So here’s the deal…After 16 years and six business, I’ve learned a thing or two about what it really takes to build a successful business. And I’ll tell ya, most of what my Mom told me—and most of what I believed going into the first four—turned out to be dead wrong.
In each of my early businesses, the busier I got the more of my life I gave up. Soon I was working ridiculous hours but I didn’t have a whole lot in my bank account to show for it. I was basically chained to my computer.
Since my vision of success was working 25-30 hours a week and having plenty of time to ski, mountain bike, kayak and travel, I wasn’t too happy about the whole “you gotta give up your life to start a business” concept. But I did it. And frankly, it didn’t get any better until I decided to hell with that! There had to be another way!!
Thank goodness I found it! That’s why I created my newest business, The Unchained Entrepreneur. I wanted a place to share what I’ve learned with entrepreneurs everywhere.
Below are ten of the key business beliefs I’ve developed that helped me unchain myself from my business. I hope they help you start creating the business—and life—you’ve always dreamed of!
1. Anyone who wants to have a successful, thriving business—and a fulfilling personal life—should be able to. Remember, it’s your business and your life. You have the power to make them be any way you want.
2. Marketing isn’t an optional expense. It’s a mandatory investment in the success of your business.
3. Sleep, get exercise, eat healthy, enjoy a hobby and take care of yourself. You always attract more success when you feel your best.
4. If it isn’t fun make it fun, don’t do it at all, or find someone else to do it for you!
5. Success is not defined by how many hours you work in your business, but by how many hours you’re able to spend NOT working in it!
6. It’s better to be yourself versus what you think others want you to be—even in business. These days the best branding is personable, authentic and unique.
7. Spend some time unplugged each week. Go out in the woods or a park or a lake somewhere where you can hear yourself think. Voice mail and off buttons exist for a reason.
8. While it’s always good to do research and analysis, at some point you just have to trust your gut, make a decision and take action.
9. It’s not what happens that matters, but how you deal with it. Changes that seem forced on you are almost always a good thing for your business in the long run (IE “The universe knows more than you do. Stop fighting it.”).
10. The very things that scare you the most when it comes to marketing and growing your business are probably the things you most need to be doing.
Want a whole big batch of even more detailed, practical tips and wisdom to help you get started building the business—and life—you’ve been dreaming of?
Grab a copy of my FREE “Success without Shackles Starter Kit” here: http://theunchainedentrepreneur.com/
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About the author:
Practical Marketing Expert and Business Lifestyle Architect Stacy Karacostas is on a mission to end Entrepreneurial Overwhelm and Marketing Madness! Discover how to grow your businesses with less effort-so you can help more people, make more money AND still have a life-by grabbing your copy of her FREE "Success without Shackles Starter Kit" at
http://www.theunchainedentrepreneur.com.