Your Path to Business Success: The Blueprint

 At my core, I believe running a successful business is one of the most satisfying professional actions a person can take. Hobbies are great. They are fun pastimes, can help you meet other people, and craft solutions for problems at a small scale. The only problem with hobbies is that they tend not to pay the bills, which is why we all need a job.  Having a job is work. You can earn an income, be part of an organization, and acquire new skills. However, the problem with employment is that jobs frequently require you to do work that does not align with your strengths. You do not have much power or control over how they operate, who they serve, or the organization's values, norms, or practices. This misalignment can grow into frustration, annoyance, and burnout. The solution for some is self-employment.

Building a business from scratch is the one time when you have total power within an organization. You get to decide who you will serve, how you will serve them, and who you will work with. Yes, others get a vote. You will not be successful if you develop a solution no one needs, provide poor service, or treat those you work with poorly, but all those decisions are within your control. The remainder of this article provides a blueprint for small business owners to design a business that meets financial, lifestyle, and personal fulfillment goals.

The Blueprint for Reducing Small Business Risk

Nine out of 10 small business owners fail the first time they launch a business. The top three reasons businesses fail are lack of capital, knowledge, and poor business model design. The incredible thing about this statistic is that when they launch a second business, 90% of them are successful. They are successful because they learn from their mistakes, gain wisdom, and do a better job the second time. Wisdom is the key to business success.

There is only one way to gain wisdom: to seek knowledge. Knowledge can be gained through personal experience or from the experience of others. You do not have to be bitten by a snake to know it is dangerous. You were taught snakes are dangerous as a child, and you use that knowledge to make wise decisions when encountering snakes. The same is true within business. Knowing the risks and dangers of running a small business can provide a blueprint for making wiser business decisions.

Learning from Others

Over the last 20 years, I have acquired business knowledge. Some of it has come from books I read while studying business and economics at Randolph-Macon College. More was learned from professors as I acquired my MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus. But most of my wisdom has come from reading over 60 business books and 1000 business articles, completing over 500 hours of workshops, and applying that knowledge towards a +20-year business career.  

I have been everything from a sales associate, store manager, marketer, vice president, and now a small business owner, executive coach, and business consultant. I have the metaphorical scars from every significant mistake I have made over my career, and they are the source of the wisdom I share in my writings, coaching, and consulting. One of the benefits of being an executive coach and small business consultant who works across industries is that I get to see how universal most business challenges are. I can take what I learn from one business or industry and apply it to another.

Build your Learning Plan

Over the last 15 weeks, I have provided visibility to some of the knowledge I have gained throughout my professional career. As I have written each word, I have become more aware of the complexity and simplicity of running a business.  If you are a small business owner seeking more knowledge and wisdom for running your business, review the 15 topics below. Each covers a different lesson that can help you run your business better.

Read the article that answers a current problem you are looking to solve and know that each topic is interconnected. Each business management skill or practice I share is maximized when combined with other skills. After reading the articles, if you need additional help applying what you learned, reach out. My mission as a coach is to help you acquire and apply the knowledge you need to be successful.

Crafting and Communicating Your Vision

Getting Your Vision On Paper

Communicating Your Vision

Determining if Your Vision is Viable

Three Fundamentals of Business: Service, Scale, Strategy

Generating Revenue

Converting Vision to Strategy

Setting Goals

Refining Your Product and Service Offerings

Finding Your Niche

Building a High-Performance Team

Building Trust with Your Team

Getting Your Team to Work Together

Attracting and Developing Talent

Reducing Team Conflict

Must have Business Tools

Balanced Scorecard

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

 If you have read this far, thank you for taking the time to review this blog. Running a small business is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. If you would benefit from having additional support and guidance running your small business, please feel free to email Executive Coach Dorian Cunion at dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com or book a session to learn more about our services.

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Are You Feeling Disconnected? An Executive Coach Can Help You Get Back on Track

It's easy to feel like you're just running on a treadmill, moving from one task to the next without a clear sense of purpose. You might be a highly ambitious professional, a community leader, or even a successful business owner, but still feel like you've hit a wall. You're no longer as fulfilled as you once were, and the impact you want to make feels just out of reach.

The Cost of Disconnection

Research shows that chronic feelings of disconnection can negatively impact both physical and mental well-being, leading to increased stress and burnout among professionals. Feeling disconnected isn't just a personal feeling; it's a significant issue in the modern workplace.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many successful professionals reach a point where they need to change their mindset to evolve as a leader and achieve the next level of success. This is where an executive coach comes in.

Overcoming the "Shoulds" and Getting Unstuck

We often get caught up in the "shoulds".What we believe society, our company culture, or our boss expects of us. Focusing on should can cause us to lose sight of our authentic self and our core values. We make decisions based on what we think is expected, not on what truly aligns with who we are.

An executive coach helps you break free from these patterns. Through a process of thoughtful, open-ended questions, a coach helps you:

• Gain Clarity: Understand the habits and beliefs that may be holding you back.

• Tap into Your Values: Reconnect with your core values and learn to lead from a place of authenticity.

• Build Self-Awareness: Identify the "shoulds" and other external pressures that are getting in your way.

By creating this space for self-reflection, a coach empowers you to discover that the answers you need are already within you. They don't give you a blueprint; they help you build your own.

The Benefits of a Coach: Finding Purpose from Being More Aware

Working with an executive coach can unlock several powerful benefits, transforming not only your career but your life. A coach helps you shift your mindset from a reactive approach to a proactive one. Instead of just reacting to the pressures of the moment, you learn to be more intentional. During a recent Coaching Gold podcast, executive coach Marisa Thomsas shared that coaching can help you: 

• Practicing Mindfulness: Taking time away from your busy schedule to disconnect and create space for yourself. Your cup should only ever be three-quarters full. This leaves space for the unexpected, provides an opportunity for rest, and allows you to dedicate time to things that bring joy and renew you.

• Checking Your Ego: Great leaders don't need to be the ones with all the answers. A coach helps you recognize when ego is driving your decisions, so you can instead focus on creating an environment where all voices are heard and valued. Working on being vulnerable leads to better, more resilient outcomes for your whole team.

Ultimately, an executive coach helps you live your best life, however you define it. They help you find your values, purpose, and goals, so that you can chart your path to success. This process transforms your thinking, allowing you to evolve as a person and leader, and to become the leader you desire to be.

Ready to Get Back on Your Path?

If you're ready to stop feeling stuck and start creating positive change, we're here to help.

• Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your unique goals and how we can help you get back on a path that feels right for you.

• Visit our website to learn more about our services.

• Or visit DoorS Effect to learn more about Marisa Thomas and her coaching services

#executivecoach #businessconsultant #personaldevelopment #careerdevelopment #businesssuccess

From Checklist to Clarity: How Coaching Can Transform Your Work and Life

Do you feel like your life is a never-ending to-do list? Are you a high-achiever who's constantly grinding, yet still feel like you're falling behind? If so, you're not alone. On a recent episode of the Coaching Gold podcast, guest Brittany Brown, a Power6 Leader coach, shared her journey and insights on moving from a life of checklists to one of true clarity. This isn't about working harder; it's about working with intention and empowering yourself to thrive.

Redefining Productivity Beyond the Checklist

Many of us are stuck in a cycle where we overperform in environments that reward burnout. We chase promotions and accolades, only to find ourselves exhausted with no time for what truly matters. Brittany's unique program, Recharge and Thrive, offers a new blueprint for success. The goal is not just to rearrange your to-do list, but to reclaim the urgency that dictates your life. Coaching, in this context, becomes a powerful tool for discovering that you already have the solutions to your problems. You just need to strip away some of the beliefs and thoughts that are leading to your stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

The Power of "Quiet Transformations"

The most significant changes in life aren't always loud or dramatic. As Brittany points out, they're often "quiet transformations." She shares compelling examples of these shifts, from leaders learning to trust their teams and delegate, to professionals scheduling a 15-minute mental health break and realizing the world doesn't fall apart.

These small, intentional actions build confidence and create habits that help to renew our energy so we can accomplish big goals. Like Brittany's client, who was afraid to step away from her computer for fear that she might miss something urgent, the stories we tell ourselves can be the root of our burnout. Challenging your current assumptions can be the first step into redefining a better career for yourself.

Your Path to Clarity: What You Can Do Now

Gaining clarity starts with a few intentional steps. The first is to get honest with yourself about your current habits and how they make you feel. Then, consider taking action with one or more of the following:

• Set and Protect Your Goals: Treat your personal and professional goals like an unmovable meeting with a CEO. Schedule dedicated time on your calendar to work on them and be vocal about the support you need from your team or family to make it happen. This simple act of protection reinforces their importance.

• Connect with Your Body: When you look at your to-do list, pay attention to how your body reacts. Do you feel a sense of dread or excitement? Tuning into these physical cues can reveal what truly energizes you versus what drains you.

• Be Open to Experimentation: You don't have to have all the answers. The path to clarity is often about being open to exploring new ideas and trying different things. As Brittany notes, "the openness to explore different things" is the first thing clients get right. This willingness to experiment gives you the feedback you need to move forward.

These aren't just tips; they are the building blocks of a career led with intention, not just urgency.

Want to hear more of Brittany's insights and be inspired by the full conversation? You can find the full episode of the Coaching Gold podcast on Spotify and YouTube. You can also connect with Brittany on LinkedIn by searching "Brittany J Brown" and explore her services at boldambassador.com.

If you're ready to move from your checklist to a life of clarity, it's time to start the conversation.

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