Programmed mindset
Success in business requires a mindset that has been programmed to stay permanently in the success mode. You need a positive approach to life situations. You have to belong to the group of people who believe in ‘Yes We Can’. You have to be prepared to work hard in order to succeed . You must be mentally prepared not to fear to fail as failure creates opportunities to succeed. You must be prepared to look at challenges as they offer opportunities which make it easy for you to handle.
Big Dream
You must have a big dream of what you want to be and to achieve in life and a plan to implement your dream. Do not waste any time but start implementing your own dream. Tony Gaskins has this to say about your dream
If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.”
Focus on your dream
It is extremely necessary to have a big business dream and a burning desire to implement your dream. The desire must be too strong to be reversible. The business idea must be unique and owned by you. The picture of the business idea including issues like sector, size, location, top and bottom lines and what you plan to do with the money you will earn must be clear in your mind. Get a piece of paper and paint the picture of your dream for more clarity.
Vincent Van Gogh has this to say about painting a picture of your dream
I dream of painting and then I paint my dream”
Believe in success
In order to succeed in business and life, you must be a master of your own destiny and a strong believer in success. You must believe in your capacity to succeed since you are a master of your own universe. As Gillan Anderson said
Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but takes action, perseverance and facing your fears”
This is what Mahatma Gandhi says about belief;
Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
Plan the business journey
Prepare a plan of your mission including vision, goals, activities and implementation plan. You have to understand your business and key drivers in that business. You have to know your suppliers, competitors and the size of the market. You have to be clear on the availability of trained human resources. The business environment / climate of your chosen business must be clear to you. Confucius has the following to say of people who do not plan;
A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door.”
You should include an implementation plan in your plan as explained by Peter Drucker;
Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”
The only sure of failing to achieve your goals is failing to plan as elaborated by Benjamin Franklin in his quote
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
You will only ever live the life you create for yourself.
Your life is yours alone. Others can try to persuade you, but they can’t decide for you. They can walk with you, but not in your shoes. So make sure the path you decide to walk aligns with your own intuition and desires, and don’t be scared to switch paths or pave a new one when it makes sense.
Walk the journey and be prepared for challenges
You have to walk the journey to success alone and do not expect other people to walk it for you. You cannot succeed in life by walking other peoples’ journey when yours remain undone. You have to move forward with a determination to overcome all challenges. The impossible challenges do not exist as they only exist in your mind. As Rashida Rowe says-
Anyone can put you on the right path but they can’t make you walk it, you have to make that first step and decide if you’re on the road to success or failure.
Review progress
To make sure you are on course, you have to monitor the progress against plan on a regular basis. You have to be flexible enough to modify your plan to be in-line with the situation on ground. You do not to have to forego an opportunity because your original plan provides for something else.
