Feeling Selfish? It's A Fast Track To A Dream Business And Dream Life

Building a small business is never easy. So just what drives someone to do it? To sacrifice and sweat to get it right? Of course, wanting to provide service or value to others - vendors, customers, employees and, of course, family. But don't kid yourself: the best way to guarantee you'll always work to get all the pieces right is to do it for your own personal benefit. It may sound selfish so let me show you just why putting #1 first will help everyone win.

Let's use pie, as a tasty example. Your business is a wedge on the pie; your life is the whole juicy thing. Enjoying success in business, or sports, spirituality, good health, relationships or the arts is a choice you make to deliver on the promise of your good life, however you define it. Staying on track to fulfill this commitment, for your own benefit and others you love and support will drive you to craft the best enterprise you can. Having a passion for your life and contributing to the lives of those you love is what will drive you to build a business that delivers real value, over and over again, for customers, employees, vendors and partners; because by doing good for them you're delivering on a promise to yourself: to provide for your life and for those you love or to whom you're otherwise committed.

How? Like this: when you recognize your success is in the hands of customers who continue to buy or recommend you, you'll always deliver benefit-filled products, customer-centric policies. When you acknowledge your business reputation rests with employees who produce, deliver and manage customers' experiences, you'll work to provide training, rewards and a company environment that attracts and retains the best team. When you strike deals with suppliers whose goods and service are key to satisfying your own customers, you'll guard against abusing the relationship you have with them. When you experience the power of a well-placed referral from a colleague, you'll treasure your associates and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with them.All these efforts will support your growing business which supports your ability to enjoy your life.

And you know what the marvelous punch line is? Just this: some day, when you've decided to cash in and step into your next adventure, you'll have a first class business to sell and you'll have nurtured an enviable life your buyer will envision comes with the deal as well.Conversely, without devotion to building a business with care and respect for all who contribute towards your desired rewards, you'll slowly fail - poor product development, ill-trained employees with no commitment, lack of consistency for your customers' experience, relationships with few who want to do business with you or who want to promote your business. And you will eventually come to resent the business that gives so little reward in exchange for the not-so-smart short cuts you've taken; and resentment won't contribute to your success or business growth.So, if you want to build a great business connect the dots directly to having a dream life. Which comes first? Which is chicken or egg? I don't know but you can't get one without the other and they're both pretty tasty…