10 Key Motivators: #5 Pursuit of a Vision
What is your vision? Do you have a very clear idea of how you are going to build your financial independence? What is the source of your vision? Is it an overwhelming personal desire to pursue a particular course of action, no matter what? Chances are you will fail. Many businesses are started on the basis of turning a hobby or personal interest into a business. There is a fundamental business maxim against which you should weigh your vision: “find a need and fill it”. You see, other people – people who may, or may not, become your customers – may not share your passion. You may have a lifelong interest in collecting tin soldiers but, unless there are enough people who share your interest sufficiently to pay you enough money to earn your living, you don’t have a viable business idea.
Find a New Need and Fill It
But, “find a need and fill it” is only a very basic benchmark. For example, everybody has to eat every day. A lot of people like to eat hamburgers. So if you open a hamburger restaurant you will make money right? Maybe. Maybe not. Selling hamburgers is a highly competitive business. Can you outsell your competition? Can you, at least, carve enough market share to survive? It might be better to refine our maxim: “find a need that no-one else has found, and fill it.” You will at least make money until your competition catches up with you.
Baddies Wear Black Hats
If you channel your passion and redirect your vision to fill an exclusive need, your vision of succeeding in your own business may still bear fruit. Start a business that your potential customers have a need for and go home to relax with your tin soldiers in your spare time (if the business allows you any).
Tough words? Get used to it. Business is a minefield. There is no fair play. The law of the jungle applies. There are people waiting to ambush you at every turn. This is no place for dreamers. So you have a vision? Be prepared for people who ought to be your friends to walk all over your vision.
But always keep in mind there is an equally large number of people willing to help you. Wouldn’t it be nice if everybody wore a hat? Black hats for the bad guys and white hats for the good guys. Nah!
