Starting a business and becoming successful is often part of the American Dream. But there is a difference between starting a business and build a successful business. Many businesses fail within the first few years of existence due to the lack of planning for the long-term. There is not enough vision and there is not enough done to strengthen the business properly from the ground up.

If you want to start a business there is an easy way to get a better understanding of why some businesses fail and others don’t. When starting a business think about it similar to building a house. If done right it is protecting you against any kind of storm or danger of the outside world and will last for a long time. It offers shelter and protection. For you and your business that could be translated to that you want to have a business that is able to weather economical ups and downs (= storm) and that will provide income to pay the bills (shelter and protection).

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As we grow and face changes in our lives, those changes are often experienced with a great deal of pain. When we’re facing change, we sometimes forget that the pain will be short-lived. The anticipation of pain is far greater.

During my own life, I’ve experienced many personal changes, involving relationships, roles, life decisions, financial circumstances, and health. Professionally, I’ve experienced the fear and anxiety that came with changing positions, seeking promotions, and trying to stabilize my life as the professional world changed around me.  Read the full story