Always Think of the Future!
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a bigger series on supercharging the growth in your business. To start at the beginning click here – Nine Critical Strategies to Grow Your Business in 2020!
In my last article I blew up the stupid idea of a work life balance. I pointed out why it’s crazy (and impossible) to try to achieve balance. Plus, I talked about how entrepreneurs can have time to take a vacation… and exactly what they need to do to disconnect. (To read that article go here)
We started this entire series of articles about growing your business this year. We’ve loaded the entire sequence and packed them full of business ideas, tips, and tricks.
We’ve discussed topics like knowing your numbers, becoming a leader, and inspiring your employees. We’ve talked systems, documentation, and the key idea of being more profitable not only with your business, but also with your time.
This is the last topic.
And, it’s probably the most important.
This topic can make or break your business… and it’s a topic that many business people ignore.
Why?
Because it’s Difficult.
You actually need to use brain cells and sit down and think.
Now tell me, when was the last time you sat down and thought about your life and your business 5 years from now?
I mean honestly thought about it.
- What did you see in your mind’s eye?
- What did you focus on?
- What did you feel?
In business we’re pulled into the day to day nuances. But great leaders and successful business owners schedule time to think long term.
They block out the day to day noise and focus on the future.
Try it. It’s not easy.
That’s why many business owners don’t do it.
This is exactly the reason you MUST pause and think. You must sit down and think about the future.
That’s how the best business leaders plan, grow and reach levels of success many will only dream of.
But don’t just dream.
This isn’t about thinking about beach time for your next vacation…
This is about analyzing your life and projecting your day. It’s about where you are in life, what you are doing, and how you do it.
The best thinkers visualize the future in great detail.
They think about where they live, what they do, how their house is decorated… plus where they vacation… even who they vacation with. What do they do with their free time? They answer a million questions in detail.
But that’s not all.
If you’re going to succeed, you need to visualize your key milestones and accomplishments… and how you’re going to reach them.
Then, look at your business the same way.
Visualize it in detail. What are you selling? Who are your customers? Why do they buy from you?
What changes between today and five years from now?
Think about the threats that can hobble your business… and the tailwinds that can propel it forward.
Really analyze everything!
Then what?
Well, if you want to take these visualizations and turn them into something you need to follow…
The Number One Secret to Long Term Thinking.
Here’s the secret to long term thinking…
You need to write your thoughts down.
Every last one of them.
Document it.
This process will help you solidify your thoughts. Better still, it will help expose what actions you need to take to make these images become real!
As you make a regular practice of thinking about the future, you’ll start to see your visions and desires change over time.
As a business owner, looking into the future is like staring at thunderclouds… do they bring destruction and chaos, or do they bring refreshing rain showers?
This is the difference between being reactive and proactive.
And that’s the difference between long term success and failure in business.
Sitting down and thinking about the future is difficult. It’s not something many business owners do… but if you want to find ever greater success with your business, take some time out and really truly think about the future.
The impact will be AMAZING!
What’s next?
This is the end of a long journey.
We’ve jumped in and discussed dozens of ways to improve your business, make it more efficient, and grow it.
What’s next?
Actually put into motion some of these suggestions.
If you work on only 10% of what we’ve discussed, I’m positive you’ll see your business grow, and your profits explode. If you do 50% of what we discussed, you’ll remake your business.
It’s that simple.
Take ACTION and make some CHANGES!
Remember the whole reason I put this report together is to help you grow your business.
Now I’m going to leave you with one last shameless plug… if you’re looking for great business marketing advice… or you’re wondering how you can deploy text message marketing to grow your business… then sign up for my email or text marketing lists.
You can sign up for email here Brian@betwext.com
And to sign up via text message, text LEARN to 480-508-9444