The 5 Non-Negotiables for Thriving in Business and Life

Starting a business is easy. Millions of new businesses are started each year. However, you must do more than create an LLC to become a thriving entrepreneur. Unfortunately, simply starting a new business is all the farther that most get. Inevitably reality creeps in and the cold hard truth emerges. Creating a business that enables you to generate enough money to truly thrive at life and achieve your wildest dreams is not so easy. Entrepreneurs with the ability to thrive at this highest level are a rare breed.

What makes these elite entrepreneurs different from those still struggling? Here are the top 5 non-negotiables that every new entrepreneur must take action on promptly. 

1. Stay fearless.

Fear can paralyze and absolutely destroy an entrepreneur's ambition and confidence, but only if they let it. When I quit my job and created my own business, I experienced the same fears all entrepreneurs face starting out -- the fear of failure, the fear of what others might say, the fear I wasn’t good enough.  As I increased my certainty, and became aware of what limitations were holding me back I started to face my fears head on. When you face your fears, they disappear.

You cannot let your fears control you and you must be willing to take risks despite them. All great leaders and visionaries have realized that being fearless is part of the recipe for success. In my experience, most of the people who gave in to their fears and quit are eventually employed by those who conquered their fears and never gave up.  Your only fear should be having the exact same life you currently have a year from now. Remember that your dreams will always eclipse your biggest fears. Stay limitless mentally.

2. Creating, not waiting.

I've been fortunate enough to interview dozens of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and one thing is always abundantly clear - they don’t wait for opportunities to come to them, they create them. A WANTrepreneur spends their first day designing a logo while the true entrepreneur closes their first 10 clients. If thriving is a goal, you must stop procrastinating, stop creating 100-page business plans, stop researching the perfect website font, and start executing on the things that matter.

Most people spend the first half of their lives saying they are too young, and the second half saying they're too old. The time is now, and there is no tomorrow for champions. I promise you that one year from now you will have wished you started today. Wake up early, go to bed late, disable distractions, be relentless, stay intentional, and never give up. It's simple - if you want it to happen, make it happen. Period. You will make time for things you really care about.

3. Focus on continual growth and development.

Are you showing up better than you were yesterday? Seriously, is your life better today than yesterday? If not, why not? Create tactical steps for tomorrow to ensure you grow and develop. Ask yourself these 3 questions before starting your day.

• What am I grateful for today?
• What am I committed to making happen today no matter what?
• What am I excited about today?

Most people fail to ask themselves questions that spark their minds, and remind them to maximize each day.  Every day you fail to grow is one less day you have to make your dreams become reality. Once small positive thought can change the outcome of your entire day.

All thriving entrepreneurs know that every year their business must become 365x better than the year before. This is accomplished by focusing on continual growth and development each day. Just like compound interest, mastering this simple strategy can put you on the fast track to financial freedom. Make growth a part of your daily agenda.

4. Making money matter.

There has never been a better time in the history of our economy to create businesses that matter. My friend Cole Hatter says, 

"Don’t wait to get rich to make a difference, but rather make an impact as you get rich."

Visionary Tony Robbins has preached on this concept. but it has never been as important and powerful as it is today. Historically, money was a taboo subject few dared to debate. Culturally, the topic of money has recently gone from being the unspeakable subject to a global obsession, and rightfully so. Money is the great equalizer. Having money is a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling, but most importantly it gives you the power of choices.

One in three Americans believe their best chance of becoming wealthy is winning the lottery. Are you kidding me? This flawed mindset comes from the antiquated curriculum traditional education teaches. To truly understand the concept of mastering money, you must self-educate. "Traditional education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune."

Those that want to thrive know that money is the one thing that has the instant ability to turn their dreams into reality.

5. Urgency.

I’m guessing you’d like to be financially free by the time you’re 65 years old? I’m sure everybody does. Let’s deal in reality here.

• 69 percent of Americans who start working at 25 will be dependent on relatives, friends, or charities at age 65.
• Nearly 36 percent of people age 65 to 69, and 21 percent age 70 to 74, are still working.
• Almost 75 percent of single Social Security recipients aged 65+depend on Social Security for all or most of their monthly income.

I will tell you becoming one of the few who are economically secure starts with urgency now. You MUST have a sense of urgency to thrive. Do you think those struggling in their 30s, 40s, and 50s told themselves they were going to struggle? Of course not. If you talked to them when they were younger, they were confident they would have their dream house, dream job, have lots of money, and be enjoying life to the fullest. What happened? They never told themselves NOW matters. They didn’t connect their daily actions with their future goals. Don’t fall into that trap.

Realize that now matters more than any other time, and the "someday isle" mentality is killing so many dreams. I know people who have been in the same company for years, but haven't advanced. You often hear people say “I have 20 years of experience, I should get paid more,” but in actuality, that person has one year of experience repeated 20 times. If they’re not sharpening their skills, learning better tools, or constantly trying to better themselves, they aren’t becoming more valuable. Why should they expect more money?

Age doesn’t guarantee a higher income, value does. Opportunities are only opportunities if you're taking full advantage of them. Young millionaires always do, and they are consistently reaching for new goals and ambitions. You MUST have a sense of urgency that most of society doesn't have if you're serious about success. There will NEVER be the right time.

Achieving your wildest dreams and thriving at the highest level is not for everyone. You must be relentless and 100 percent committed to the hustle and grind that is required. You must believe that not only is it possible for you to have your dream but it is necessary. If you are still reading, you have taken the first step to changing your life and making an impact on the world.

Peter Voogd

5 Mistakes to Avoid as an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is a land of risk and reward where most of your traditional work boundaries have been removed. No one tells you how to work, how long and how hard to work or how much you can make. There are, in fact, a million advantages to the freedom of entrepreneurship.

However, there are also an equal number of pitfalls that this same freedom creates. One of them is that entrepreneurs have the "freedom" to think they are doing things right, when in fact they are doing them wrong. Here are five common mistakes to avoid on your own entrepreneurial journey:

1. Chasing the wrong success

If you are not careful, you can fall into the trap of believing that certain material items make you "successful." That a certain lifestyle is what success looks like. Often, people try to buy their way to success and happiness, only to find out that they don’t even want what they were pursuing.

To conquer this trap, make sure to think about and write down what success means in your perfect world. Be conscious about what you are aiming at, and take consistent steps to reach it.

2. Improper communication

It is comfortable to feel confident and assume that you are communicating properly -- with employees, contractors and mentors -- but the bottom line is that many of us don't. What you intend to say, and the impact you intend to make, when communicating with staff, for example, may not be the right words or have the right impact at all.

To avoid this mistake, make sure to speak using facts, leaving out the emotion those facts may invoke. Have your employees take personality tests, so you know ahead of time how they will communicate. They may need more detail from you than you normally communicate -- or less -- but knowing is the first step.

3. Poor 'servant leadership'

"Servant leadership" is a buzzword right now; however, many business owners don’t understand what it entails. Servant leadership means not allowing others to walk all over you. It is not about creating an environment of dependency on you. Often, subservient leaders are ones that need others to need and rely on them.

To solve this pitfall, you need to practice true servant leadership. Servant leadership means providing an environment of service. It means doing what is best for your employees, which might include firing them. Serving your staff well requires setting them up for success by training them properly and holding them to a high standard.

4. The customer is always right

This is a common misconception that can leave you worn out and exhausted. Operating your business as if every customer is "right" can confuse your message and train your customers how to treat you and your staff. You may end up serving a select minority instead of a majority.

Instead of the philosophy that the customer is always right, take on the mindset that the customer is always honored. Customers should be treated with honor and respect, but sometimes they are just wrong. So, be clear on who your target is and serve that person well.

5. Chasing money instead of freedom 

When money is tight, it is a breeze to think that money and freedom are synonymous. This can lead business owners down the wrong path and often put a lid on their income. Chasing money can lead to an unlived life, getting us to chase the wrong things. Money should be a byproduct, not the focus.

Make choices in the long term, toward freedom. Train yourself out of a job, and your income will have no bounds. Focus on short-term monetary gains, and you will never have true freedom. Instead, focus on the strength and growth of your business, and you will have money. You will also experience freedom and finances through growth and proper training.

Avoiding these pitfalls will have you cruising toward success. So, move with proper purpose. You may need to reevaluate and adjust often, because being a few degrees off in the beginning leaves you open to the risk of being miles off in the end. But make the journey. And be blessed on your journey.

Zechariah Newman

There Are 8 Indispensable Elements of Real Wealth and 7 Aren't Money

What’s the purpose of life?

That's a powerful question that deserves your attention. My answer has drastically changed the past five to 10 years, and will continue to evolve. Success is part of life's purpose but I know that on the other side of success is the quest for more success, more milestones, more achievements, more people to help and learn from, more money to be made. That's great. Life becomes mundane and boring without goals and dreams to reach for but I believe there is more to life and real wealth.

Don’t get me wrong. Becoming a millionaire is a valid desire for everyone, but there is no higher success than building and maintaining a world class life with meaning and significance. Awareness precedes choice, and your choices determine the quality of your life. I’ve put some serious thought into what makes a world class life. Here are the eight forms you must adapt and start improving if you want to live an exceptional life with no regret.

1. A world-class inner life.

Your outer world, who you are and the quality of your life, is 100 percent determined by your inner world. Your inner world consists of your peace of mind, the quality of your thinking and living authentically. Are you living your true values or doing things based out of fear and worry? Your inner world determines your self worth and how connected you are to your core.

2. World-class health.

Your health is a very important part of wealth. If you don’t have your health, you have nothing. At the end of your life, the things you now perceive as the big things might be the little things. When we are young, we will compromise our health for wealth, but when we are old we will gladly sacrifice all of our wealth for just a little bit of health.

It’s extremely important to put health first, if you really want a world class life. We take our health for granted until we lose it, then we spend all our waking time trying to get it back. Those who don’t make time for exercise must eventually make time for illness.

3. World-class family life.

Having loved ones around you, and being able to see your family whenever you choose, is a crucial part of success. Gary Vaynerchuktold me his business is extremely important, but a distant second to his family. The greatest support system in the world is good family and friends. You can’t be careless here, you need great relationships and those who make you better. Remember, you can’t change your family, and trying to do so will cause you endless stress and frustration. Love them and appreciate them for who they are. 

4. World-class profession/career.

The attitude you bring to your days determine your destiny and it's extremely hard to carry a great attitude when you don't enjoy what you do. According to the new Gallup survey "71 percent of employees are activity disengaged at work."

Be patient and figure out your strengths. Purposefully choosing (or creating) your ideal professional is crucial to a world-class life. When you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. It's important to get to the end of your career knowing you gave your best. Yes, unexpected circumstances do happen but you are in control of your own future through the choices you make. Life is not easy nor promised, but it's how you adapt and adjust that determines what happens next. Never settle.

5. World-class financial freedom.

Less than 5 percent of our society will be financially stable by age 65. WTF? Money is extremely important and makes the world go round. It also gives you one of the most important aspects of a world-class life --freedom.

Money allows you the choices to do what you want, when you want, wherever you want, so you can live on your own terms. What’s your game plan to assure a financially free future?

6. World-class circle of genius.

You become who you spend the most time with. Are the people you’re associating with holding you to higher standards and challenging you? If you spend time with people who are playing at a world class level, you drastically increase your chances of doing the same. Their ways of being will rub off on you. You’ll adapt their philosophies and perspectives.

Start surrounding yourself with people whose lives you want to emulate. Keep company with those who are thinking and acting at an extraordinary level.

7. World-class experiences.

Ultimately, life is an adventure. Experiences and memories are what separate the elite lives from the mediocre. I’ve recently started focusing more on producing instead of consuming, and valuing experiences over material things. I like both, and appreciate the finer things in life, but after studying countless world-class people, it’s clear they are constantly creating memorable experiences. What's the point of doing something if you’re not having fun? 

8. World-class impact and legacy.

The worthiest aim of life is service to the world around us. How much difference are you making in the world around you? Are you adding consistent value that improves the lives of others?

Generosity the key that unlocks happiness. There is no greater feeling than when you help or give to others, asking for nothing back. Whether it is a compliment or a small gift, do something nice for somebody every day. Realize every tweet, every blog post and every conversation you have is part of your legacy.

I challenge you not to postpone your life. Most say “when I have more time I will take time for myself” but the reality is life waits for no one. Don't postpone travel or chasing your dreams. Nobody knows when their time is up, so make the most of it by focusing on these eight forms of real wealth.

Peter Voogd