🎆 How to Ensure Your Entrepreneurial Journey is A Blessing, Not A Curse

Happy Independence Day. 🇺🇸

As we celebrate Independence Day and reflect on the many freedoms we cherish as Americans, I’m also thinking about the freedoms we have the opportunity to enjoy as entrepreneurs and what it takes to earn them.

While some of us are born entrepreneurs, most of us make a courageous leap of faith at some point in our lives and venture out on our own to follow our passions or execute a vision of a higher level of service to others, and, in the process, hopefully, create a life for ourselves we weren’t certain was possible, yet dreamed of, and decided we couldn’t live without.

Unfortunately, many people embark on their entrepreneurial journey with unbridled optimism, only to encounter challenges that turn their dreams into unfulfilled potential. Often, the same three reasons that drive people to start a business are often the same three reasons they fail: they desire to make their own schedule, be their own boss, and have unlimited income potential.

Discipline = Freedom. The true secret to success.

Living by this simple truth, you can overcome these challenges and make your entrepreneurial journey the fulfilling and rewarding one you originally envisioned.

TODAY, IN 4 MINUTES OR LESS:

1. How to really flex on ‘em 💪

2. It’s time to Boss up 👔

3. Top-grade your pay grade 🤑

Embrace Discipline for a Flexible Schedule 💪

It's essential to understand that discipline is the key to unlocking the freedom of a flexible schedule. Many aspiring entrepreneurs fall into the trap of thinking that running their own businesses means working whenever they want. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The truth is, while you may have some flexibility and freedom from a traditional 9-5 schedule, in order to launch your new business or navigate shifting markets over the years successfully, you’ll need to work a significantly larger number of hours than before. This amount of time invested will allow you to create the strong foundation of industry knowledge, reps (doing the work), and experience needed to gain customers, take market share, and move faster toward taking back your time through the leverage of hiring people.

Be The Boss You Wanted 👔

Everyone thinks they want to be their own boss.

They want the money. The power. The respect.

There’s a big catch though.

When you’re the boss, everything is your fault. EVERYTHING. 😬

Not generating enough leads? That’s your fault.

Not converting enough leads to appointments? That’s your fault.

Not closing enough sales? That’s your fault.

Clients aren’t happy? That’s your fault.

Employees aren’t productive enough or happy? That’s your fault.

The business has little or no vision/direction? That’s your fault.

It was easy to blame the boss when things weren’t going well at your job. Now that’s all on you.

In addition, when you become your own boss, it's easy to fall into the trap of procrastination, lack of accountability, or overworking yourself.

This is an incredible, and often missed opportunity to be the boss you always wanted as an employee.

It’s imperative to establish clear expectations, set realistic goals, and surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable to your commitments. After all, no one succeeds alone.

Create a vision that makes people want to work with you and stick it out through the hard times. Focus on the right activities to fuel your business’s growth. Set your hires up for success with training and clear direction, and provide a platform big enough for them to grow into their best selves and achieve their wildest dreams.

Top-Grade Your Pay Grade 🤑

The allure of unlimited income potential can be a double-edged sword. While owning a business offers great financial possibilities beyond a typical salary, it can be easy to burn out or make poor decisions chasing financial freedom.

For most of us, making the shift from a comfortable, steady income to an eat-what-you-kill mentality is extremely challenging. The uncertainty of sales and income can create a level of constant anxiety that forces some out of business and back to a 9-5.

To achieve the income potential you dreamed of, it's crucial to develop a solid business plan to ensure all business decisions are made with the end goal in mind, create and use a budget to manage expenses and increase profits, and focus on consistent lead generation for sustained growth.

Making the most of every dollar earned and working daily to build a robust sales pipeline allows entrepreneurs to greatly exceed their former job income faster and scale towards whatever income they desire.

Protecting the downside of the freedoms of entrepreneurship can reduce risk and allow us to truly achieve the independence we sought. While success may require much more than a 40-hour workweek, I know I am grateful for the freedom and power to choose which of my 24 hours a day I work, so I can put family first, and then work to build something special for the world to benefit from.

Have a fun and safe 4th, my friends!

ONWARD TOGETHER.

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