don’t have to force myself.

This is just one example. If you want me to write a separate post with more examples, please let me know in the comments below.

How You Can Improve Your Self-Talk

I am now looking for a few people who want to change their self-talk, improve their attitudes, and achieve their goals.

• If that’s you, click here right now and schedule a free call with me.
• Together, we identify one area in your life where we can improve your self-talk.

If you understand the message of this article, then you will see how valuable this is. So click here and let’s have a chat about your situation.

If you’ve read until now, I applaud you for keeping an open mind. And if you want to read my book report in its entirety, you will find it here: Book Report: What To Say When You Talk To Your Self.

What is one area in which you would like to improve your life? Let me know in the comments below!

And don’t forget to subscribe on my YouTube channel, @creategrowprofit.