The first step in growing your business is to know what you want. Sounds easy? Not really. Most people begin their business from an idea around a product or service. Excitement about your idea ignites energy and you are sure other people will want it and will pay for it.

Many years ago this happened to me. My husband was playing with one of his graphic’s programs on the computer and began to create really cool designs. I had this idea of publishing a coloring book of mandala designs. We were both excited and were sure they would sell like hotcakes. That was only an “idea” but knowing much less about business than I do now, I thought it was a sure thing. We focused on making the books and finding a printer. We had no concrete picture of a business, a map or a plan and we didn’t realize it until much later after we had the books printed. They were wonderful and as it turned out, people did like them, but it was not a real business. It was almost impossible to make a profit. It was just a small hobby project.

Maybe if we had had help we could have learned how to develop it into a business with additional income streams and duplicatable systems. I can see that now in hindsight.

A real business begins with a clear and concrete vision for how it will be sustainable. From that vision you can make a map of your business so you can see how to get there. From the map you can develop a business plan. I learned the hard way but I am doing it right now. Read more.

How has it been for you? Do you have a map of your completed business?

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