Are you ready for the ultimate thick skin suit?  Available with an inbuilt light and breathable empathy; extra important if you’re starting a business or have a position of power or public life. Well, let me make your dreams (and mine) a reality.

For only $229.95, you can have your own thick skin suit. Machine washable and made from organic material, it’s an essential piece of kit for every business owner – including you!

But wait, there’s more.

As well as your thick skin suit, I’ll also give you a firm dose of mindfulness, helping you to focus on the present moment and not dwell on the past: absolutely free!

If you’re thinking all of this sounds a bit like an infomercial, you’d be right. Having a thick skin in business is essential, but it’s also a topic not many of us want to discuss. So, being me, I thought I’d use some humour to entice you further into learning about:

• Importance of having a thick skin in business
• Being conscious about how your decisions affect others
• How to develop your own thick skin
• Avoiding being obnoxious

Ready to head to the changing rooms? Perfect. Let’s go.

Importance of Having a Thick Skin in Business

Ever noticed that the world seems to be full of negative energy? If you’ve been told that your business is just a hobby, not something anyone would pay for, that you’ll never succeed or has subconscious sabotage occur, then most likely you have. That, in a nutshell, is why you need to banish thin skin forever.

Let me share with you some reasons why having thick skin in business is essential. It helps you to:

• Accept constructive feedback – I didn’t say criticisms, I said constructive feedback. This can help you learn how to do better and reflect upon your practice.
• Keep moving forward – you take a step back at the moment you meet a challenge, but two steps forward after reflecting and transforming your practice.
• Deflect criticism – people will try to slow you down. Let them carve in your skin’s character, but not your soul and gain strength from your inner power.
• Thrive when the going gets tough – it’s the energiser bunny kind of stuff. Never give up.

Let it go

When you do pop on your thick skin suit, you’ll find it easier to not take things too personally. You’ll be able to understand that everyone needs to do what’s right for them. Holding a grudge because something didn’t go your way, or you became upset just isn’t worth the time and effort. Instead, as Elsa would say, let it go…

Being Conscious About How Your Decisions Affect Others

While I’m not saying you should do something just because someone else wants you to, you do need to accept that your decisions affect more than just you. When making decisions, take the time to consider all the possible outcomes for you and others. Part of this process could include:

• Going with your gut – what feels right and what doesn’t? Your first instinct is usually the right one to move forward with.
• Identifying the pros and cons – what will be the advantages and disadvantages of your decision. Which decision is best for you and those around you?
• Considering the well-being of others – will your decision undermine the well-being of others, or benefit them?
• Thinking is this the right thing to do? – once again, trust your instinct on this one
• Considering how you can take the pressure off someone
• Understanding what is really important here and now
• Whose opinion are you listening to? Yours or someone else’s?

Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to grab your thick skin suit people!

How to Develop Thick Skin in Business

I’d like to say that I have a thick skin suit. It doesn’t mean that I always wear it, because some days it is in the wash. But I try to put it on each morning because those days I don’t, Murphy comes knocking on my door.

If you haven’t ordered your thick skin suit already, you can make your own by:

• Not taking things personally – reframe what someone has said or done by telling yourself that it’s not about you.
• Remember that everyone doesn’t get what they want all the time – if you’re rejected, it’s okay; you will survive. Pick yourself up, brush off the dust and keep trying.
• Refuse to respond to the negativity of others – this is where deep breathing and mindfulness become important. Declare time out on the troubles and concentrate on your inner self.
• Stop negative things in their track – don’t be afraid to stop a conversation when it’s not productive or heading off-track.
• Quit the self-talk – it’s often self-defeating, so stop giving yourself a hard time.
• Have patience – you’re not perfect, and neither are they. Avoid being impulsive and take the time to sit back and analyse things.
• Think about others – what can you do to make someone else feel better about themselves?
• Deal with things head-on – don’t shove them under the carpet because they’ll simply fester.

What Now?

Now it’s time to put things into place, put on the suit and rule the world. Or is that being too obnoxious? Yup. Remember that bit earlier on when I said you need to realise that your decisions affect and impact upon others? Yeah. Be sure that you are kind, generous and thoughtful in all you do. Doesn’t mean you can’t kick some ass but do it in a nice way. I’ll talk about how to do that next.

Having a Thick Skin Without Being Obnoxious: Yes, It’s Possible

Abrasive comments, criticism and poorly made decisions can assist others with seeing you as being tough, rough and obnoxious. Sure, you don’t need to do what someone says if it is not the right decision for you. Neither do you have to curl up in the corner and cry if someone hurts your feelings? Being obnoxious and having thick skin does not necessarily need to go together. Rather you could look at it as an opportunity to achieve a win for all parties, something an obnoxious person would struggle to do. You should try to:

• Let others have a say too – don’t monopolise the airtime and remember you don’t need to have the last word every time
• Remember that you too are not above the rules that others must follow
• Avoid making insensitive comments and thoughtless, uncaring actions
• Keep your talking volume low and even
• Ask people, don’t demand or expect people to do something for you

So, what’s next? Call 0800 23232323 and for only $229.95, get your thick skin suit delivered free anywhere within NZ!

Nope. Seriously, it’s time to start thinking about your actions and decisions, as well as your responses to the actions and decisions of others. And that’s what it’s all about people. Join as an accountability client and get 1:1 and group support on your business journey or join the free Facebook group to connect with other business owners that get it.