Here’s a practical, inspiring plan to get yourself set up in business for your next decade, courtesy of entrepreneur and small business coach Ryan James Lock. Building a decent business requires a careful strategy and choices about how to manage your resources, like money.
Although Ryan advocates being something of a party-pooper in order to reach your business dreams faster, he also emphasises the importance of taking some time off to take stock. You’ll work much better if you maintain your energy levels, he advises.
Ryan’s blog is aimed primarily at 20-somethings who aspire to business success long before they are 40. But, his wise words on how to be the CEO of your own life apply whatever your age.
Succeeding in business is largely a mind game. So, says Ryan, start painting your own picture of what you want in life, dump the negative people and stop worrying about what others might make of what you are up to on the business front. – JC
Be the CEO of your own life – and that means your own business – before you are 30
By Ryan James Lock
Life as an under 30 can be a mixture of things. Yes, we’ve got youth on our side but there is also a myriad of temptations that come up along the way to distract us from our goals.
I believe, your twenties are the best time to set you up for the rest of your life. I read a quote recently that said “Do something each day that your future self will thank you for”
Whatever industry you are in, here are my 10 ways to be the CEO of your own life and set you up for your next decade.
Part 1
Paint your own picture
One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to get really clear on what you want in life. We’re told by so many people, from our family to the media what we should be wanting, but what do you really want?
Remember this, knowing what you want is the first step in getting it.
Create a strategy for your life
Once you know what you want, you need to think like a boss and create a strategy for achieving it. Without a plan, your goals are just ideas. Make them real by creating a strategy for achieving them. What do you need to do to get your desired results?
Sit down and spend some time making a plan, you’ll be glad you did.
Don’t worry about what people think
In my coaching program I teach “You can worry about what people think or you can get things done, but you can’t do both” and it is as true in business as it is in life. To really move forward and be the CEO of your life you need to give up worrying about what other people think about what you are doing and handle your decisions like the boss of your own affairs.
Invest in yourself
What skills can you learn that will improve your future? Too many people invest in the wrong things and then pay for it later. Partying and having fun has its place once in a while, but to truly build a life and business that serves you well and takes you to where you want to be it’s a good idea to ask yourself what skills and knowledge can you invest in now that you will thank yourself for later.
Learn from people who have what you want
This might sound harsh but a lot of people give advice without being qualified to do so. The people you surround yourself with have a huge affect of your ways of thinking and course of action so make sure that you are being influenced by people who are taking you where you want to go rather than holding you back.
Who can you spend more time with?
Part 2
Constantly improve yourself
The only person you should ever be competing with is the person you were 6 months ago. I am a big believer in constant self improvement, not because there is anything wrong with you but because if you want your income and business to keep growing, then you have to make sure you are growing as well. A coach once said to me “Your income is directly related to your personal growth”.
Let go of what no longer works for you
It’s ok to let go of things in your life that no longer work for you, from people to business ventures or even ways of thinking. The key to moving forward in life is to learn how to adjust to situations. If something isn’t working in your life anymore, don’t be afraid to let it go.
When you let go of things that don’t work, you make room for things that do, and that’s where the magic happens.
Take care of yourself
Working long hours and running a business can certainly take it’s toll on your well being so set time aside for self care.
Down time is essential for maintaining your energy levels and inspiration. It can be tempting to work all the time but you’ll find that you will work much better when you are feeling good and take regular breaks to keep yourself healthy, fit and relaxed.
Where can you add in more self-care time?
Save for the future
As tempting as it can be to put off saving, I think being Under 30 is an amazing time to save for the future. No matter how tempting it can be to spend on living a certain lifestyle, I always like to think about long term security versus short term fun (call me boring!)
Get a good financial adviser and look at how you can best save and invest your money for the future, even if you are just putting a little bit aside each month, you will be so glad you did!
Manage your mind
The way you think about yourself affects everything that you do, from the quality of your relationships to the state of your business and income. Take a careful look at the things you believe about yourself.
Cultivate a mindset that take you towards your goals and ambitions rather than buying into limiting ideas.
From the above points, what changes can you make to the way you are working and living? Tweet me and let me know!
Ryan James Lock is the founder of www.beingyourownpublicist.com and coaches entrepreneurs and small business owners on overcoming limiting beliefs while growing their business and raising their profile. Sign up for weekly Mindset coaching and PR strategies on www.beingyourownpublicist.com and receive your FREE audio coaching program! You can like his Face Book page for more strategies and coaching here.
This article is republished here on Biznews.com with the kind permission of under30ceo.com. Read more at under30ceo.com.
