My Learning
I will remain coachable
The annals of history are filled with the tragic downfalls of leaders who got "too big for their britches," refused to consider the advice and expertise of others, and ran their organizations and empires into the ground. Entrepreneurs, by nature, are go-against-the-grain types. It's easy for them to assume they know best and disregard good advice from those who've been there. Don't fall into this trap. Not only should you carefully consider advice, you should actively seek it out.
The greatest athletes in the world have coaches, and the president of the United States has advisors. Why would you or I be any different? Other people have done what you want to do and know things you probably haven't even considered. If you seek those individuals out and actively learn from them, you'll minimize mistakes while growing your business as effectively as possible.
Keep in mind, though, that a true mentor won't just tell you what you want to hear - he or she will tell you what you need to hear. Sometimes it'll be uncomfortable, and you'll be tempted to disregard the advice. Don't. Leave your pride at the door and always remain open to learning new ways to approach business problems.
I will invest in a financial education program to master the skills of being an entrepreneur
For decades, American schools have taught (and are still teaching) students that they'll need to give the best years of their lives to employers so that they can retire on 40 percent of their working salary. (That's assuming they can get a good job at all in today's economy, of course.) It stands to reason that if you want more out of life, you'll need to seek some non-traditional education that will help you cultivate the skills that will enable you to generate multiple streams of income.
What those skills are specifically, of course, depends on the field you want to play on. Most likely they'll have to do with acquiring credit, using debt wisely, seeking (and persuading) investors, and marketing your products or services to buyers. You should not be afraid to pay for the expertise you need!
Building wealth takes work, dedication, commitment, and an increased level of knowledge. Unless you win the lottery, there is no such thing as getting rich quickly, without any effort, and without spending any money. This doesn't mean getting your MBA. It does mean investing in a real-world education from others who have succeeded in doing what you want to do.
I will become a master at creating systems and processes
This is all about building a business that runs - and can continue to run - effectively and efficiently. Why? Because you don't want to have to spend your oh-so-valuable time reinventing the wheel and micromanaging others.
Becoming a master at creating duplicable systems and processes means that you'll need to understand the steps that lead to success, clearly define them, write them down, and explain them to your team. But once you've done all this work up-front, you'll no longer have to run your day-to-day operations. You'll be free!
I will maintain a credit score of 760 or higher
Your credit score is the gate standing between you and the success you dream of. That's because lenders use credit score ratings to control the amount of money in the marketplace. If they want to increase the flow, they lower qualifying scores. And if they want to decrease the flow, they raise those scores. As an entrepreneur, it's crucial for you to be able to borrow money whenever you need it - regardless of what the market is doing.
In 2011, the scoring for "A" credit was raised to 730; therefore, you should choose to have A+ credit with a score of 760 or higher. Not only will this score allow you to borrow money any time, it also means that you'll qualify for lower interest rates. Overall, make it a priority to become a master at understanding, evaluating, and controlling your credit score and credit availability so that you'll never find the gate to the resources you need closed and locked."
|
In My Life
