Starting a new business is an exciting proposition. And sometimes what helps fuel that excitement are the many business "gurus" who will tell you there's no better time than the present to start a business. While I completely agree that you shouldn't get stuck in analysis paralysis while in your pre-launch planning, you have to be very careful how you apply this advice. It's extremely important that you use wisdom and discernment when deciding the timing of your business launch because internal and external marketplace variables often play a major role in the success and sustainability of your new venture. The video below provides some great insights for your consideration as you prepare to go on this new adventure. Also, I would love to help you walk through the process of understanding all the key factors that come into play for a successful business launch. Just go to www.7weekstartup.com for more information. Simone Biles just won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics to cement her status as arguably the best gymnast of all time. There are some critical lessons you can learn from her experiences to the top of her sport that you can apply to your business journey. 1) Believe in your potential more than what you have already accomplished. In an interview she stated she didn't want to be known as the next Usain Bolt or Michael, but instead she wanted to be know as the first Simone Biles. What you have already accomplished to this point is wonderful. However, you can't rest on that. You have the potential to do so much more and go so much further. 2) You are your greatest competition. Before the Rio Olympics Simone had already won more world gold medals than any gymnast ever. Yet she didn't allow that to cause her to relax or assume she would automatically win her next gold medal. The question you need to ask yourself every day is, "Am I getting better today than I was yesterday?" Keep raising the bar every day and you will see your improvement grow by leaps and bounds over time. 3) Practice like you're the best in private so you can perform as the best in public. She practices 6 days a week for approximately 32 hours. And she almost always stays on a strict diet of chicken and broccoli. Behind the scenes is where the real work of building a legacy takes place. The public stage becomes the place to demonstrate what you were working on while nobody was watching. Take the time to perfect your talents and gifts. There are no shortcuts and no one can do that for you. 4) Leave your past in the past. Simone wasn't born with a silver spoon (or any kind of spoons) in her mouth so to speak. She came from a very difficult background and the odds were majorly stacked against her. However, she didn't use that as an excuse to stop her from pursuing her goals. Even now she doesn't dwell on what she couldn't control back then. The more you look backwards with a negative mindset the easier it is to make excuses. Learn from your past circumstances and mistakes but don't get stuck there. 5) Block out the negative noise. At her first World Championship gold-medal win in 2013 she was able to move past a racist comment by one of her competitors without flinching. If you took the time to address every critic or hater you won't have any time to work on your business. Stay focused by keeping your attention on you, not on any negative things people have to say about you. 6) Do it all with a big smile. Simone's smile is electric and her attitude makes you want to root for her even more. Although she and others know she's the best you can tell she doesn't throw it in their faces and her teammates genuinely enjoy being around her. You don't have to be mean or cutthroat to do major deals and make big things happen in your business. As a matter of fact you'll go much further treating people with respect and gratitude than being someone people want to avoid. Simone Biles has shown us what excellence looks like by maximizing her potential in her field. Now it's your turn!
Listen to these inspiring words from Steve Harvey as he encourages his guest how important it is to take a leap of faith into her dream business.
For those of you who are contemplating whether to make the jump into entrepreneurship, I want to encourage you that this leap of faith shouldn't be taken lightly or without preparation. I have a free e-course that can help you decide when and how you should make the jump from employee to entrepreneur. Just click the link below to find out more... It's that time of year when school is starting again all over the country. Parents are ushering their little prodigies into learning environments where hopefully they will be encouraged to dream big and to believe they can be anything they want to be in life. They are inspired and pushed to use their imaginations to the fullest extent. And they should be! It's interesting, though, that for too many children that message changes the closer they get to high school graduation. Subtle shifts in language suggest teens "stop daydreaming" and "grow up," often times translates in their minds to "become a boring adult like me." And then when they become adults they figure that new responsibilities somehow force them to put their dreams on the shelf of life only to be admired from afar. I would argue, especially for you entrepreneurs, that your imagination is critical to your creativity, which is essential to your business growth. You can't allow the pressures of business and life to snuff out your imagination. Daydreaming is just as important now - maybe even moreso - than it was when you were in grade school. My friend Patrice Tsague, Chief Servant Officer of entrepreneurship training organization Nehemiah Project, says about dreaming: "Dreaming is giving our imagination the freedom to conceive future possibilities that are not bound by our current reality. It is the freedom to explore without having to worry about the cost or consequences because you have not involved intellect in the process. Dreaming is freedom, and if you never dream, you will never do great things." You absolutely need your imagination to develop one-of-a-kind products, create innovative marketing campaigns, provide your customers with unforgettable service, and many more things that can distinguish your business from all others. Your imagination can be a competitive advantage if you use it the right way.
I encourage you to take some time today to daydream about your business. It could be just what you need to grow like never before! |
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