My good friend Bob Burg, and his co-author John David Mann, opened my eyes to the concept of receiving. Thanks to their wonderful series of Go-Giverbooks, I learned about my very own unconscious belief pattern that was blocking my receiving.

Yes, I’ve always received enough to have a good life, but never better than good. While I was helping clients and their investors make fortunes, I didn’t allow myself to receive more than ‘just enough’. everyone I know had a big hit. Everyone but me. Thanks to the Go-Givers, I learned that deep down, I didn’t believe I was worthy to receive.  I gave and gave and gave – to clients, friends and family. But I felt I was only good enough to receive just a little back, thanks to some early childhood programming.   I’m correcting that belief as we speak, and so many blessings are flowing to me thanks to these great guys and their magical books!

So what does that have to do with business?

I wonder how many companies, executive teams and employees are blocking receiving in the same way I was?  Our business cultures have belief systems and habit patterns, just as we do individually. Companies develop beliefs based on leadership, market experiences and ‘corporate legends’.

Often I’ll walk into a turnaround and find a demoralized culture.  Executives are grousing about the board, managers are grousing about lack of resources and staff, employees are grousing about the free sodas that disappeared in the last belt-tightening.

These businesses don’t expect to be successful again anytime soon, mostly because they haven’t experienced success recently. Part of any turnaround is changing that cultural belief pattern, starting with the leaders and working our way through the organization. I can tell you that the difference between a successful turnaround and a not-so-successful one can come down to leaders and their attitude about the future.  If leaders keep doing their imitation of Eyore, we’re doomed to gloom.

Are we all stuck in a negative belief pattern?

Our most recent economic downturn shook the foundations of everyone’s business. There’s a negative pall cast over the marketplace. Has that negative past instilled a negative belief concerning our futures?

So let’s ask ourselves. “What are we expecting in our business, right now? What are we talking about today?”

Are we expecting to be in receipt of great success as the economy begins to rebound?
Are we expecting to receive in our own business, even if the economy doesn’t rebound for others?
Do we expect the financial constraints of recent history to continue to control our future?

We must be open to receiving if we are to allow our success.

Especially leaders.  I can’t begin to reinforce that enough.  If leaders are grousing in executive meetings about the business – it sets a tone for the company’s culture. It doesn’t matter if you ‘keep it behind closed doors’.  The tone is there and the culture will reflect it.  Your business culture will remain negative, and it will be difficult for you to receive – individually and as a business.

Are we focused on limiting our receiving thanks to yesterday’s news?   Are our thoughts of future prosperity?  Only you can open the door to receive – personally, and as a business leader.