Do what you love, and the money will come.
Most of us are familiar with some version of that saying. But do you believe it? You would be hard pressed to find an expert on business strategy who will advocate anything other than single-mindedly focusing on meeting customers’ needs as the foundation for business success. They are wrong when it comes to what’s best for success as a small enterprise.

Need proof?
Think about the reasons you want to start or stick with your business. Then consider what research confirms over and over about small businesses in the US:

• The vast majority are run solo or by two owners.
• Most people start a business because they want control, freedom and a flexible lifestyle.
• Most people who love what they do work in businesses they started, not in jobs defined by someone else.
• If they had the chance to start over, most owners would start the same or a similar business.

How do you build a business that is viable and makes you happy?
It may be easier than you think.

• Embrace your vision of success. Make your passion for what you do, the values you embrace, or your lifestyle goals the cornerstone for your business. Vision and purpose will make your path straighter and your decisions easier. When you make progress toward the life you want, you will be happier and so will your customers.
  
  
• Become better at running a business. A business model works when revenues exceed spending so that a profit is made. The model has to work in real life, not just on paper. So there must be enough cash flowing in to cover day-to-day expenses. This sounds simplistic, but many business owners have not established a viable framework for success.
  
  
• Adopt a new mindset about marketing. Marketing encompasses every activity that connects you to customers and keep them happily using and/or endorsing your business. Forget the hype. Learn and apply solid, tried-and-true principles to support your business vision.

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Unlike many other sources for marketing advice and training, we don’t promote success as just making more and more money. We show you how to use marketing as a means to achieve what you really want––a more balanced life, with less stress, more enjoyment and a sense of purpose.

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