When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I deliberately set out to maintain a “beginner’s mind.” This concept, which I first learned back in 2018 when I got certified to teach yoga, is all about being curious and open to learning.

I remember so many new yoga students who would walk into the studio proclaiming they were “bad at yoga” because they weren’t flexible, had terrible balance, or couldn’t quiet their racing thoughts during meditation. I would explain that everyone starts at the beginning, progress isn’t usually linear, and improvement takes practice. My advice? Embrace the beginner’s mind and have a little fun on the journey. It really helps quiet that inner critic when things don’t go exactly the way our ego hoped.

I approached the launch of my consulting career with that same curiosity (amid a healthy dose of trepidation!).  What would my day-to-day work life look like? What did I want it to look like? Who were my ideal clients, and why? I had a business plan and a strategy, but I knew I needed to be flexible and ready to reflect and refine as I went along in order to build a business I truly loved.

I bet you can relate. The defense acquisition industry is infamous for its red tape, endless acronyms, and rigid processes. To call it daunting, even for some experienced small business owners, is an understatement. Maybe the playbook you used in a different industry isn’t working for your pivot into defense. Or perhaps the approach that brought you success in the past is now lost in a sea of acquisition rule changes and a charged political climate. You might be feeling overwhelmed, but you also know that survival requires adaptation to this evolving puzzle known as the defense market. And adaptation is always best served by starting with a beginner’s mind.