Are You Affirming Others?

When you affirm people’s dreams you help their dreams become more real than their doubts. Like the repetition of a weight-lifting regimen, routine compliments build up people’s qualities and strengthens their personalities.

But good affirmations are about more than compliments. They must be about acknowledgements.

When you compliment someone you are talking about a choice they made. For example, “I like that shirt you are wearing.”

When you acknowledge someone you are affirming who they are directly with heart to heart communication. You are encouraging them. For example: “I really liked the way you expressed your feelings in a constructive manner in a difficult situation.” There is tremendous power in affirming ‘who’ someone is. And, you are encouraging them to exhibit this type of behavior in the future.

“There are high spots in all of our lives,” wrote author George Matthew Adams, “and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else.”

Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/are-you-affirming-others

About Author :First things first, I like to have fun with people and what I do. I am a personal business coach.Yes, I have received training and been coaching since 1983. I have gone through and continue to happily go through more personal development.
Personal development and its quest for personal growth, more often than not, are the missing links in the chain of business and personal success.As Warren Buffett once said, “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com

Vitamins

What vitamins are you feeding your mind?

Vitamins are the words you use when you talk to yourself. They are the words you use when you talk to others.

Vitamins are the conversations you have with others.

They are the actions you take.

They are the environment you create, the books you read and the TV you watch.

Vitamins are anything that you choose to associate with and anything that chooses to associate with you that are POSITIVE.

But you can take all the positive things, the vitamins to feed your mind and emotions, and their benefit will never be maximized if your relationships are dragging you down. It is said that it takes seven positives to counteract a negative.

Choose your associations wisely. Choose them for positivity and you will do well.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

What Are You Seeing?

“We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere.” O. S. Marden

Have thoughts about and seeing yourself in a better place. Take ownership of these thoughts. How do you do this? As Napoleon Hill said, “What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.”

Visualize in detail what this better place will look like. Only when this positive vision is planted firmly in your mind will have the willingness to go through inner change.

A willingness to move on your vision because you see, know and are drawn like a moth to a light to the vastness beyond your present position.

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

“We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere.” O. S. Marden
Have thoughts about and seeing yourself in a better place. Take ownership of these thoughts. How do you do this? As Napoleon Hill said, “What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.”
Visualize in detail what this better place will look like. Only when this positive vision is planted firmly in your mind will have the willingness to go through inner change.
A willingness to move on your vision because you see, know and are drawn like a moth to a light to the vastness beyond your present position.
- See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/what-are-you-seeing#sthash.JeUul8E4.dpuf

“We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere.” O. S. Marden
Have thoughts about and seeing yourself in a better place. Take ownership of these thoughts. How do you do this? As Napoleon Hill said, “What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.”
Visualize in detail what this better place will look like. Only when this positive vision is planted firmly in your mind will have the willingness to go through inner change.
A willingness to move on your vision because you see, know and are drawn like a moth to a light to the vastness beyond your present position.
- See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/what-are-you-seeing#sthash.JeUul8E4.dpuf

How Are You Using The Past?

One of the mistakes people make about the past is this: Instead of using the past as a school to learn from, they use it as a weapon on themselves.

And they use it as a weapon on others. How often have you used or have heard the words applied to you, “Remember when you……….fill in the blanks.

Developing a new philosophy about the past is the key to changing your current attitude and your present. What did you learn from the past? How did you improve? What opportunities have past experiences presented to you?

Use the past as a school to learn from and not as a club on yourself and others. When you do you can get unstuck and move beyond it.

Remember, how effectively we use the present is largely determined by our attitude about the past.

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com

Love, Wealth and Success

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”

“Is the man of the house home?”, they asked.

“No”, she said. “He’s out.”

“Then we cannot come in”, they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in.

“We do not go into a House together,” they replied.

“Why is that?” she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!”, he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!”

His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?”

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”

“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest”

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?”

The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Following Through

According to Gregg Harris, two-thirds of people surveyed (67 out of 100) set goals for themselves. But of those sixty-seven who set goals, only ten have made realistic plans to reach their goals. And out of those ten, only two follow through and actually make them happen.

What makes the follow through so low? There are several reasons.

You can set the goal. That is a good start. But it must be realistic enough to have the possibility of you attaining it. One of the things that many people do is they set goals when they are desperate. They hope that by setting a goal they can turn things around immediately. They set the ‘too big’ goal and when they realize that it is not going to happen they become discouraged and quit.

Another reason for poor follow through is that people set goals to please other people. If you set a goal without true ownership of it for yourself you are much less likely to follow through on it.

We can have ‘too big’ goals. We can have goals that we truly don’t own. But let’s say that your goal is reasonable and that you own it. What keeps you from following through?

There are two things I have seen that can hold you back. First is not having a clear plan with the tiny steps that you are going to take to make the goal a reality. Secondly, it is important to have someone holding you accountable for fulfilling the goal.

Goal setting without accountability can be like do-it-yourself heart surgery. It can become extremely challenging to be successful. Yes, follow through is a challenge for all of us.

As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.”

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Keys To Business Success: Your Leadership Model

Who’s your leadership model?  In John Maxwells’ book, Developing the Leaders Around You, he emphasizes that you must give much thought to which leaders you will follow.  Why?  The leadership model you follow will determine your course.

Who Is Your Leadership Model?

When I talk about a leadership model what am I referring to?  Whether you are a self-employed business owner, entrepreneur or solo professional seeking greater personal and small business success it is important that you find the right mentors.

Find people who exemplify the emotional, intellectual and character qualities that will take you to the next level.  Out of these three, as a personal business coach, I encourage my clients to focus first and foremost on character.

Why?  You may love their logic, their intellect.  You may love their passion, their emotion.  But without good character you are building the foundation of your leadership model upon sand.  It will not last.  Without good character the rest doesn’t matter.

Leadership Model Questions From John Maxwell

1. Does my leadership model’s life deserve a following?
2. Does my leader model’s life have a following?
3. What is the main strength the influences others to follow my model?
4. Does my leadership model produce other leaders?
5. Is my leadership model’s strength reproducible in my life?
6. If my model’s strength is reproducible in my life, what steps must I take to develop and demonstrate that strength?

Find Your Leadership Model
Throughout my life I have had different leadership models.  What is interesting is that someone who was a leadership model ten years ago may not be a leadership model now.  Leadership models will change.  Why?  As you grow and change your need for a different leadership model will often have to change to support that growth.

Whether you are seeking growth in business, personal growth or just a growth strategy in leadership you must let go of the old in order for the new to enter.  Just as a tree sheds its leaves every year, we too, as humans must shed what is no longer useful.  Unlike the tree you have a choice.

Part of creating a great leadership model is exercising your power of choice.  Part of great leadership is making wise choices.  Choose wisely.  Your leadership model will be as you wish.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Belief Determines Your Present And Future

I once had a client who had very little belief in himself.  He was running a small business that was passed down to him by his father.  He was bright but he had never developed his talent.  His lack of belief in himself was hurting his company, employees and worst of all his family life.

Your beliefs control everything that you do.  They will determine your personal and small business success and growth.

Belief—It Holds You Back

As a personal development coach I have observed in myself and others that what our belief is in ourselves will determine what we expect and what we will receive.  My client did not believe in himself.

Why?  There were many reasons.  The most important one was he was running the business the way his Dad had run it.  He was afraid to put his personal touch on things.  After all, things had worked well or maybe not so well for a long time so why change?

His belief in his lack of ability to make positive change was holding him back.

Belief—It Moves Your Forward

We started identifying small, safe areas where he could institute change.  Most important it was change he believed in.

When you start exercising your “belief muscle” it is best to start with some small things where you can have some immediate success.  Too often I see well intentioned, self-employed business owners, entrepreneurs and solo professionals exercise their “belief muscle” on too big a stage.

Why?  They feel that is some shape or form that they need to make the grand impression.  Remember, an impression can work both ways.  You can take your belief and impress it on others but if you haven’t thought it through it can come back at you in the form of a negative impression.

The key is to start with something small.  Enjoy the small successes from your beliefs. Learn from them.  Once you have mastered the small things then you can work up to some bigger areas.

Whether you are running a small business or starting up your own business begin with the small things and work up to the bigger ones.  This will increase your odds of staying on a success track.

Belief—It Predicts Your Future

More often than not in personal business coaching I am collaborating with others on creating a vision of the future they desire.  Once we have created the vision we start taking steps to make it happen.  It’s a very exciting process.  And, it is all fueled by belief.

Your belief in yourself, what you do and where you want to go is usually a very good predictor of the future you will have.  How come it is a good predictor of your future?  Your belief determines your expectation.

And you have a belief and an expectation you are much more likely to see it become a reality.  Whether you are starting your own business or running a small business identify your beliefs.  Understand your expectations.

If they aren’t leading you to the future you desire, change them.  Change your belief on something.  It will change your expectation.  And, your expectation will change your life.  Today you can start to have the future you want tomorrow.   Start today by harnessing the power of your belief.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

What’s Your Path?

As we go through life we learn from our failures and from our successes.

And the more quickly we recognize the errors that are on the path of failure, the sooner we can start moving along the path of success.

Both paths are well traveled. How can we make sure we are on the path of success more often than the one for failure?

First, the path of failure is necessary so we can learn how to take the path of success. But when we take the path of failure too often then, because of its high degree of difficulty and extreme demands we no longer have the energy to take the path of success.

Both paths involve decisions. And these decisions have future consequences. And these consequences can be rewarding or hurtful.

To stay more on the path of success you must make the future, what you desire to have happen, part of your every day philosophy. Ask yourself, is this taking me where I want to go a month, a year or 5 years from now?

If the answer is ‘Yes’ you are on the path to success. You may have a temporary failure but at least your decision was made in an effort to achieve something worthwhile.

When you don’t have your future vision as your guide, you are much more likely to fail and in the process not learn much that can help you. Why? You have no vision of where you are going.

Just as when you get in your car you have a clear vision of your future destination. And you make all the adjustments along the way to get there. Sometimes because of traffic or construction we may have to make a detour. But because we have a clear vision we get back on track and successfully arrive at our destination of choice.

Make your vision of the future part of your decision making every day and you will increase the odds of traveling the path to the success you desire.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

What’s Your Philosophy

What’s your philosophy? It’s an important question.

Why? What you think, your philosophy determines what you will do.

Your personal philosophy can be summed up in a few words. As each day goes by you choose do whatever you think is valuable.

What do you think is valuable? And where has that taken you?

If you don’t like where you are at and want to have things be better, then change your personal philosophy. And if you think your problems or challenges are out there, then that’s the problem A good personal philosophy for progress to move your toward the business and life you desire is “if it is to be it is up to me.”

You must be proactive. You are the creator. Start thinking on what can be instead of what is. Your personal philosophy absolutely has the power to change your life. All you have to do is change your thinking.

Even animals, insects and other living organisms have a personal philosophy that guides them. According to Jim Rohn, ants have the “all I can possibly do philosophy.”

That’s a good place to start. Do all that you can possibly do.

Unlike animals, you as a human being, have been given the dignity of choice. You can choose to be all or you can choose to be less.

Why not be like the ants and have a personal philosophy that says I will strive to achieve the maximum to see what all I can be?

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Keys To Success: Passion

Throughout my business experience I have found that passion is a key ingredient to small business success.  After all, if you don’t have passion about your product, service, company, and most importantly, yourself, it makes it that much harder to achieve personal and small business success.
In my personal business coaching practice I have observed that the clients who have the most passion also have the greatest degree of success.

Keys To Success:  Passion About Yourself

You have probably heard that true success is an “inside” job.  To succeed you must have passion about:

1. “Who” you are.
2. “What” you do.
3. “How” you do it.
4. “Why” you do it.

Lack of excitement in any of these areas will hold you back much more than you may realize. The most important area to be passionate about is YOU.  If you feel stuck or overwhelmed look at yourself and find something to change that will make you more excited about you.
After all, in business and life, we, so to speak, leak who we are.  What are you leaking about you?  How do you think?  How do you speak?  How do you dress?  Do you act with respect, kindness and consideration?

The answers to these questions and your passion about them are important keys to success.

Passion Is Your Value Proposition

In answering Who you are, What you do, How you do it and Why you do it you are establishing your value proposition to prospects, customers and client.  Too often this is forgotten.
I have collaborated with self-employed business owners, entrepreneurs and solo professionals who had the best technology and efficient systems but who fell short of where they wanted to be.
Once they understood that small business growth was not just about a great product or service and its delivery, but the passion with which it was delivered, their businesses and lives started to move forward and up.

Passion:  Look At Your Priorities

In running a small business or starting your own business I see self-employed business owners with passion but lacking clear priorities.  This is a recipe for disaster.

Be a person with passion but also priorities.  Without the right priorities and taking action on them personal and small business success is more likely to elude you.  Make sure that your daily priorities are in alignment with where you want to take your business and life.

With your priorities in alignment your passion will grow and help take you to the personal and small business success you desire.  Your success will be in your passion.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/keys-to-success-passion

What Do You See?

In some way all of us see the present. The key to successful living and growing a business is to be able see not just what is happening in the here and now, but the future consequences of what you are doing in the present.

Being able to see the future is critical to your welfare and success. If you are doing something today that is destroying your health you can stop doing it. Why do you stop? You stop because the future consequences of what you are doing today are not good.

Conversely, if you are doing something today that is good for you then you keep doing it.

In either case, your ability to see The Future and its consequences will determine how you choose to ace.

In either case, your attitude about the future depends on our ability to see the future. What do you see in your future?

All things must be finished before they can be started. And, when you see the future make sure your focus is positive.

How come? When we are pre-occupied and filled with regret about the past and concerns about the present, then we subconsciously lead ourselves toward a future that is very much like the past we left behind.

Create a positive vision of the future, start acting on it in the present and you will leave the past where it belongs, behind.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com

Keys To Success: The Food Relationships

Last week I was in a restaurant and I was reminded of the food test in relationships.  At the booth next to me there was a man and a woman in their thirties who appeared to be in good shape.

Here’s where things got interesting. As they were looking at the menu, they got into a heated argument about what he should be ordering for lunch. He didn’t want to order the food that she thought he should.  This irritated her and then things got personal.

Relationships Like Food Can Go Bad

Here were some of the comments I overheard.  Her anger increased the volume of her voice it was easy to hear everything.

She said, “You never try anything new.”

His response was, “I know what I like.”

She queried, “Don’t you believe in eating healthy food?”

He replied, “I eat healthy food.  You know that.  But, there are times like today when I just feel like having a cheeseburger.”

At this point, when she heard the word cheeseburger she flipped her switch.  You would have thought that he had just used some nasty four letter words.

The rest of the argument disintegrated into a tense situation.  He stood his ground and ordered the cheeseburger.  He got the food he wanted.  They pretty much ate in silence.

Food Relationships—A Learning Experience

As I was taking all this in it got me to thinking about the joys of eating lunch by myself.  Most of the time, I am with someone at lunch.

Today, I was free to pick the food I wanted and without anyone’s comment or interference.  It is relaxing to make choices without always being challenged or questioned.

For the record, because I was feeling empathy for the man, I ordered a cheeseburger.  It was my way of showing support and at the same time enjoying something I rarely order.

Food brings people together and creates a ready made social situation and relationships.  I have also found that food is a great way to learn about people.  More importantly, food and how it is viewed gives me great insight into others.

As a personal business coach I have found that food can give you a glimpse into what a relationship may be like.  Whether you are a self-employed business owner, entrepreneur, solo professional or an individual your relationships, who you associate with, can define you for better or worse.

Small business success and personal success are about having good relationships.  Likewise, small business growth and personal growth can’t take place in the soil of poor relationships.  Why is this important?  One of the most personal relationships we have is with the food we eat.

Food Relationships:  The Phrases That Cause Rot

Here are some observations about relationships and food.

• When you hear, “You never try anything new,” it’s not about the fact that you do or don’t try anything new.  It’s about another person’s desire to control one of the most personal things in your life, the food you put in your mouth.

Are there times and are there people where they need to do this?  Yes.  But, I am talking about those other times where there is no need other than the neediness of the other person to control.

• “Try this just for me.”  This is one of my favorites.  When you have said “no” and you hear this you can be sure that this relationship is not about you.  It is all about them.  Be careful.

• “Just take a bite.  It will make me real happy.”  This is a variation on number 2.  But something sinister has been added.  Now there is the implied threat that if you don’t take a bite or try something as they have told you to do that you are going to face some major rage.

• “It won’t hurt you just to take a taste.”  I have always found this one very interesting.  The last time I checked eating what you want wasn’t about inflicting hurt.  And, this is not what this statement is about.  Once again, it is about the desire of someone else to control.

• “I know you don’t like-fill in the blank-but I know you will like this.”  I always find this one interesting.  They already know what you don’t like and now they want to force you to do something you don’t like.  This is not a way to build good relationships.

There are many more quotations around food but I think you get the idea.

In small business as in life, good relationships are crucial to success.  More importantly, you can have all the money in the world but without good relationships you cannot be happy.

Your relationships are the human food you feed yourself with everyday.  Take a look around you.  What do your relationships feed you every day?

If you don’t like what you see here’s the good news.  You can change it.  Relationships are like a menu in a restaurant.  You do get to pick and choose.  It will be as you wish.

When looking at the keys to success remember to eat well.  And be sure to choose good relationships from the menu of life.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Decisions

Are you afraid to make decisions? Obviously, there are times where the fear is justified. Maybe you don’t have enough information. That’s understandable. But is it acceptable?

Some people would rather hide behind ignorance and tell you that they don’t have enough information than to take the responsibility to learn and to adequate information to make a decision. And as time passes, the situation, the relationship or the business gets worse.

They didn’t make a decision on the pressing issues. They made a decision to do nothing.

They were afraid to make a decision to possibly change things and to move forward. So they made a decision for the status quo and mediocrity.

Why? They were afraid of failing. Yet, staying in the sinking ship of mediocrity where change is not embraced is failure.

How do you move beyond being stuck about decisions? There are many answers but you have to keep reminding yourself of the following:

The decisions you are making are not wrong based on the information you have. It is the information you have and possibly who you are receiving information from that are causing you to make wrong decisions.

Getting the information that success and happiness require, and getting it accurately, is essential. Otherwise we will inevitably drift into ignorance. And ignorance is a decision.

Make the decision to rise above ignorance. Get educated and when you do you will been better able to cope with change and make the decisions to keep you, your business and your life with a high degree of relevancy.

About Author :

First things first, I like to have fun with people and what I do. I am a personal business coach.Yes, I have received training and been coaching since 1983. I have gone through and continue to happily go through more personal development.

Personal development and its quest for personal growth, more often than not, are the missing links in the chain of business and personal success.As Warren Buffett once said, “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”

For more information please visit : http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com

Vacation : Become An Observer

Vacation makes you an observer because it forces you to step outside your normal routine.  If you are seeking greater personal or small business growth then take the vacation break.

Just as a muscle cannot develop when it is always worked, neither can you have the personal development and small business success that you seek unless you get away and become an observer.

Being a business performance coach is similar in many ways to being an athletic coach.  You engage in routines that will build performance.  You tweak them.  And at some point you rest.  Then at some point you take an extended break.  Look at your top athletes and all of them take an extended break.  It is called the off season.

During the off season they stay in shape but they do something more important.  They study films and look for ways to improve their techniques and performance.  They become observers.

Vacation Is The Rest That Strengthens You

A muscle needs a break and rest in order to grow and develop.  And the small business owner, whether you are running a small business or starting your own business needs to schedule, needs to take a break and rest in order for him and his business to grow.

Even in nature, virtually nothing grows all the time.  There are times where plants and animals take a break from growth.  Only when you take a break can you grow.  Unlike the plants and animals which have no choice, we as human beings have been given the dignity of choice.

We can choose an extended rest or not.  Choose a vacation and you will increase the odds of your personal growth and small business growth.

Vacation—A Change In Attitude

As a small business coach one of the most important benefits from a vacation can be a change in attitude.  This becomes apparent when the self-employed business owner returns.

Vacation allows you to heal up.  You become very sensitive to pain.  The nice calmness that vacation brings over you can turn to turbulence very quickly.

And with this increased sensitivity it is easier to see where changes need to be made.  When we are in the middle it is harder for us to see and act.  I have observed that some of the greatest progress in small business occurs when the owner returns from vacation.

Where there was tolerance of things that weren’t quite right or processes that were irritating, vacation and the clear perspective it brings creates the impetus for positive action.

After all, you are feeling good and calm after vacation and you want to retain that feeling as long as you can.  You can more clearly see what is getting in your way and creating turbulence and discord.  Your attitude becomes one of eliminating the discord.

This is called progress.  Taking a vacation is about progress and key to success.  Take a vacation and become an observer.  Take a vacation and have the rest to build strength.  And, take a vacation have the attitude on your return to make changes to improve your business and life.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Keys To Success: Finding Peace (2)

Keys To Success: Finding Peace (2)

In the previous post on peace we looked at one of  the keys to success, finding peace.  We looked at what is peace and what is causing distress.

In this post I am going to start out and explore a little further what peace is.  And, we will look at some ways to create peace.  We will finish up with the concept that peace is best achieved by running your small business and your life by your expectations.

Keys To Success:  Know What Peace Is.  What Peace Is Not.

Peace:  A Definition

Sometimes in defining a subject it is easier to say what it is not rather than what it is.

Peace is Not:

1. Based on external influences
2. Based on other people
3. Based on the absence of pressure

Peace is Internally Based

Definition:  Peace is to be set at “one” again.  What does it mean to be set at “one” again?  Primarily, this means living your life in alignment.  When you are looking at keys to success, whether it be in your business or life, alignment is important.

Keys To Success:  How To Create Peace

To create peace, as we grow, we must bring order to disorder.  And, this is where many of us have a challenge.  Maybe you are great at creating your own business.  Possibly, you are very good at success planning.  But, the distress, or lack of peace comes from your inability to manage what you have created.

As a self-employed business owner for many years and in my personal business coaching practice collaborating with individuals, entrepreneurs, solo professionals I can assure you that the one thing everyone would like to have is more peace.  And peace is one of the most important keys to success for the long-term.

All these individuals are very creative.  And, creativity by its very nature is forward thinking and disruptive of the status quo.

Unfortunately, everything else is a goal except peace.  A marketing business plan is put together that will increase sales but it is not appropriate for the owner or the small business.

Or, success planning directs you and your business into areas that put too much strain on your existing business or structure.  One of the keys to success is attaining a measure of peace is to build your business around honoring who you are.

Keys To Success:  Peace Is Living By Your Expectiations

Live by your expectations.  Don’t live by others.  Spend time in your strengths.  Spend minimal time or delegate those things that are unpleasant to you.  Manage your expectations, yourself and your process for doing business to honor who you are.

When you do you are much more likely to be successful because you are doing it on your terms.  Honor yourself and manage yourself in what you build and you will have greater peace which is one of the keys to success.

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Keys To Success: Employees

One of the keys to success for many small businesses is when they hire their first employee.  As an entrepreneur, solo professional or self-employed business owner you can only grow your business and influence with the help of others.

Unfortunately, many small business owners see employees as a babysitting task or unwelcome responsibility as opposed to an opportunity to take them and their business to a better level.

Yes, having employees brings a new dynamic to your business.  It also brings increased paperwork and the discipline of making a payroll and the paperwork and procedures that must be implemented to have a good work environment.

Keys To Success:  Get Over The Hurdle 

One of the keys to success in small business growth is to get over the hurdle of hiring your first employee.  Very often, in my personal business coaching practice I have business owners who are reluctant to take the step to hire someone.

Yet, if they don’t they will stay on the treadmill they have created and ultimately wear out and quit their business.  Once the self-employed business owner truly understands that employees are the way to have a better business and life then they are ready to step up to becoming more and having more.

So, what holds the self-employed business owner back from hiring employees?  There are many reasons.  Some don’t want the extra paperwork.  Some don’t want the responsibility of an employee.  They really don’t want someone else to be accountable to.

Notice that the focus is on what the business owner does not want.  When the small business owner is focusing on what he doesn’t want, instead of what he does want, he is being ruled by fear.  And, the likelihood of him or her taking the action to move forward is quite small.

Keys To Success:  Focusing On What You Want 

Instead, as a small business owner you must focus on what you do want.  One of the keys to success and small business growth is to continually focus on what you do want.  If you want to get to a point where your business isn’t your life and your life isn’t your business then you must learn to depend on others.

One of the keys to success in small business is to have good processes.  Too often, the focus is put on outcome.  In truth, it is process that determines outcome.  To be ready to hire an employee it is better if you have good processes in place.  And, it is even better to have them written down.

Keys To Success:  Good Processes 

The first process is in the hiring employees.  It is important to have an application form.  There are numerous reasons that I won’t go into here.  Suffice it to say, that one of the keys to success is to have a good application form.

The next part of the hiring process is to be specific in what you need the employee to do.  Have a written job description.  If you don’t, start creating one when the employee starts.  Having a job description allows the small business owner to hold the employee accountable and to measure performance.

In coaching success I find that the businesses that truly succeed on a higher level have policies, procedures, accountability and measure performance. If this is not something you like to do, there are people who you can hire to help you do this.

There is a great deal that could be written on this subject.  My goal here is to give you a start and possibly the impetus to take on your first employee.

Get in the right mindset.  It is part of success planning. Employees are an asset.  To go forward in running a small business or a small business startup and to have small business success, we must learn to be dependent on others.  And, in being dependent on others, one of the keys to success is to create a process where we are dependent on the right people.

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