Having a positive mindset can be a very important trait for a business owner to have.  Regardless of whether you’re a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or an owner of a local pizzeria, thinking positive and having a clear mind can go a long way in a success of a business.  Our next guest shares how he helps these business professionals think positive…

Please introduce yourself to our readers
Scott Ventrella, executive coach, author and radio show host.

You are working on something pretty cool. Care to share a little bit about that?
I always try to have at least a few cool projects in the works. Over the years, through my consulting activity, adjunct reaching, and publications, I have created an incredible amount of content (thought leadership). Even five years ago, I never would have imagined how important content is. Given advances in technology, social media and changes in consumer needs (e.g. content on demand), I am working on “serving up” my decades of content via multiple platforms to a global audience.

What made you decide to follow that path?
The world has changed dramatically from when I first started my career (1984) and established my company, Positive Dynamics in 1999. There are so many new and exciting ways to reach people today on a global scale. Overall, I’m able to get my message out to more people quickly, efficiently and at higher margins.

Have you taken any outside funding?
I’ve always resisted outside funding. One of the top reasons why so many entrepreneurs choose that path is because they want the freedom to pursue their passion without having a boss hanging over them. Clearly, there are some businesses that require cash infusions especially when dealing with the design, development and manufacturing of products. If you decide to pursue outside funding, be sure you do your homework and ultimately trust your gut. Taking on the wrong investment partners can be a disaster and make your life miserable.

Do you have any partners?
I do not — this is by choice. It is certainly something I considered in the past but after seeing so many failed partnerships, I decided against it. Everybody is different. I have a very strong personality and high standards for the services I provide. Partnerships often get messy. I don’t like messy.

What outcome do you hope to achieve? (What is your vision/goal for the company)
To have a positive impact on the people and organizations we do business with. To create lasting, demonstrable change leading to overall improvement of quality of life for the individual and high performance for the organization.

What is your company culture like?
An interesting mixture between “east coast” formality/professionalism and “west coast” laid back, easy going. They’re not mutually exclusive.

Walk us through your average day:
I start off by catching up on the news. First print version of the Wall Street Journal, followed by myriad internet news sources. I look at political, cultural, global news and trends followed by news specific to my industry and our clients industry. Everything that happens in the world today is connected and will have direct or indirect impact on our work. Next, I check my e-mail which also helps set the priorities for the coming days. This of course can be a moving target. I’ve found that if people want quick responses they will either call or text. This is usually followed by client calls, internal meetings, research and writing which is a big chunk of the day. I’m not a lunch person. I prefer to use my lunch “hour” for exercise — mostly running but also cycling and swimming. It clears the head as well as helps keep me physically and spiritually fit.

What advice would you give to someone else thinking of starting their own business?
Have a plan but don’t be married to it. The world changes in unexpected ways. Be willing to adapt and adjust your business plan to accommodate. If you’re married, be sure your spouse is committed to the idea. Otherwise, it will be difficult to focus and create a tremendous strain on your marriage. They don’t have to be 100%, just enough to be supportive. Be sure you have financial reserves — it almost always takes longer than you think. There are very few overnight success stories. Make sure your customers/clients are crazy about you, your company and your products.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring?
(Assuming I have food and water)
A Bible
Suntan lotion
Ray Bans!

Thanks for sharing Scott! You can connect with Scott on his Linkedin.