You are present. You are open to new ideas. You are a visionary. You are resilient. You are adventuresome. You are resourceful. You are optimistic. You are intentional. You are integrous. You are prolific.

Do these entrepreneurial traits describe you right now? This minute.

What I’ve learned in over 14 years mentoring small business owners is that there is a glaring element that is missing when entrepreneurs are in the heart of a challenge. This element is incredibly simple. It’s so simple business owners laugh when they realize it’s what has been keeping them from achieving new levels of success.

Regardless of what you’re up against, you can resolve, breakthrough, solve, or achieve the hurdle you’re experiencing when you adopt this element.

So, what’s the secret element to solve the challenge you’re facing? Choosing. Choosing who you are being in any moment.

Well, think of your greatest challenge right now. Who are you choosing to be about that challenge? Are you choosing an empowering element or disempowering element?

Are you choosing to be…

Present or distracted?
Open or closed?
Visionary or overwhelmed?
Resilient or stuck?
Adventuresome or restrictive?
Resourceful or inactive?
Optimistic or pessimistic?
Intentional or unwilling?
Integrous or unreliable?
Prolific or ineffective?

Once you choose the empowered element, what action could you take?

For example, if you’ve been denied that loan to invest in new technology that would scale your business, who are you choosing to be about it? Pessimistic or stuck?
What if you choose to be optimistic and resilient. Then, ask yourself, what are all of the options, ideas or actions an optimistic and resilient leader would create?

Talk to another lending resource?
Look for grants or other funding sources?
Ask your business mentor for other options?

Can you see how new ideas are generated by stepping into the empowered element? The untold element to a successful entrepreneur is choosing. Choosing in any moment who you will be. This is where innovation unfolds.