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.

Owners who have experienced success in their small business are often masters of being creative. Thinking outside the box creates endless opportunities. Entrepreneurs who cannot force themselves to be inventive  and to become “creative problem solvers,” have a long, tough road ahead of them.

While it may come easier to some more than others, creativity is possible and attainable for all of us and in fact can be the key to solving problems, moving forward and growing in every way.  When it comes to marketing your products and services, are you just following the pack (boring!) or do you constantly brainstorm ways to stand out from the crowd?  What makes you unique?  How can you use your imagination to capture the attention of your target audience?

Financial objectives and financial organization can also be greatly influenced by the use of creativity. Now don’t get me wrong, the last thing you should do is stretch the truth in your reports. Using fair and honest accounting principles is essential. But what about finding creative ways to cut costs? Use non-name brand office equipment. Take a late flight instead of paying for a hotel. Find a talented and motivated student to create your website rather than paying top dollar for an established designer. These are just a few examples where creativity with your finances can really pay off in the long run.

Creativity is the starting point for innovation, which is the force that drives small businesses to the top. As I work to meet the needs of my clients, I strive to find new ways to make the information engaging. Let’s face it – just the words “financial education” can make people’s eyes glaze over as they fight back an enormous yawn. So I’m faced with a choice. I can just try to hammer home the point that understanding money is important OR I can take risks – try new things and be open to outside input, constantly seeking creative ways to make the learning accessible and even fun.

Throughout the sea of constant change, endless road blocks and the curious unknown, being open to creative solutions  will likely provide all of the answers any entrepreneur will need. Learn more tips to bringing creativity to every aspect of your business operations at http://www.abundanceboundsystem.com.