I am pretty lucky. I have a business where I get to work with great people every day. As part of what I do, I am able to help my clients build wealth, grow their business into an appreciable asset, and reduce some of the stresses caused by various leadership challenges. The greatest blessing is doing what I love. Each day I get to utilize my talents to help make other people’s lives richer. But isn’t that what we all want?
Some of us get stuck in jobs that don’t make us happy. They can feel lost, trapped, or unmotivated. Their ability to shine with their true gifts are doused by the fear that doing anything different would lead to financial ruin. After all, we are all told how bad the economy is out there. What if you could put that fear aside for a moment? If you could do anything you wanted in life, what would you do? What is currently getting in your way?
These were all questions I faced over seven years ago before launching this company. That time was scary. After all, being on your own takes away any safety net that you have. To me, what was more important was doing what I wanted to do. What I could be the best at. I wanted to enjoy getting up every day and dealing with new challenges. This business has given me that opportunity and I am glad to have taken the risk. If you are in a position that is not fulfilling, there are things you can do to avoid feeling trapped. Making the effort and choosing your path can be the most rewarding thing, but only if you take the steps necessary to be successful.
- Do a talent inventory – Know what you are the best at. Figure out what you enjoy doing.
- Make it profitable – Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean it will be profitable. Figure out how to make money doing what you love. There’s enough starving artists out there and you shouldn’t be one of them.
- Have your plan – Know how you are going to find customers and how you are going to grow your business. Failure to have a plan can leave you as an employee in your own company. Seek ways to build wealth so your efforts can be multiplied. This is the biggest challenge most small business owners face.
- Pursue life-long learning – Educate yourself. Seek knowledge. Grow your mental strengths. There is a lot of free information out there, but don’t be afraid to pay for the right knowledge.
- Surround yourself with successful people – There is no shortage of people who will shoot down your dreams. Find those who will lift you up and support you. Join entrepreneur groups, mastermind groups, leadership groups, or mentor programs. Find someone to help keep you on track and focused on your goals. Learn from them to avoid mistakes that could cause you hardship.
Taking these five steps can be very helpful in your career growth. These skills will be necessary whether or not you are planning on going into business for yourself. Do what you can to eliminate your fears and do what you love doing. You will be happier for it