When you’re riding a motorcycle, one of the first things you learn is to always look where you want to go—not at what you want to avoid. It seems so simple, right? But if you’ve ever ridden, you know it’s instinctual to stare down the pothole, the patch of gravel, or that squirrel that ran into the road. And what happens? Nine times out of ten, you hit it.
This principle applies far beyond motorcycles. It’s just as true in business—and in life.
The human brain is wired to focus on what we give our attention to. If you constantly dwell on what you don’t want—like failure, rejection, or embarrassment—your actions begin to align with those negative outcomes. This concept has roots in psychology and performance science. In fact, according to research from the National Library of Medicine, our brain’s attention system is closely linked to behavior. What we focus on literally shapes the decisions we make and how we experience the world.
This is why a positive mindset is not just motivational fluff—it’s practical advice. Take it from Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, who famously said:
“If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.”
Your thoughts become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Let’s bring this home to the world of business. Imagine you’re launching a new product. If your inner dialogue is filled with thoughts like “What if no one buys it?” or “I’m not good enough to pull this off,” your confidence erodes. You hesitate. You second-guess. And that hesitation shows—potential customers sense it.
But shift your thinking, and suddenly, the energy changes. Start focusing on what success looks like: happy customers, positive reviews, and growing sales. Your brain gets to work looking for ways to make that happen. You’re more likely to take bold action, speak with conviction, and actually enjoy the process.
This doesn’t mean ignoring risks or pretending everything is fine when it’s not. It means directing your energy toward your desired outcomes, not your fears. As entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss puts it:
“Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.”
So, instead of waiting until you’re fearless, just focus on what you want—and start moving.
A helpful way to retrain your thinking is to practice visualizing success. Athletes do this all the time. Before they ever step on the court or field, they’ve already “seen” themselves winning. Try doing this for your business. Spend just five minutes each day picturing your ideal outcome: the sale, the email from a grateful client, the moment your product goes viral.
Another simple trick? Flip your internal script. When you catch yourself saying “I don’t want to fail,” reframe it to “I want to succeed and learn along the way.” That single shift in wording points your mental compass toward growth rather than fear.
You are the sum of your thoughts. If your mind is filled with worst-case scenarios, your reality will often reflect that. But if you fill it with vision, courage, and intention? That’s where the magic happens.
So the next time you catch yourself fixating on what you don’t want, take a breath. Redirect. Focus on the goal, not the obstacle.
What area of your life or business could transform if you stopped looking at the potholes and started aiming for the open road?
