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Join forces to expand your vision

Written by: Christiane Pohl

Article Overview: Some useful tips of how setting up on your own can be easier and more successful by engaging the help of others and thinking BIG.

Join forces to expand your vision

More and more people are deciding to work on their own, making a living with the skills and knowledge they have acquired over a period of time. While the idea of doing your own thing, following your own path is great; in practice it often turns out to be frustrating and a not too successful road to travel.

How come? Well, going from my own observations, the main stumbling blocks often seem to be a limited vision, an insufficient support team and little real knowledge of how to actually build a business. The result is that many talented, wonderful people after a couple of years of struggling on their own either return to find a job elsewhere or work twice as hard as before for less income.

Now if any of the above sounds familiar to you and you would like some ideas of how to invite more joy and success into your business and life then stop whatever your are doing right now and contemplate the following suggestions:

1. Take time and start thinking of what your vision is for your life, make notes, be bold as if time and money would not matter, think BIG


a. How do you want to live, work and relate to others?
b. What are your values, your ethics?
c. What is meaningful to you, what is important?
d. How do you want to feel?
e. What kind of community would you like to live in?
f. Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

2. Make a list, not only of all the things you do want in your life but also all the things you do not want.

3. Then create a vision for your work, your business which supports your overall vision for life. Write it in the present tense like it is happening now.


4. Consider how much capital or income you would need to support you at the start of your business. Be honest and realistic. Most new businesses take a couple of years to be self-supportive.

5. Invest into working with a coach or mentor. Working with a coach or mentor can help you in many different ways and can be the key element to your success. To have someone by our side to support you in each step and help you find and achieve what you really want is a most valuable asset. There are many wonderful coaches out there and the key is to find the one that most appeals to you. How? Check out the websites and articles. Follow your intuition, your heart. Who’s message do you connect with most? This is the one you call first. Most coaches offer free consultations, so you can make contact without any cost.

6. Build your own support group – Join forces. Being self-employed can at times be lonely and there is a danger of lacking in Motivation, Accountability, Focus and Fun. Find other people with similar dreams and values. Network within your profession. Look for the ones that are successful in the way that you would like to be. As early as possible identify areas where you would want to engage with others for help or support.

7. Do at least one thing that scares you a day. Get used to leaving your comfort zone. We have a tendency to do what we know and feel secure with. But security can be like a prison. It is good to practise stepping into the unknown and feel the energy and excitement when you do.

8. Nourish your Soul. Read inspiring books and articles. Do things you enjoy. Take time to be still and contemplate. Step back and look at the whole picture again and again. Then move forward.

Co-operation, communication, sharing and feeling connected are some of the key ingredients for a joyful life and they are also some of the key ingredients for a successful business. Enjoy the journey; my heart and thoughts will be with you.

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  VISION

Article Tags: Business development, Cooperation, Vision



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SBA and Collateral security - I think the SBA pretty much forces you to have financial responsibility and pay off your investors (bank) by using so much collateral. It forces you to find a way to pay it off even if the business is losing money. Which is basically what corporations do.. They pay off their loans even if the particular project lost money. So I think it is important to look at it with that perspective.
Re: What I Enjoyed Reading This Week - Oct 14 - I really enjoyed the Improve your vision with an app article in the New Scientist. I don't wear glasses and think a lot of people cripple their vision by wearing specs from an early age instead of exercising their eyes... Nice to see someone has developed an ap that will help.
Depends on the conditions - If for example I give up ownership, but the owners commit to pursuing my vision with my product, then I will certainly considering giving up ownership. Contingent on my being able to buy back ownership in the event of incompetence or if the new owners fail to follow through with my vision.
Date before getting married - Hi Kevin - I would suggest doing what you would with any relationship - date before you get married. If you're worried about them stealing your idea don't give it away to them in full the first time you meet them. Talk with them in generalities and learn more about what they are doing and where they are going. Some entrepreneurs have no interest in expanding beyond their core base as Louis suggested while others will hop onto anything they can make a buck at. After meeting with them see if you feel comfortable disclosing more information and working together. Try a small project first and if that works then you can expand. You don't need to share your full vision from the start. If you continue to be worried you can also have them sign a non-compete agreement. The basic terms would include your partner not being able to go after the market you are targeting for a set period of time. Good luck!
Re: 4 Ways to Go From Employee to Entrepreneur - The situation that Wezi describes is more the norm than the exception. I have spoken to many "entrepreneurs-to-be" that have a desire to work for themselves but can't overcome the fear of making that critical leap. The truth of the matter is, if fear is preventing you from moving forward with your own business you need to overcome that fear first. To do this, try this exercise: 1. Write down as many detailed reasons why you are DISSATISFIED with remaining in your job until you retire. E.g., it won't let you achieve the lifestyle you desire; you are sick of commuting an hour each day; etc. 2. Write down in as much detail as possible your VISION of what your life will be like once you have your own business and you are fully engaged in it. Enjoy this step. 3. Create a list of the action steps you need to actually complete to get things rolling. What do you need to do first? Second? Third? Create a step by step plan. These three steps all work together to overcome any resistance you may feel towards making a major change in your career. If after these exercises, you are still too afraid, look at what you have written down. Chances are one of the three forces for change (dissatisfaction, vision, or first steps) are not yet strong enough to overcome your fear. Perhaps, once you really thought about it, things aren't really that bad in your current career, etc.... Hope this helps.


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