How to start a business is one of the big questions at the front of every potential startup entrepreneur's mind. It is probably the single biggest reason people do not start their own pathway to economic freedom and security because finding answers and getting started can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you're a little technophobic in a digital world. I believe the simple phrase 'begin with the end in mind' is the most powerful principle any business owner can master, and you can use it to find your way on your new business journey.
As a Master Trainer in Neuro Linguistic Programming and having worked with Fortune 500 businesses all over the world, I've seen there is a fundamental error that many executives, employees, and entrepreneurs make. The error is that they think the end destination (or goal) is something they arrive at when in fact it should be where you begin.
In short, the mind does not know what is real and what is imagined for example, if I asked you to think of a lemon right now, smell it, taste it, you probably are experiencing the lemon through one of your senses - and maybe even including the feeling of biting into the lemon.
When your dreams become so vivid and in alignment with your deepest heartfelt wishes (not the propaganda on Insta and Media ads we are sold) and you are seeing and feeling that success, the Law of Attraction may bring the pieces of the puzzle to you in accordance with your vibration. This is the strategy that many business owners will fail to adopt.
If this is you, don't worry, you are not alone. I'm now working with thousands of start-up entrepreneurs and established businesses that need to rebrand on a daily basis and without fail, the scenario reads as follows.
That Fresh Feeling
You've gone ahead and done it! Your new business is now legal. You're feeling a little chuffed with yourself, you're going to be your own boss - f@#k the establishment, the long commute, the time missed with family/loved ones, working with tossers that don't know their stuff, and those long corporate hours, schmoozing the players, selling your soul, creating wealth for others for crappy pay. You're done.
Stepping Out On Your Own
You've replaced the grind with an ABN and a domain name, you've become a 'digital marketing expert', you've got more money going out than coming in, your friends think you're mad (and they tell you so), your relationship is on the rocks because you're not 'contributing' and your lifestyle is taking a hit. The short story: stress all round. But at least you're free from the cage of predictability, you're going to be an entrepreneur!
Whether or not that scenario is you, or someone you've heard about, the absolute truth is that if you are choosing to be an entrepreneur it is absolutely one of the most terrifying endeavours you could ever embark upon. In order to have as few obstacles as possible during the journey, it's useful to discover these principles for how to start a business. There is much at stake (including your stellar reputation with all those past successes), your social status is shrinking, you're terrified of failing, of being humiliated in front of your family, community and former business associates, and to add to the mix you need to meet clients with an air of confidence, all the while feeling like a fraud.
Feeling Like A Fraud
In the far recesses of your mind you're ashamed of your business cards and you're worried you don't have a website yet. You have no idea about driving campaigns on social media, let alone setting up the pages! And now it’s time to ask those potential clients for some of their hard-earned cash so your new business can provide them with life/business enhancing products. Easy, right?
Are You In Defence Mode?
Or you could be an established business relying on outdated, vintage practices that don't embrace the future of digital technology. You've rested on your laurels, you're feeling secure in your market position when one morning it seems you've woken up to discover that your competitors are now taking your market share and you're in defence mode, needing to re-invest and upgrade or retire.
We both know that both of these scenarios are very familiar. My aim is to provide you with the most powerful mind tools and business strategies via our Online Marketing Machine platform and assist you to Ascend. Read on as I hope to make the path easier for you.
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ― C.G. Jung.
There's AN idea, then there's THE idea
My business mentor once said to me "there is AN idea, and then there is THE idea". I didn't really understand at the time, but he was absolutely right. When we begin our entrepreneurial journey, we think that our ideas are money - they'll be delivering products and services that the entire global population can't wait to consume, and we'll be raking in the cash. And now it begins...
Without truly knowing what your heart desires, it is almost impossible to run a successful business that is fulfilling and in alignment with your values. This may sound a little esoteric to some, however, if you consciously choose to work from a place of soul you will tap into an infinite intelligence that will assist you in the building of your business in a manner that exists only in your dreams.
Pay The Bills, Put Food On The Table & Live The Dream!
Alignment with the essence of who you are will facilitate your success, not hinder it. Let me explain. A new entrepreneur came to me saying they wanted to create a ‘pay the bills, put food on the table and live the dream’ business with sustainable shaving products. Sure. No problems.
And What Are You Willing To Give Up?
The first question I asked was "what are you willing to give up in order to build your ‘pay the bills, put food on the table and live the dream' business?"
Almost 90% of my clients struggle to answer this question. In order for you to live the dream, it is imperative that you start your business with the end in mind. You don’t need to be too specific – a general idea that gives you a feeling of success is just perfect. This is for several reasons that I will explain in later blogs but for now, I invite you to write down your end game in the following exercises. This is your lighthouse, the reason your business exists, and the vibration you need to create in order to attract this outcome to you.
How To Start A Business With The End In Mind – A Reality Check
Exercise: What Is Your End Game – What Will Rock Your Soul?
Take a sheet of paper and a pen, and start writing your answers down.
- How much money do you really need to earn to have a meaningful life?
- How many years did it take you to build the dream?
- Do you have the support of your partner? Five years is a long time before you might re-establish the lifestyle that you are used to, are you both on the same page?
- What if your profit takes longer than you think and paying the bills becomes tricky, are you prepared to downsize your lifestyle?
- What business activities are you willing to do or learn to do because you can't afford to pay anyone else to do it? Yes, even the ones you hate - write them down.
- On a scale of 1 - 10, how well can you sell your products/services? In other words, network, meet strangers and sell?
- Are you willing to be the face of your brand, or are you someone that doesn't want to put their face on social media (or you're someone who values their privacy) therefore won't participate in videos, for example?
- Are you able to work a part-time job, come home nights, work the other days in the week and perhaps the weekend to develop your business? Are you willing to be missing out on kids’ footy games, hanging with your partner and attending your mates' BBQs?
- Do you have an insatiable curiosity about evolving as a person and entrepreneur and are willing to become Radically Responsible for your results and if you're not happy, to do something about it?
Be Honest, and True to Your Values
No matter what your answers are, these are very important questions to explore and reflect upon as they will shape your efforts and identity. There is no point saying that you will work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week when you know that your relationships will be on the rocks within 6 months. It's better to have a part-time job to pay the bills, invest a percentage of time into your business and take longer to get your results if you value your relationships highly. Of course, there are a million ways to take action but my point is, your intentions must be in alignment with your heart otherwise you will not experience the success you are desiring.
Be open to the discovery of your deepest desires and what you are (or aren't) prepared to do to experience them. There is no judgement, a tiny house on a cheap block of land or the tallest skyscraper in the city are equally valid pursuits. What is most important is to know whether or not these dreams are for you, or they're for someone else.
How will you know? Start.
Next time, discover how to write your Brand Story so that it captures the hearts and minds of the people you are wanting to attract.
Go forth and allow your soul to be your guide,
Debra Wylde
P.S. We'd love to hear your insights. Leave a comment below - we look forward to your input.