The truth behind millionaires and the simple prescription to become one — become the CEO of your own business start-up.
Be Agile and Run: Many entrepreneurs should begin with preparing a business plan. The basic rule that you should follow is to be as brief and crisp as possible when explaining your idea and strategy.
Create a dynamic website. A means to track spending and profits. An office space. Time. Money. Sweat equity. None of these, however, means anything if you don’t know what kind of business you want to run. Starting a business sounds scary, but before you can even do that you have to get past the first step, which is often the hardest (yet doesn’t require a single penny): figuring out exactly what you will found. The good news is three simple questions can provide you some answers right away—or at least give you a launch pad.
The first (Question #1) is asking yourself, What comes easy to you but harder to others? Take a moment to think about all the things you do well—better than most others…
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Certainly you have at least one or two things that you do particularly well, and which getother people to notice (and perhaps compliment you). What natural abilities do you have that you may be able to make a living doing? We typically underestimate the power of what comes easy to us, and we are usually blind to those innate skills that could shepherd profit. It doesn’t have to be a profound skill; it can be based on an everyday activity like writing (poetic) e-mails, cooking (amazing) meals, or creating (beautiful) spatial layouts in your home’s rooms.
Now take money out of the equation entirely and ask yourself what you would do nonstop and never get paid for it (Question #2). Financial security aside, think about things you absolutely love to do regardless of the money.
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Then ask yourself how you can be of service and give back to others (Question #3). This is such a personal piece to the equation, and it’s far-reaching. Giving back can entail everything from volunteering, donating, teaching what you’re good at, and supporting local charities to providing a much-needed product or service that you know people want. Offering you time can also be a way to donate.
Keep in mind that you can be adding value to society just by filling a need or enriching it with your talents through a product for sale, advice, or the fact you make other people’s jobs and lives easier. As your business grows, you will likely need employees and/or temporary workers, so to that extent you are providing jobs and giving opportunities to others. At some point you can transform your giving into gifts that can stretch far across the globe.
Bill Gates may have created Microsoft to bring the power of computers to the world so people like you and me could benefit, but look at what he’s doing now with the success he has enjoyed as a result? He’s the founder of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, affecting the lives of billions. We never want to be selfish. Which is why another reason for this question is to get you thinking less selfishly. Just that one slight shift in your
