“Living in Abundance.” 

Positivity is powerful. It makes us feel better and makes us perform better. We face hundreds of instances every single day, and how we approach them determines how much positivity we will have in our lives and with those around us. Shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset has been one of the most impactful changes to inject positivity into my life, and I want to take some time to reflect on it here, to understand it better myself and to share with you how I think about it. I’m often able to make sense of things by asking questions and working through the answers, so here we go.  

1) What is the difference between having a scarcity mindset vs. an abundance mindset? 

Scarcity is the voice telling you there’s not enough and nothing will work. It makes me defensive and closed off. It means getting rid of things, staying small, and protecting myself instead of taking risks. It's annoying; I know there is a better way to view things, but in the moment, I feel stuck and sad.  

Abundance looks at the same reality, but chooses to believe there’s more to be created: more solutions, more growth, and more possibility. This voice reminds me that if I just keep taking action, everything will work out better than expected. When I operate with abundance, I feel better and perform better. Opportunities appear instead of walls, and people become partners instead of threats. Ideas are copious, creativity is fun and productive, and there is always a path forward. It may not be the most ideal path, but that's okay because it feels good to do something hard and challenging.  

2) What are examples at Black Kanyon that represent an abundance mindset? 

• Never say NO - present solutions.  

A NO stops you dead in the water and drains the energy, but solutions don't. The best idea is rarely the first one, so if you think something won’t work, come up with an idea that will work.  

• How to give feedback.  

We give a lot of feedback at Black Kanyon, some through ratings such as the Core Values and 9 Principles, and some face to face when something could have been better. It's not always easy to give honest feedback; we like to sugar coat it, but that's acting with a scarcity mindset. You may be telling yourself: this person may not like me if I say this, or they're pretty decent, it’s not that big of a deal, or someone else will say it. Don't do this. Be a buffalo and say what you're thinking. If it's not received well, maybe you just helped identify a wrong fit.  

• How to receive feedback.  

Oh boy, if I am in scarcity mode, I don't want to hear it. You think I could be better at this one thing? How about you? You could be better at all these things and you're giving me feedback on this? I've had these thoughts and it's not a fun place to be. Now let's change this frame of mind to one of an abundance mindset: “Wow, you’re right. I could do this better, and I really appreciate you pointing this out to make me better even though I know it could have been difficult for you to say something.” 

• It's an income problem, not an expense problem.  

Don’t save your way out of it, earn your way out of it. We all run into cash crunches here and there, potentially in business and in our personal lives. Taking action to create income is much more rewarding and uplifting than cutting as much expenses as possible.  

3) Where do I start to create / continue to build an abundance mindset? 
For me, a few simple resets work every time! 

• Start with gratitude. Notice what’s already good. 

• Ask better questions. Be curious.  

• Take one small action. Momentum fuels abundance. 

• Offer ideas, not just criticism. Contribution keeps energy alive. 

• Surround yourself with abundant people. Their mindset is contagious. 

An abundance mindset has helped me feel better about almost everything, and it’s helped me perform at my very best. I believe it can do the same for you and your team.