David A. Fields Consulting Group If you recite, “I’m worthy of success” every morning, will your consulting business grow?
Not likely.
However, there are mindset-related actions you can take that will help you, as a consulting firm leader, and your firm.
There’s no question your attitude is critically important to your success and, of course, your personal happiness.
Does the universe listen to you? Who knows.
But we do know the energy that you project matters.
Research reveals that a positive outlook precedes heightened productivity and accomplishment. You achieve more because you’re in good spirits.
Studies also indicate that buyers of services like consulting are more likely to choose your consulting firm over competitors if you exude confidence. (If you’re upbeat, confident and you liberally distribute truffles, you’re a shoo-in for any project.)
So, should you listen to daily affirmations to boost your self-esteem and confidence, as many self-help gurus, TikToks and Instagram feeds proclaim?
No.
Proponents of daily affirmations misunderstand the evidence and overstate the science.
Although experiments in neuroplasticity suggest that your thoughts can change the structure of your brain, regularly hearing (or speaking) a positive statement won’t make you think it. In fact,
- If you don’t believe a positive statement, you may mentally access contrary evidence and reinforce your negative self-image.
- Attempting to drown out negative feedback with positive “self-talk” can inhibit you from learning from your mistakes.
Forego the daily affirmations.
Instead, incorporate the three mindset exercises below into your routine to open the door for better results at your consulting firm.
3 Mindset Exercises that Work
Reflect & Project
Learning stems from reflection—mentally and physiologically connecting thoughts.
Such as tying, “I am confident in the value of my work” to memories of clients offering praise for your deliverables.
Every Friday afternoon, choose up to five beliefs you would like to strengthen (e.g., I am self-confident) and assign one belief to an upcoming weekday.
On the assigned weekday:
- Reflect on your assigned belief statement:
- What evidence do you have that the statement has been true in the past?
- Write down your evidence in at least one paragraph of prose.
- Project your assigned belief into the future:
- What would it feel like for your belief to be absolutely true in the future?
- Mentally rehearse what a situation would look like if your belief were true in the future. What would you do and how would you act?
- Write about your projected experience.
Acknowledge & Recommit
Scientific evidence shows that trying to ignore or drown out negative thoughts is ineffective; however, committing to action toward what you value and desire produces meaningful change.
Every Friday afternoon reconfirm (or refine) what you truly value and desire from your consulting practice.
Remember, as a consulting firm leader, your firm should serve you, not vice-versa.
For instance, perhaps your goals are flexibility to spend more time with your family, or financial security, or a lasting legacy.
Review your plan to achieve your goal.
What are the concrete, granular next steps?
- Acknowledge negative thoughts when they occur. If you hit an obstacle, such as losing a project, don’t deny it hurts. Admit that sucks and feels rotten, then…
- Recommit to your plan and the granular next steps you need to complete.
Listen with Respect
Self-affirmations (a.k.a. autosuggestions) are ineffective if you don’t believe the messenger.
You know your thoughts are biased and your views are distorted.
Also, you realize that your clients are the true arbiters of your consulting value.
At least once per month, solicit the input of someone you respect who is familiar with your work. Find someone who:
- Has walked your road before you. You instinctively trust and believe someone who has “been there, done that.”
- Is willing to listen attentively.
- Will point out your mistakes in a positive frame with direction on how to improve.
- Will offer honest praise and support when it’s warranted.
After your feedback session, Reflect & Project.
Connect your learning to evidence, rehearse future success, and write it all down.
There’s no doubt that improving your mindset can enhance your consulting business.
Whether or not you’re able to follow my personal practice of massive, daily chocolate consumption (purely to boost endorphins, of course), you can absolutely utilize the three exercises above to boost your profits and happiness as a consulting firm leader.
What do you do to encourage better mindsets for yourself or your firm?
Text and images are © 2026 David A. Fields, all rights reserved.
“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and doggonit, people like me.” Daily affirmations with Stuart Smally – SNL – I was hoping the above might have made it into one of your cartoons – seriously, helpful and on point as always. It is especially helpful to have your ready-made anti-derailing mantra ready when the inevitable rejection or setback happens. There can be a brief window of opportunity to make lemonade from the lemons, but the window is typically brief and requires one does not throw the lemons back at the prospect/client in ego-defensive anger.
Very funny, Jon–both the SNL skit and your vivid lemon-throwing metaphor. It helps to: 1. pay attention to the evidence (you lost one project, not every deal); 2. not be too emotionally attached to any one project (you’re in a lifelong career, not a single Olympic lemon-throwing event).
Thank you for adding excellent color to the article, Jon!
I keep a folder of emails from raving fans and reread them when I need a boost, a reminder or positive thought about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. That more than anything seems to do the trick.
I also get videos with raving fans at tradeshows and post them on the website. Those also serve to jump start my enthusiasm.
Nice, Jay. You’re leveraging real evidence and feedback from the sources that count: your clients. That is a powerful way to keep your mindset positive.
I appreciate your sharing your approach, Jay.
David — thank you for fixing the print problems on these newsletters — fantastic!
Ah, cool beans, Jon. I’ll let the team know they addressed the issue. (I was, of course, totally aware and on top of this. 😉)
I think one of the most beneficial exercises you suggested in the past that was valuable in this regard: Catalog your last 1-2 quarters of “wins.” It sounds simple (and easy to avoid!) but it was really useful to understand progress looking backward instead of “the next hill to climb.”
Speaking of which, i should probably do that again!
Excellent point, Dan, and double chocolate brownie stars to you for pulling from a past article! You’re absolutely right: we should build our positive attitude based on real evidence, and if we regularly take the time to document our successes, we can accumulate that evidence.
Thank you for bringing those two ideas together, Dan!