Going into business for yourself is a big move. There are numerous reasons to do so. Some people want freedom, some want to make a lot of money, some think – know – that they can do it better than the last mob they worked for. Whatever the reason, going into business for yourself is one of the biggest decisions you can ever make. It is also one of the best decisions that you can ever make.

Finally, you will be in control of your own destiny, you get to make the decisions, you get to navigate the ship and steer it and feed the crew and fix the leaks. Sounds daunting? It is. But it’s also rewarding in ways you can only understand once you’ve taken the jump and started your own thing. And you won’t be working for a pain in the neck boss but you just may be working for a crazy boss. Let’s face it, you have to be slightly mad to start your own business. But where would we be without the likes of Branson, Gates, Jobs and others?

Want to be like Branson?

Here’s a great way to start out on the right foot: ask yourself ‘why?’…

• Why am I starting this business?
• Why will this business succeed?
• Why am I not content doing what I am doing now?

Write your answers down. Then review them. Think hard about what you’ve discovered.

Next, ask ‘what?’…

• What do I want to achieve?
• What do I want to get out of running this business?
• What is it about me that will see me be successful?

And here’s the big one:

• What is my definite purpose?

In his amazing book “Think and grow rich”, Napoleon Hill determined that answering this one question is the key to becoming successful in business and in life. He is not wrong. Without knowing why you are doing what you are doing how can you possibly succeed? It’s like trying to get from A to B in a car you’ve never driven, without a map, in the dark.

Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest men of all time and a believer in a definite purpose

It may sound simple to define your definite purpose. In my experience it isn’t. Even if you end up with a definite purpose that seems quite obvious, the process of actually thinking about it is invaluable.

My definite purpose is: to create wealth for the benefit of my family and the fulfillment of a happy and rewarding life.

It took quite a bit of thinking to reach this definite purpose. Now that I have it, it guides everything I do. I have it printed and laminated and stuck on the wall near my bed. I read it every morning and every night. In addition to my definite purpose I have also written a number of goals that are on the wall too, these have a lot more detail (this is a subject of a future post).

Once, you have taken the necessary time to consider why and what, you have to consider how. All the dreams, goals, desires and thoughts are nothing without action, without execution, but before you can do anything you need a plan and this is your how.

Your plan (or plans) don’t have to be part of professional documents, they don’t have to be written eloquently but they do have to be real and they have to be yours. You must believe in your plans and your ability to execute your plans in order for you to reach your goals. The plans I am talking about are not those inside your business, not the marketing plans or the sales strategies or the business plans you will write and review numerous times. I mean the plans that underlie everything. The plans that determine how you will run each business, what you will do with the money you make, where you will live, what you will buy, who you will support. Once you truly know what you want in life you can set out to achieve it.

Be definite.

Be daring.

Asking why, what and how and taking the time to think about your own answers to these questions will lead you toward success.

Here are a few resources:

• “Think and grow rich” by Napoleon Hill – the book!
• About Andrew Carnegie (WikiPedia) – a great bio about a great businessman
• Action Coach – Think Believe Dream Dare – a short article to remind you that you can do it
• Daily affirmation exercises – this blog post takes the definite purpose to a very detailed level. It may work for you. My definite purpose is somewhat broad but it works for me, you might need/want something more tightly defined.
• “Think and grow rich” on YouTube