Many people start their own business to take control of their life—or to escape someone else’s control. Many do it for the freedom to live by their own rules. Ideally, having your own business is a great opportunity to live your dream. In my experience, though, the real challenge is defining that dream—your dream.
Napoleon Hill wrote the book Think and Grow Rich. One of his lessons was to create your vision of success in your mind—then take action to bring it to life. Every day, we’re bombarded by someone else’s version of success. Just pay attention to the next commercial you see. It takes dedication and discipline to tune out outside influences, give yourself permission to dream, and listen to your inner voice to discover your own joy.
In 2004, I started building my dream business. It began as an ideal job. In 2012, I officially started building a business. Every year, I refine it. The hardest part, I’ve found, is developing a clear vision of what success truly means to me.
If you’re just getting started, here are two exercises that helped me clarify my dream:
- If you had all the resources you needed, what would you do?
Assume you have the financial resources, the time, the education, the staff, and willing customers.- Take away all restrictions and limitations. This one can be surprisingly challenging—many of our limitations are unconscious. I’m too old to change. I wasn’t born into the right family. Sound familiar?
- What would you like to accomplish? Steve Jobs wanted a computer in every home. What do you want?
- How would you use your unique gift?
- Design your ideal day
- Close your eyes and start a movie in your mind. You’re waking up—where are you living? What’s the weather like? What time is it? What do you see? What do you hear? Can you smell coffee brewing or bacon frying? Are you working? Where do you work?
Walk through the next 24 hours. Write it down. Refine it from time to time.
As you create these new images, you begin making small decisions that move you closer to your vision. You become aware of opportunities that might have passed you by before. You conserve your time and energy by letting go of choices that don’t align with your path.
This process has worked beautifully for me. In 2014, I decided to take my African safari—a trip that had been on my bucket list for years. I did my research. I gathered travel magazines, read books, and explored my options. There were so many choices! I had to narrow it down and figure out what I truly wanted. What time of year? Which part of Africa? What did I want to see?
Eventually, I created a basic itinerary and even recruited my boys to go with me. Due to the cost, I had to scale back the trip—but once I booked it, the magic started to happen.
My son met a friend whose family lives in Kenya and owns several safari lodges. With his help, I ended up with the trip of a lifetime. It far exceeded what I imagined, yet it fulfilled everything I had dreamed of.
Every day, we make choices—and those choices shape our lives. Instead of just moving faster or staying busy, pause. Take the time to build your life with intention.
Mary Guldan-Lindstrom, CPA
