We live in a society that is all about focusing on what we don’t have.  Commercials, magazines, movies all remind us that we can be thinner, wealthier, smarter and have more STUFF.  Here’s the thing.  I don’t believe that it is bad to strive for more.  After all – isn’t wanting more freedom, more inspiration and more money, what led most of us to become entrepreneurs? Goals keep us moving forward – they give us a sense of purpose and direction and ultimately serve as guidelines for building success as small business owners.  I think that when it comes to finances, we should all strive to create wealth, not just because of what it will mean in our own lives, but because of the difference it will allow us to create in the lives of others.  However, consider how much more powerful it is to strive for more from a place of happiness with what you have already created, than to constantly struggle to improve, while depressed by a perception of all the ways in which you have failed. Read more »

How do we define success for your small business? And, more importantly, what does it take to achieve it? It will differ from person to person, and from business to business, but I want to give you one key to what it takes that applies across the board:

“The secret to my success is determined by my daily agenda – by the daily decisions I make, and the daily disciplines I practice.”– Dr John C. Maxwell

I heard that statement a few years ago, and it is something that has always stuck with me, because I fundamentally believe that it is true. Another way of saying it is that, if what and where I am today is a direct result of my previous actions, what I am tomorrow depends on what I do today. The problem is, most people underestimate what they can do today, and over estimate what they can do tomorrow. Read more »

We have spent the past few blog posts teaching you how to prepare yourself for success as a small business owner.  You know how to treat your business finances as an entity separate from your personal finances, you know how to organize and keep track of your expenses, and you know where you are starting on this financial journey. Great!  Now what?

Not a thing in your financial lives will change if you do not do the footwork.  You need to consistently devote the time necessary to improve your financial situation.  As entrepreneurs so many of us are great starters.  We begin to gather knowledge and make great plans, thinking of the ultimate outcome, but then we often do not fulfill our plan by taking the step-by-step actions required to bring us to that outcome. Read more »

In our last blog post, Walk From Where You’re Standing, we talked about creating a strong financial foundation – doing the things necessary to know (and continue to be aware of) your current financial situation.

The next critical step to creating success as a small business owner, is figuring out exactly where you would like to end up.  Where you are going is almost as important as your starting point.  It gives you a destination, a target, a place on which to set your sights. Read more »

Imagine waking, disoriented, in the middle of the desert.  You vaguely recall hearing of an oasis out in the wasteland, so you look to the sky, bravely pick a path and start walking.  Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end well.  Because you weren’t clear where you were when you started, you wander and starve before reaching your magical destination.  In your financial life there exists the same challenge.  Sun dials and prayer aren’t the solution.  You simply cannot meet your goals or gauge your progress until you have a clearly defined financial starting point to anchor your direction. Read more »