"All that we are is made up of our thoughts; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speak or act with a pure thought, happiness will follow him, like a shadow that never leaves him." -- Dhammapada
When starting a business, it is essential that you have a plan carefully thought out, researched, written, studied, analyzed, and fine-tuned before execution, to ensure that you get your business off to a good start and minimize mistakes along the way. As the saying goes: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
It is to your own advantage that you write the plan yourself no matter how "crude" it may appear to a seasoned business writer. Ask help from professionals but don't let someone else write the plan for you. You are not writing for the Wall Street Journal, you are writing your formula for success. Basically, your success formula starts with your passion for your "baby," which a business writer may not share with you. A good business plan is not measured by how well it is written but how feasible it is, to achieve success.
The importance of a plan when going into business, be it "just" a home-based business, cannot be emphasized enough. And don't let your business plan just sit on the bookshelf gathering dust. Make it your handy reference material, dog-ears on its pages for quick access. Make necessary revisions to stay in step with changing technology and trends as you go along.
But there is something even more important than the business plan that you need to ponder early on -- and always keep in mind -- if you are really dead serious in your pursuit of success, whether with your planned business or the much bigger business of living your LIFE that was meant for you to enjoy when you were brought forth into this green orb called earth. You see, the Majestic Creator, who filled the earth with abundance did not intend that man should live in misery in the midst of plenty.
First, you have to come to terms with the fact that there is no such thing in Nature that is called blind chance, accident or luck. Everything-yes, everything (tangible or intangible, physical or spiritual)-is governed by definite and active Universal Laws set in motion by the Great Law Giver. You may not agree but what you think -- or believe --doesn't nullify the fact that such laws do exist. Take, for example, the Law of Gravity. If there were no such law, do you think there would exist anything on earth, say, at the equator where it rotates on its axis 1,038 miles per hour? What would happen if the earth suddenly stopped spinning?
It is not the purpose of this article to educate you on all the Universal Laws - there's just too many of them to even mention here (space would not allow even if I wanted to), but one particular Law that I would like to impart to you knowledge and understanding of is the Law of Cause and Effect, and another law correlated with it, the Law of Financial Success.
The Law is precise: For every Effect there is a Cause, and for every Cause, an Effect.
Here's how one insightful author put it:
"Under the same conditions, a given Cause will always produce the same effect. This is what we call "Law." If we could make a close analysis of our lives, we would find that in their detail and entirety, they are the result or product of Law. This must be self-evident to every thinking person for the reason that without a "Cause," an "Effect" is impossible, and it will also be apparent that if we would control the effect, we must first put the right Cause into action.
"We are so accustomed to accepting thoughts, methods and conditions which have been handed down from our ancestors, or which are the product of social or economic evolution as the only right thing, and binding upon us, and of attributing the various things that come to us as "Chance" or "Happenstance," that we cannot at first realize the immensity of the fact that in our whole Life-expression, we are governed and controlled absolutely by Law! It staggers us at first, and while we can discern the workings of Laws in certain spheres, we are slow to grasp the transcendent fact that in all that concerns us, in our Success or Failure, Plenty or Poverty, Happiness or Unhappiness, and in Health or Disease, all, ALL is governed and determined by Law!"
The Law springs to action the very moment you let a thought enter your mind (Cause), dwell on it and then act it out. As you figure things out in your mind, and so they form and materialize (Effect) accordingly.
The mind possesses an innate power that when unleashed, can alter landscapes and reshape civilizations. The Great Creator Himself recognizes the power of the mind to Cause and bring about a corresponding Effect. When He thwarted the plan of mankind to build the Tower of Babel to a dizzying height, He said: "... they have begun to do this, then NOTHING they plan to do will be impossible for them."
Applying the Law
Pause for a moment and think why you are planning to put up your own business. What is your purpose, your motive, your goal? What is your dream ... your vision?
Ah, yes ... VISION. How many of the 6 billion people in the world today have vision?
In the Book of Proverbs, we read: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Have you noticed how this little book of wisdom correlated vision with the law?
If your only motive to go into business is to make money-lots of it, better think again. Money is not the "be all, end all" of life. Space would not allow a lengthier discussion of money in this blog for there is so much to talk about it. But the short story of King Midas (you must be familiar with it) which I have included here would put everything in perspective:
King Midas
King Midas was a very kind man who ruled his kingdom fairly, but he was not one to think very deeply about what he said. One day, while walking in his garden, he saw an elderly satyr asleep in the flowers. Taking pity on the old fellow, King Midas let him go without punishment. When the god Dionysus heard about it, he rewarded King Midas by granting him one wish. The king thought for only a second and then said I wish for everything I touch to turn to gold." And so it was.
The beautiful flowers in his garden turned toward the sun for light, but when Midas approached and touched them, they stood rigid and gold. The king grew hungry and thin, for each time he tried to eat, he found that his meal had turned to gold. His lovely daughter, at his loving touch, turned hard and fast to gold. His water, his bed, his clothes, his friends, and eventually the whole palace was gold.
King Midas saw that soon his whole kingdom would turn to gold unless he did something right away. He asked Dionysus to turn everything back to the way it had been and take back his golden touch. Because the king was ashamed and very sad, Dionysus took pity on him and granted his request. Instantly, King Midas was poorer than he had been, but richer, he felt, in the things that really count.
The Law of Financial Success
Back to your planned business. The short story of King Midas illustrates how the mind works and how the Law of Cause and Effect functions in relation to a thought.
No one can dispute the fact that money is the primary purpose of a business for why should one go into business if he does not intend for his business to make money?
What I am trying to point out here, though, is how money should be approached since there are two different ways that it can be viewed, viz.:
o Money as an end, and
o Money as a means to an end
Following is how one author describes the two approaches:
"In this approach (money as an end), the idea is that money is what should be pursued. It's the end objective of effort. In this approach, money can be accumulated and it can be immobilized. And immobilization implies uneven distribution, which means that the money will accumulate heavier for some (the rich) and will be scarce and sparse for others (the poor) as a consequence. This is the case, because in this approach there is a limited supply of money. Therefore, the end objective should be to accumulate as much as possible, as this will supposedly provide for 'security' and 'financial independence.'
"In ... (approaching money as a means), the idea is that money is the means towards the end objective of experiencing something, simply for the feelings of excitement and happiness that come with the experience. Money itself is not the end objective, but rather are the things that money can buy. Money is merely the means of exchange in buying or selling goods and/or services that can bring the experience of desire. In this approach, money does not accumulate but circulate."
What is your personal view of money? Do you look at it as "an end" or the "means to an end"? Now, you relate that view to your planned business. You have to have everything clear at the very outset. That way, your decisions will not be based on what is expedient but what is right.
Would you go into business so you can have tons of money to your name? Do you "feel" the need to accumulate money and have this kept in the bank for "security" and "financial independence"?
There was this story of a retired old man during the Great Depression who, one morning as he scanned the day's paper, found out a little too late that all of the money he kept in the bank -- his lifetime savings -- was worth ONLY one round-trip ticket around Berlin. You know what he did? He withdrew all his money, bought a ticket, took a trip around Berlin, went home, locked the door behind him and shot himself to death.
Do not aim for the money as though it is all that matters in the world. Desire instead for the things that money can buy that will make you enjoy life. Somebody said some place, "money is a bad master and a good servant." Indeed. As the Great Master said: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
You have a good business idea? Go for it but don't slave yourself for the money. As one author put it: "No man ever became very wealthy working with his hands alone; this applies to the brain worker also. The only way to obtain much money is to make money work for you."
There you have it. Let money work for you. Invest your money wisely and make it grow. Money is meant to be circulated not hoarded. I don't mean that you shouldn't save. You should, to provide for the "rainy days." What I am trying to say is: don't be stingy and greedy at the same time.
Learn from Nature because it is never selfish. It adequately provides for everything that man needs, not just for him to survive but to enjoy life. Each morning you wake up to a fresh supply of everything you need to stay alive: air, water, sunlight and the plants and animals that provide food, clothing and shelter.
Ever noticed how the grass you cut the day before sprouted out new blades to welcome the beautiful morning sun? Those pesky little weeds were pained by your cutting but that didn't stop them from doing as Natured intended it. They didn't shrink back, they grew out new leaves.
Those flowers you picked from your garden, did it bother you that they wilted in the evening? No, because you knew that you'd have a fresh replacement - lots of it - on the morrow. When you pruned your fruit trees, did it worry you that they might not bear fruits again? No, because you knew that by cutting the branches, those trees would grow new ones and bear even much more fruit.
So that's how you should deal with your money. Practice economy but don't hoard. And as your chest fills to the brim, do something even more worthwhile doing-and achieving-like making a difference in a world gone mad, say.
The world's richest man, Bill Gates, is no longer involved in the day-to-day operation of Microsoft, the company that he really fought tooth-and-nail to build into the world's biggest software empire. He is enjoying his life actively leading the fight against malaria with his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He continues to make a difference in the lives of people.
He had his VISION clearly etched in his mind early on and he pursued that vision with dogged tenacity, against all odds. He had Faith in his ability. He had Purpose: "Windows® in every desktop." He contributed greatly to productivity, continual increase and never-ending advancement of technology. He was efficient in his actions. And he became rich - "filthy rich" as people call it - in the process.
For him to become the very rich man that he is today, do you think he followed Certain Laws and Principles? You bet he did. Money did not just fall on his lap from heaven. Nor did it come with him just sitting all day and wishing that money rain down from the skies or flow into his bank account from the vaults of giant Swiss banks.
Money came to him because he was in complete harmony with the Universal Laws that govern financial success, viz.:
o The Law of Cause and Effect (Opening the Way with a Workable Plan).
o The Law of Action and Reaction (The more you give, the more you receive)
o The Law of Gratitude (Be grateful even for the little things that come your way).
o The Law of Attraction ("As A Man Thinketh In His Heart, So Is He").
And the principles involved:
o Vision. (Definiteness and fixedness of Purpose)
o Faith (Confidence and belief in one's Ability)
o Efficient Action ("Be The Best of Whatever You Are")
o Will and Determination ("Never Surrender").
o Expectancy and Persistency (Only dead fish float downriver)
o Right Mental Attitude (Build your ideals and live in them mentally)
Together, the above laws and principles constitute the Law of Financial Success which governs the accumulation of wealth. To become rich, you have to do things the "Certain Way," not unlike following mathematical formulas when solving math problems. To illustrate: there's just no way that you can come up with the answer "1" when your formula is "1 + 1."
Don't be fooled when some glib-tongued "guru" tells you that to become rich, you only need to follow the Law of Attraction like it's shown in the movie, "The Secret." Said law is just one of the factors that determine success. No amount of desiring, wishing, imagining, visualizing for your planned business will enable you to get what you want if you just roll in bed all day or dream your life away in 'Never Never Land' like Peter Pan.
"Yes, You Can"
You have come this far in your reading of this article and I take it to mean that its contents interested, inspired, and motivated you enough to "follow your dream" and "GO FOR THE GOLD."
I am not foolishly telling you that this writeup is all you need to succeed in your planned home-based business. In fact, I encourage you to devour every reading material on entrepreneurship that you can lay your hands on and adequately equip yourself with the tools needed to realize your dream. I only hope that I am able to impart to you right knowledge and good understanding of the rudiments of home-business and the Universal Laws and Principles that "govern and determine the result of our every act-of the success or failure of our every effort!"
If, at this point, the whole picture of your planned business is already clear in your mind, then don't hesitate a second. ACT NOW. "Time waits for no man."
Sweep away from your consciousness all thoughts that may be causing you to doubt your ability and capability to follow through your plan till you see yourself vacationing in the Bahamas not the least worried about your business because it continues to pile up cash for you, 24/7, on autopilot.
For as long as you are in harmony with the Law of Financial Success as discussed in this article and not remiss in what is expected of you, especially in the infancy of your "baby," then things should go well with you and your home-based business. "Just do it."
"YES, YOU CAN." Powerful words that U.S. President Barack Obama used to inspire and move throngs to elect him to the most powerful office in the world. You can say the same to yourself, "YES, I CAN."
In closing, I leave you the following verse quoted from Napoleon Hill's book,Think and Grow Rich.
"If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.
"If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will-
It's all in the state of mind.
"If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
"Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!"
© George Estrella, 2009
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