Overcoming Tolerance: How to Reset Your Standards for Business Success

The Hidden Danger of Tolerating Harmful Situations

As entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves tolerating situations that we know are detrimental to our success. A staggering 94% of business owners admit to this, yet only 12% actively work to change these circumstances. This begs the question: What if our biggest obstacle isn't our strategy, but rather what we've learned to accept?

The Compounding Effect of Tolerances

Every decision we make to tolerate something - whether it's a difficult client, an overbooked calendar, or underpricing our services - creates a new standard in our business and life. Over time, these tolerances compound and shape our entire environment, including:

• How we structure our day
• The way we interact with clients
• Our pricing and value proposition
• Our work-life balance (or lack thereof)

By becoming aware of these tolerances and actively working to adjust our standards, we can bring our business into better alignment with our goals and values.

Four Common Areas of Misalignment

1. Overwork and Hustle Culture

Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of glorifying overwork and burnout. This can manifest as:

• Normalizing exhaustion as a sign of success
• Justifying unhealthy work habits as temporary or necessary
• Sacrificing self-care, relationships, and personal time

The result is often a business model that's unsustainable and leads to inevitable burnout.

2. Misaligned Clients

Taking on clients who don't align with your values or working style can be incredibly draining. This might look like:

• Ignoring red flags for the sake of a paycheck
• Over-accommodating difficult clients
• Feeling constant dread or instability in client relationships

Working with misaligned clients not only affects your energy and motivation but can also prevent you from attracting ideal clients who truly value your work.

3. Undervaluing Yourself

Underpricing your services or consistently undervaluing your expertise can stem from:

• Fear and impostor syndrome
• Lack of confidence in your skills
• Prioritizing quantity of clients over quality

This pattern not only impacts your income but can also lead to resentment and burnout as you work harder for less reward.

4. Lack of Boundaries

Poor boundaries can quickly erode your time, energy, and effectiveness. Common boundary issues include:

• Responding to messages at all hours
• Allowing scope creep in projects
• Sacrificing personal time for work demands

Without clear boundaries, it becomes impossible to maintain a healthy work-life balance and deliver your best work to clients.

A 4-Step Process to Reset Your Standards

Step 1: Audit Your Tolerances

Take time to reflect on areas of your business and life where you're currently tolerating less-than-ideal situations. Ask yourself:

• What activities or commitments drain my energy?
• Where do I feel out of alignment with my values?
• What "red flags" am I ignoring in my business or client relationships?

Make a list of these tolerances, then choose the one that's impacting you the most to focus on first.

Step 2: Define Your New Standard

For the tolerance you've chosen to address, envision what the ideal scenario would look like. Consider:

• What would the highest version of yourself no longer put up with?
• What does your dream day or ideal client interaction look like?
• What non-negotiables do you need to establish?

Be specific and write down your new standards and expectations.

Step 3: Make a Hard Stop

Once you've defined your new standard, it's time to take decisive action. This might involve:

• Ending toxic client relationships
• Blocking out non-negotiable time in your calendar for rest, family, or personal pursuits
• Raising your rates to reflect your true value

Remember, if you wouldn't want to be doing something six months from now, stop tolerating it today.

Step 4: Communicate and Reinforce Boundaries

Clearly communicate your new standards and boundaries to clients, team members, and anyone else affected. This could include:

• Setting clear expectations for communication and availability
• Creating and enforcing working hours
• Establishing new pricing or service delivery models

Be prepared for some initial discomfort as you reinforce these boundaries, but remember that this short-term unease is the price of long-term alignment and success.

The Benefits of Resetting Your Standards

1. A More Enjoyable and Profitable Business

By aligning your business with your true values and standards, you'll likely find that:

• You enjoy your work more
• You attract better-fit clients who respect your boundaries
• Your profitability increases as you charge rates that reflect your value

2. Attracting Better Opportunities

When you create space by saying no to what drains you, you open yourself up to new possibilities. This might include:

• Time for personal growth and skill development
• Energy to pursue passion projects or new business ventures
• Attracting high-quality clients and partnerships that align with your values

3. Increased Confidence and Authority

Consistently upholding your standards builds self-trust and projects authority to others. This can lead to:

• More confident communication with clients and peers
• Improved decision-making in your business
• A stronger sense of identity and purpose in your work

Putting It Into Practice

Remember, changing long-standing habits and tolerances takes time and consistent effort. Here are some tips for implementing these changes:

1. Start with one tolerance at a time to avoid overwhelm
2. Celebrate small victories as you make progress
3. Seek accountability from a friend, mentor, or coach
4. Regularly reassess your standards as your business grows and evolves

By actively working to eliminate harmful tolerances and reset your standards, you're choosing alignment, joy, and sustainable success in your business. Remember that you have the power to shape your business environment - it's time to create one that truly supports your goals and values.

Conclusion

As entrepreneurs, we have the unique opportunity to design our businesses around our ideal lifestyles and values. By identifying and eliminating the things we've been tolerating, we can create a more aligned, enjoyable, and successful business.

Take some time today to reflect on what you've been tolerating in your business. Choose one area to focus on, set a new standard, and commit to making a change. Your future self (and your business) will thank you for it.

Remember, what you tolerate, you will eventually embrace. Set the standards and boundaries to match the business and life you truly want, starting today.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QExJKyVV7w