If you are like most people, you started your business because you wanted a certain sense of freedom; the American Dream. Perhaps you wanted the freedom to be able to provide a level of service that you may not have seen with a previous employer. Perhaps you wanted the time and money freedom that is often sold with the idea of becoming an entrepreneur. Or perhaps you wanted that time and money freedom to be able to realize some dreams and goals, pursue some of your passions and live life to the fullest. Well how is that working out for you?
The sad reality for most business owners is that there is often more work than ever expected. It often requires more money than projected and the reality is that most businesses fail within the first year. It doesn’t mean that the people are failures, in fact, many of the businesses that fail are owned by brilliant people who simply did not have the right action plan.
My Story
I first started as an entrepreneur somewhere about the age of 10. My first two businesses (I don’t recall which came first) were making & selling candles and selling greeting cards. When you are a kid, it’s fun and you get to have some money to buy the important things in life like baseball cards and candy from the ice cream truck.
Fast forward many years and I ended up working in a job like most people, but realized I just wanted more. I always had a side gig going and at the ripe young age of 22, I did something very bold. I became fully self employed. That’s right, I left a good paying job for the potentially of earning big money, the coveted six figure income. I became a real estate agent. Looking back, that was the best and worst thing I could have done but I was motivated by a good friend who had made a lot of money in his first year selling real estate ($250,000!) He encouraged me and told me “if I can do it, you can do it”. As a friend, that was nice of him but the reality is that I had no business selling real estate at that time in my life. I didn’t even own a house, so I had never gone through the home buying process. I made some money, but I eventually took a job about 3 years later.
Why did I have to take that job? Because I really didn’t have all of the skills necessary to succeed in business. I didn’t have a plan or a true passion that was guiding me, nor did I know anything about purpose and the fact that I was here to do more than just make money.
Sharing What I Have Learned
Thankfully, I have stuck in there over the years and learned a lot. In fact, so much so that I am writing a book discussing many of the things that entrepreneurs miss when they start a business. It’s a list of the things that can make a difference between success and failure in a business.
Even better, I have teamed up with some amazing folks to help tell that story but even better, to help put it all in perspective of the grand scheme of life. This is what the Abounding Business Conference is all about. It’s about teaching business owners how to maximize their profits, pursue their passions, and define their purpose.
I want to encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
1. Why did I start my business?
2. Am I reaching the goals I expected to reach in the timeframe I expected?
3. Am I happy with where I am in life (specifically my work / life balance)?
4. Am I making all of the money I need to support myself and my family?
5. Am I enjoying the process and pursuing my passions?
6. Am I living and working for a higher purpose than a paycheck?
If you want to join like minded business owners and entrepreneurs who want to learn how to earn the money they need, pursue their passions and dreams, and live in purpose, then I invite you to join us in one of our 10 cities in 2016. Here is the link to register and there is currently a early movers special where you can save $200 on the registration and get access to a full day of empowerment with some of the nations top speakers.
I hope to see you there!