Mindset is foundational when it comes to running a business, yet few of us are explicitly taught how to cultivate both a “thinking” mindset and a “doing” mindset. Traditional education and conventional employment structures often condition us to be effective at completing tasks, executing processes, and delivering outcomes. However, the ability to strategically build and sustain the business itself—designing the infrastructure that allows the work to be done efficiently and profitably—is an entirely different skill set.
For company owners, executives, and entrepreneurs, mastering both mindsets is essential. If your thinking and doing mindsets are not aligned, you may find yourself caught in cycles of inefficiency, making it difficult to move beyond daily operations and into the realm of long-term strategic decision-making. Shifting perspective is often necessary to develop the ability to both think critically about your business and act decisively within it.
These perspective shifts are central to Effició’s executive series. Through this series, we explore key resources, tools, strategic insights, and structural adjustments that help business owners sharpen their decision-making, streamline execution, and strengthen their organizations. To be in business for the long term, investment in both the organization and oneself is required.
Reconsider What It Means to Be Open to New Ideas
Extraordinary business achievement is rarely the result of following conventional wisdom alone. Successful entrepreneurs and executives understand that while established best practices serve a purpose, true innovation and competitive advantage come from embracing alternative approaches, challenging assumptions, and rethinking industry norms. Adaptability and a willingness to integrate new perspectives are essential for long-term business viability.
Many business owners find themselves adhering to traditional industry practices even when those methods fail to yield the desired results. A key perspective shift is recognizing that disruption is often necessary—not for its own sake, but as a means of solving fundamental inefficiencies within your business model. Rather than passively accepting industry norms, assess where limitations exist and where greater efficiencies or innovations can be introduced. Problem-solving in business requires both analytical rigor and creative flexibility.
One way to cultivate an openness to new ideas is by deliberately exposing yourself to perspectives different from your own. Engaging with professionals outside of your industry, reading business literature that challenges standard practices, and reflecting on your own biases can provide fresh insights that might not emerge within the confines of your existing network. Likewise, structured business education, mentorship, and executive development programs can offer frameworks for thinking critically about your business challenges and discovering novel solutions.
Businesses that operate solely within the confines of conventional wisdom rarely differentiate themselves. The ability to think creatively and critically about business operations, infrastructure, and strategic positioning is what leads to sustainable success. Being open to shifting approaches when necessary ensures that your company remains competitive in an evolving marketplace.
Working In the Business and Working On the Business
One of the most significant challenges business owners face is transitioning from being an employee—whether within their own company or in a previous role—to becoming a true CEO. The distinction between working in the business and working on the business is critical.
Working in the business refers to the day-to-day execution of tasks that keep the company running: managing projects, serving clients, handling administrative duties, and delivering the actual products or services. While this is essential, business owners must also allocate time and energy toward working on the business—developing its structure, forecasting its future, refining strategic direction, and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
The shift from an operational mindset to an executive mindset requires deliberate effort. Strategic planning, business infrastructure development, and organizational refinement are not tasks that can be delegated or ignored. They require the business owner’s direct involvement. However, many entrepreneurs struggle with identifying what needs to be prioritized when working on the business, often because they have not been exposed to structured methodologies for business development.
Developing the ability to work effectively on your business is a learnable skill. Investing in formal education, executive coaching, or structured business development programs can provide the guidance necessary to implement infrastructure changes that lead to greater efficiency and scalability. Understanding how to systematically refine your business model, optimize operations, and make strategic investments in growth will allow you to transition from simply running a business to leading a sustainable enterprise.
If you want to learn more about how to effectively work on your business, check out our education program. In this 24-month program, we go over how to build and grow your business in a strategically aligned way. By the end, you’ll feel confident in your ability to not only work on the business but work on building a more aligned and sustainable one.
Learn to Let Go When Needed
In business, as in life, control is often an illusion. While strategic planning and operational excellence can mitigate risk and create stability, uncertainty is always present. Many business owners fall into the trap of over-managing, attempting to exert control over every facet of their operations rather than focusing on high-level decision-making. This leads to burnout, diminished innovation, and an inability to scale.
Letting go is not synonymous with disengagement. Rather, it is about understanding where your time and expertise are best applied and recognizing when to delegate, automate, or temporarily step away to gain perspective. The most effective business leaders recognize that stepping back periodically allows for clearer thinking, better strategic decision-making, and more sustainable work habits.
Don’t be afraid to let go, relax, and enjoy life. Not every minute has to be devoted to your business!
Taking breaks, delegating responsibilities, and trusting in the structures you’ve put in place are critical elements of sustainable business leadership. Company owners who fail to do so often find themselves trapped in an operational cycle that leaves little room for strategic evolution. Investing in oneself—whether through professional development, rest, or delegation—is an investment in the longevity of the business.
Mastering the interplay between thinking and doing is not about radical overhauls or dramatic shifts. It is about refining your approach, consistently assessing how you engage with your business, and making strategic adjustments that enhance both execution and decision-making. By cultivating a mindset that is open to new ideas, committed to structured business development, and willing to embrace the necessity of stepping back when needed, business owners position themselves for sustained success.
These shifts in perspective don’t have to be world-altering or change everything about conducting business. The key is not just to work harder but to think and operate with greater precision, ensuring that both mindsets—thinking and doing—are intentionally aligned.
© Effició, Inc.
