Business Success - It Starts With A Vision

What's THE most important criteria to achieving your goal or objective? Planning is important - but THE most important factor in success is your belief in that success.
From Napoleon Hill to Normal Vincent Peale, the tangible effects your intangible mindset has on your success is absolute.
To quote William James, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.
" All success starts with a vision of that success.
You live it first in your mind.
"Ahh-ha!" you say.
There you have it; the secret to success.
It's simple, right? Yes.
So why aren't we all deliriously happy, successful, thin and rich? ...
because it's not easy.
Simple, yes.
Easy, no.
Why? Because our beliefs and views are based on years and years of life experience, first hand or otherwise.
So work we must.
...
and we must.
To have a vision means to literally see yourself, in your mind's eye, and feel the joy, the positive emotion of your success.

Imagine:You hear the applause as you cross the marathon finish line; you see the 7-digit savings account balance; you see your neighbors admiring your new Lexus as you drive down the street, Bose blaring, you feel the wind and sun on your face as you motor along the coast of Maine in your new 52 foot Grand Banks.
Your vision is your burning desire and you live your success first, in your mind.

Your vision is REAL.
It is your undeniable belief that your vision WILL BE.
Believing that you may, that you can or that you might be able to achieve your vision doesn't cut it.
There isn't a doubt that your vision is possible and that you will make it a reality.
Finally you have to apply your belief.
What does that mean? When you think of the work apply - you think of doing something, right? Applying your belief means doing something about it; putting your belief into action.
A favorite quotes is: "Vision without action is merely a dream.
Action without vision just passes the time.
Vision with action can change the world.
" --Joel A.
Barker We business people, we tend to dismiss the discussion of vision and belief, or faith, as being "out there" or "too new age" to be a business application, but the importance of vision in a strong leader and in a successful company is undeniable.
Future- focused planning, visionary leadership - these may seem like a new idea, but if you pay attention to business books, journals and publications you know that the topic of vision, visionary leadership, future-focused management, etc.
has been around for years and is appearing more and more regularly today.
Written in 1994, the book Built to Last - Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins, Jerry I.
Porras, spent over 6 years on the Business Week best seller.
Small businesses tend to lag larger businesses in adopting new ideas.
Don't continue to play catch up.
Business is business, large or small.
Before even more time passes, I challenge you to develop a vision of yourself and your business succeeding, achieving the results you need to take your business to the next level.
Develop and protect this vision as you would any other valuable business asset.
Visit this vision regularly throughout the year.
Then, with your vision in the forefront, you can't help but take the actions that will move you closer to making it real.
I think you'll be surprised by the difference such a seemingly "out there" practice can make.
For added motivation, here are some of my favorite pearls of wisdom on the subject.
..
and remember, BE BOLD.
It all starts with a vision.

• Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision.
  -Ayn Rand
• Capital isn't scarce; vision is.
  -Sam Walton
• If you don't have a vision, nothing happens.
  --Christopher Reeve
• Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding.
  Hold this picture tenaciously.
  Never permit it to fade.
  Your mind will seek to develop the picture.
  -Norman Vincent Peale
• The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision.
  You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.
  - Theodore M.
  Hesburgh
• I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it is going.
  -Wayne Gretsky
• Where there is no vision, there is no hope.
  -George Washington Carver

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