I share this with you not to brag – but rather because, for me, this has been a pretty significant breakthrough that I think brings lessons I can apply to other areas of my life. For as long as I can really remember, certainly since high school, I have struggled with food and maintaining a healthy diet. For years I have known that I wasn’t eating particularly well – but dealing with it in any sort of lasting and meaningful way – has always seemed more than a little bit overwhelming. At least twice a year, I’ve discovered a new book at Barnes & Nobles, with the latest low carb or high protein or food combining “solution,” and have convinced myself that finally THIS is the diet I am going to follow. THIS one will be the answer to those extra pounds. THIS time I’m going to stick with it. I get started with a vengeance, making lists, hitting the grocery store, sorting through new recipes. And time after time, usually in less than a month, one day “off the diet” turns into 3 days, which turns into a full week…you get the picture.

So what changed? I think there was a powerful shift for me in defining what it means to be disciplined when it comes my diet.  First of all – you notice I said 90% vegan…In the past I have really hurt my chances of success by approaching eating with an “all or nothing” attitude. I tried to eat a certain way ALL of the time. For most of us this leads to feelings up deprivation that we simply cannot maintain long term. Now, if I really want a cheeseburger, I have a cheeseburger. If I go out to a restaurant or a party with friends, I don’t try to convince myself not to have whatever delicious things are being served. If I want them – I have them.

Another important aspect of my success with this diet has been my commitment to actual education. Not the latest fad…but actually finding and reading the research that has been done on the ways our bodies respond to the food we feed ourselves. I’m certainly not suggesting that there is necessarily one right way to eat. However, the key is that I have a clear understanding of why I am making the choices I am making. The more I read, the more committed I am to this change in lifestyle and the results I’m seeing right now, support the belief that I will continue to see amazing long term benefits.

What if we take these two “tips” and apply them to how we approach discipline in our businesses?

Specifically, I think that for many of us there are strong parallels between the ways in which we handle our diets and the ways we handle our money. Like being healthy, consistent money management and financial organization is not something that is going to happen automatically. It does take discipline to ensure that your financials are in order. You can’t organize those receipts or sit down in front of Quickbooks once or twice – and expect to have any last results. Still, acquiring this discipline is without question worth the effort as the rewards will certainly last a lifetime. Strong financial management and organization is the only way  you can expect to have the necessary information with which to make informed business decisions regarding your company.  As entrepreneurs we can also only  reach our financial goals and objectives if we regularly take the time to evaluate our progress, set new targets, and define the tasks required to hit those targets.

But I encourage you to look at whether you have been approaching financial management with the same “all or nothing” attitude that I mentioned earlier in this post. Are you perhaps guilty of having an image in your mind of what it means to really be on top of your financial situation – and then actually doing little or nothing because you recognize you are falling so far short of perfection? Do you dive into financial projects with a vengeance – spending hours  creating charts and sorting receipts – only to exhaust yourself and get so burned out you don’t even look at your bank statements for 3 months? How much better would it be if you tried to take more bite sized, but consistent actions when it comes to handling the business finances?

Also – have you neglected the financial education that is critical for your success? Small business owners often mistakenly believe we can have a loose understanding of money because once we have “lots of it” we won’t need to worry about all that accounting stuff. The problem of course is that it’s extremely unlikely we will ever have “lots of it” because we don’t understand the money rules and activities that will actually bring financial prosperity.

Discipline itself is a characteristic that every entrepreneur should work toward. What business partner, investor, customer or employee for that matter would not want to work with or for someone who has mastered this important quality?  Not only will you feel better about yourself, but your business will be so much more likely to succeed if you are able to develop the discipline necessary to maintain the daily, weekly, and monthly activities that keep your business growing and moving forward. But be kind to yourself. Find the ways you can steadily improve – moving towards the ideal – but not beating yourself up for the ways you fall short.

At Abundance Bound we teach entrepreneurs how to consistently take these small but powerful steps forward. Visit http://www.AbundanceBoundSystem for more information.

I spent a great deal of time in thought about the whole situation. I turned to other business colleagues asking for their honest opinions about what had occurred. In the end, I absolutely accept that mistakes were made on my part AND can honestly say that I fundamentally disagree with the accusation that my actions, at their core, were in any way unethical.

At the end of the day, as painful a time as this was, I think it raised an important question that we must all address as business owners: How much are you thinking about business ethics? The truth is that the more your business grows – the more you will face decisions about the “right” way to handle things.

There will be times where right and wrong are pretty clear and straight forward.  Hopefully, we all grew up learning not to lie, cheat or steal – basic principles that of course hold true in all aspects of business. There are certainly no grey areas when it comes to how you handle your money. As business owners we must ensure our financial record keeping is clear and honest, that our customers are billed accurately, and charged fair prices for quality products and services. Accurate reporting of your earnings and prompt payment of any taxes owed – will allow you to avoid costly penalties and ensure the longevity of your business.

However, there will also be situations where the “right path” might not be as clear. Will you take on a client whose company competes with a friend or business associate? What about a client with political opinions drastically opposed to your own? Would you consider outsourcing a service you need to a foreign country to significantly cut business costs – even in the midst of an economic crisis in your own country? These are just a few examples, but it is quite possible for two fundamentally honest and ethical business owners to disagree on one or all of these questions.

The only successful people are those who can sleep at night after a hard day’s work. Just because someone can reach their financial objectives quicker by cutting corners does not mean that they won’t be giving up something priceless along the way. Spend some time thinking about who you want to be and what you want your business to represent.  Then if there is ever a question of your ethics being tested, you can turn back to – and remember your ultimate goal.  Everyone is not going to like and agree with your choices. But it is important that YOU can stand behind them.

While there has been much in the news as of late that might make us think otherwise, the truth is that you can achieve all the success you want in your small business, with your ethics fully intact.  For resources to support you on your journey visit http://www.AbundanceBoundSystem.com.

Now think about your financial goals.  You want to create success in your small business, build wealth and enjoy prosperity in your life.  You plan to save some money and learn how to invest and create multiple streams of income.  What type of people are you around day after day?  Are they trying to gain wealth and prosperity like you, or are they like those people who hang out in front of the television eating junk and complaining about their lot in life?  In other words, are you associating with fellow entrepreneurs and other individuals who just talk about changing their financial life or are you associating with people who are doing something to make it happen?

Of course we are not suggesting that you dump all your friends and run out to find new ones.  Our close relationships are based on far more than simple wealth and financial criteria.  However, what we are suggesting is that in order to build success in your small business you must start expanding your circle of friends and acquaintances.  Find the entrepreneurs who are living the kind of life you want, the people who are trying to build their wealth, and get to know them.

There is a common theory that if you make a list of the five people you spend the most time with and take an average of their income, the resulting figure will be fairly close to your own earnings.  This ties directly into Step 8 of The Prosperity System – surround yourself with other wealth builders – and is part of what makes this step so important.  If you are making the choice to focus on improving your finances, it will be a far easier journey if you have other people in your life that are doing the same and who will support and encourage you on the journey.

So how do you meet these people?  Make a list of some networking groups and associations that you can join.  Think about people that you would like to meet and join the groups they are a part of.  If you are interested in learning about a particular type of investing, participate in a financial seminar or join a group that focuses on that.  As you meet new people, don’t be afraid to talk about what you are up to in your life and business.  Share your goals and ambitions.  Opportunity will not find you if you stay silent.

Part of what makes the process of building financial stability and independence less scary is that you do not have to do it alone.  Being a part of a community of other like-minded individuals will help bring you to a new level personally, professionally, and financially.  Open yourself up to new associations and friendships so that these new relationships can help feed your ambition.  It’s just like having a friend with whom to go to the gym.  It adds extra incentive to keep moving forward and achieve your goals.

Visit http://www.AbundanceBoundSystem.com and join a community of entrepreneurs committed to creating wealth and prosperity. Then build the life and business you want with their support and encouragement.