Recently for example, I was in Hawaii with a group of entrepreneurs who raised $300,000 dollars for the Make a Wish Foundation in Hawaii. I am also aware of a well known Cairns entrepreneur who has set up and sponsors a number of Foundations, some in support of young people.  Doing good works is part of being an entrepreneur, however they are not necessarily out there telling everyone that they are doing good things.  Often it is about the quiet achiever.

Becoming an entrepreneur is about much more than making money.

Recently, speaking at a Telstra breakfast, Andrew Griffiths, Small Business and Entrepreneurialism Expert, provided a number of ways that you can bullet proof your business and he also said that after every recession/downturn there is an equal or greater upturn and the smart entrepreneur is watching for the wave and gets onto it early. In May this year, Andrew said that the upturn is coming and to get onto that wave now.  Wow – are you ready for the wave?

Is entrepreneurship for you or will you just let that wave slide right by? There are a number of ways that you can be sure to be on that wave, starting with having passion and enthusiasm for something.  You know there are  great stories of success right now, even with the apparent world wide financial slump.  For example, the combination of sport, fantasy, passion and enthusiasm has created a niche that appears to be recession proof.  Same for personal development programs which have created a 19 billion worldwide market over the last year, in spite of the economy of the time.  Want to know more about that opportunity?

In essence, what I am saying is that coming out of an economic downturn is prime time for those with a bit of  entrepreneurship. You may want to explore entrepreneurship – it might be for you.  You could join the legions of others who have found prosperity by being on the crest of the wave.  And remember, many of the most successful businesses started out as home businesses – start from where you are at.

Some of the things that I have discovered about entrepreneurs is that they have the following traits:-

• they are operating new business ventures
• take responsibility for the risks that they take
• have deep belief in the product or service
• have a burning desire to succeed
• are prepared to work hard and do whatever it takes
• are optimistic
• hold a realistic view
• show leadership, especially during adversity.

Entrepreneurs can see a great reward, they set their sights in it and will take great risks in order to achieve the reward. Incidentally, entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, ages, nationalities and both genders.  Oh, and while no one said so, I just bet that entrepreneurs associate with other entrepreneurs and successful people.  And I also just bet that they seek out optimistic and positive people to be around.  There is no doubt that the people that you associate with can either help or hinder your progress.

For example, if you are associating with people who are not entrepreneurs but who work long hours for little reward, then chances are that is what you will do. On the other hand, if you associate with millionaires then you will know what it is that they do to earn money and achieve success.  Now I hear the arguments that success is not always about money and that is true, however money gives you a degree of freedom to achieve other things in life and often that is what people are looking for.  The freedom to make their own decisions and do their own thing when they want to.

In the words of Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop and entrepreneur, “success to me is not about money or status or fame, its about finding a livelihood that brings me joy and self-sufficiency and a sense of contributing to the world”. I’ll let the entrepreneur have the last word.

I am grateful to have found a home business that allows me to help others every day at the same time as earning a serious income. How can this be?  It is quite simple really, it just involves being open to a new idea instead of always functioning with the old ideas.  The first step for me was to accept that it is actually ok to earn good money while helping others.  This did not happen easily, it took quite a bit of self development, working with my limiting beliefs for me to reach the point where I can now accept that that is what I am doing now in my life.  Earning good money for helping people and I move in a circle of people who earn exceptional money for helping people.

Want to know how? Well, you might have to do something different because if you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always had.  Take a look at something different.

I believe that this happens because society believes that doing good should be done for the sake of it and not for money. In fact at times the people who are doing the most good, taking care of others and seeing that those in need have food and shelter, might earn very little more than being regarded as saintly.  There seems to be a view that making money is for the fatcats; the greedy ones who take care only of themselves.There is another way to consider money and what it stands for.  Deepak Chopra writes about this in his book Creating Affluence:-

“M stands for making money for others and helping others make money. Helping others make money and helping other people to fulfill their desires is a sure way to ensure that you’ll make money for yourself as well as more easily fulfill your own dreams.

“M” also stands for motivate. The best way to motivate other people to help you fulfill your goals is to help them fulfill their goals”.

I am delighted to be involved with a personal development home business that places me perfectly to do exactly that; make money for the purpose of helping others, help others to make money, fulfill their desires and achieve their dreams.  Can you believe that such a business exists?

Little wonder that I feel so happy.

Now put the time that you would like to do it be beside each one eg one year, ten years and get a balance across the years. Choose your top four from each of the categories and wow!! you are getting close to knowing what you want.

Next step, take a little time and write one paragraph for each of your top desires in each of the categories.  In this step you are writing exactly why you want to achieve this particular goal. What is it about that goal that sets you on fire and creates a heartfelt and burning desire to achieve it.  Write also some detail about it, what it looks like, how it feels to have it.  Build in your mind the picture of having it, start to see yourself with it.

This process will help you to choose the lifestyle of your dreams. You can then direct your thoughts and attention upon this in a conscious way instead of moving through life in an unconscious way, accepting whatever happens to come your way – sometimes good and sometimes not so good.  Sometimes what you desire and sometimes not.  Take time every day to read what you have written and start to find ways to break these big dreams down into small actions.  Get started on some small actions and watch your dreams take shape.  Do six things every day to bring your dreams to reality.  Take action every day, believe that you will achieve your dreams and have faith in yourself to do that!

For a good read on the subject, try “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. The title suggests a book about making money, however money is not the only factor related to lifestyle and the book also covers those other things that people look for like happiness and contentment.  Here is one last thought though – many people think of  lifestyle satisfaction as having freedom and money does help to achieve freedom.

The book takes you through the 13 steps necessary to overcome all obstacles and achieve all of your ambitions and remember, it was written in the early 1900’s. It is an amazing book, a guiding light and a basic text for any student of personal development.   These days, as expected, you can become a member of the Napoleon Hill Foundation and enjoy all of the benefits that the Internet has to offer.  I can only imagine their lives if these men had access to the technologies that we have.  However the book allows a glimpse of personal development 1928 style.

One of the key principals that Hill outlines is the mastermind which is the capacity to join up with a group of people who have harmonious minds and share your thoughts, thought energy and intelligence for their good and your own. This bringing together of thought energy creates a great bank of energy that is then used towards a specific purpose.  According to Hill, this form of cooperative alliance has been the basis of nearly every great fortune.  The message is simple, surround yourself with like minds in a harmonious environment, give generously to the mastermind yourself and receive the full benefits.   To success and happiness!

I know for sure, in my home business in personal development that many of the business owners are women. And I know that these women have what it takes to set up a business that allows them to work from home.  One of the things that it takes to be successful in your home business is persistence and perseverance.  Not only to access capital, credit and equity as shown by the American statistics, but also to understand marketing, arrange a daily schedule of activities that works for you and to keep going while the business is established and producing an income. Persistence is the key.

And it pays to remember that people who do not succeed in their home business may be just one shot away from success when they give up.  Persistence and perseverance is everything. Isn’t it great also to see the leadership role that women are taking in business about lifestyle and making money. Here in Cairns, in my home business in personal development, I can be persistent while enjoying my amazing lifestyle and having fun.

My mind turned to being my own boss.  After all, could it be any less secure than my circumstances at the time.  Although it was critical, to make money was not my only driving aim.  I had always wanted other things like work freedom, a balance between accountability and responsibility, happiness and generosity and a host of other values based things.  The job had been good to me; I loved it but was driven to make my own way to success.  Have you ever heard of a millionaire who got that way while in a job?  A home business was definitely the go, something online if possible and suddenly there it was!!  The Universe provided and into my line of vision came this amazing online home business in personal development. I was ecstatic to say the least and my intuition assured me that this is just right.

This business caters for all of my needs. Time for my family, working from home, only the travel that I want to do, the opportunity to talk with amazing people every day, immersion in personal development which has been a lifetime love affair, assisting people all over the world to achieve their dreams and desires while I have the prospect of earning a six figure income.  The business has been amazingly successful in Australia and I am excited to be a part of such a revolution.  So the next time that I am asked – why a home business in personal development I will answer quite simply – because it is fun.  And then I will drink to my success and my intuition!