Business ownership done right should be about freedom, fun, fulfillment and significant money.\u00a0 It should also be about serving and helping the lives of others, especially your customers and employees.<\/strong> Business ownership done wrong is about imprisonment, frustration and very little wealth.\u00a0 And, you can\u2019t serve and help others and your community if your business is broken.<\/em><\/p>\n

Most of us, including myself, were not properly taught how to design, structure, develop and run a business.\u00a0<\/strong> Early on, we made big mistakes, paid heavy prices, and made costly sacrifices.\u00a0 Some of us stumbled onto a path of greater success, balance and fulfillment through trial and error.\u00a0 Some of us got good business coaching<\/a> or mentoring. Some of us got early wake-up calls or warning signs and we were open and receptive to modifying our mindsets and approaches.<\/p>\n

Just in case you missed your personal awakening, here is another face-reality, wake-up call.\u00a0 Brace yourself, this is some serious stuff but designed to give you the right perspective about your business and life.\u00a0<\/strong> As your Growth Coach<\/a>, I want you to draw out an old-fashioned tombstone and at the top, write down your full name, birth date, a dash, and then your expected death date<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0 Go ahead, this shouldn\u2019t be difficult \u2026 everyone has a rough idea, based on genetics and current health habits and stress levels, how long they expect to live on this earth.<\/p>\n

What is your projected life expectancy?\u00a0 Are you satisfied with that?\u00a0<\/strong> If not, commit to change some habits NOW \u2026 quit smoking, lose weight, eat better, workout more, sleep longer, reduce stress, get a checkup, etc.\u00a0 By the way, the average life expectancy in the United States is currently around 78 years of age.<\/p>\n

Now, let’s move beyond quantity of years to quality of years.\u00a0 Think deeply about what you want written on your tombstone.\u00a0<\/strong> That’s right, how do you want to be remembered?\u00a0 What do you want your legacy to be?\u00a0 What and who are most important to you?\u00a0 Go ahead, jot down your thoughts about your epitaph.<\/p>\n

Odds are you did not think about your business or even your level of success or wealth.\u00a0 You probably thought about your role as a spouse, parent, friend, citizen, faith member, etc.\u00a0<\/strong> On your deathbed, you most likely want to be surrounded by family, friends, fond memories, and your faith \u2026 nothing materialistic.\u00a0 After all, it matters not your financial or business success if you lose everything else in the process<\/em> \u2026 including the love and respect of your spouse, children, and friends; your physical and mental health; your faith; and all the simple experiences and joys of life.\u00a0 Lesson here, keep balance in your life.\u00a0 Keep your business in perspective.\u00a0<\/strong> After all, didn\u2019t you start your business to have MORE LIFE, not less?<\/p>\n

Now comes facing reality \u2026 dealing with the truth.\u00a0 Look what you wrote for your tombstone. How do you want to ultimately be remembered?\u00a0<\/strong> Are you truly living your life right now in alignment with these ultimate wishes?\u00a0 Are you being the person, spouse, parent, friend, citizen, and believer you truly want to be, especially as described on your tombstone?\u00a0 Are you on course to leave a lasting and meaningful legacy?<\/strong>\u00a0 Nurturing quality relationships with your loved ones and giving them\u00a0 proper time, attention and love?\u00a0 Or, are you off track?\u00a0 Focusing on the wrong priorities?\u00a0 Making bad choices with your time, money, and habits?<\/p>\n

The tombstone test is designed to give you the big perspective, a sense of urgency, and a wake-up call to live your life according to your highest priorities and values.\u00a0 While a bit morbid, it flat-out works!\u00a0<\/strong> It should shake you up a bit to fully examine your current life against your big-picture vision.\u00a0 Also, the good news is that you have time now to make any necessary changes \u2026 your heart is still beating<\/em>.\u00a0 Let this be your wake-up call to get on a path to greater fulfillment and balance.\u00a0 Remember, a business is only a vehicle to achieve a fuller life.\u00a0 A business is the means, not the end.\u00a0<\/strong> Again, is your business giving you MORE life, freedom, fulfillment and financial success?\u00a0 If not, do yourself and your family a huge favor \u2026 get some on-going business coaching and accountability<\/a> to help change your mindset, behavior, habits, and results.<\/p>\n

Another benefit to the tombstone test is that by facing and accepting your own mortality, you can begin to appreciate and live a full life.\u00a0<\/strong> By acknowledging that our life on earth is finite, we can make wiser choices, especially about how, where and with whom we spend our precious time.\u00a0 By facing death, we are truly liberated and life becomes sweeter, more meaningful, and something we no longer take for granted.\u00a0 Hope this was a beneficial wake-up call for you.<\/p>\n

Have no regrets.\u00a0 As a popular song a few years back said, “live like you are dying.”\u00a0<\/strong> To help you live a more balanced and meaningful life, take this 5-minute, confidential, on-line business coaching and lifestyle assessment quiz<\/a> to find out if and where you need some assistance.\u00a0 Also, our popular and free e-book, \u201cBecoming a Strategic Business Owner\u201d<\/a>, will definitely help you get more out of your business and life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Business ownership done right should be about freedom, fun, fulfillment and significant money.\u00a0 It should also be about serving and helping the lives of others, especially your customers and employees. Business ownership done wrong is about imprisonment, frustration and very little wealth.\u00a0 And, you can\u2019t serve and help others and your community if your business […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[855,857,876,930,1105,951,858,860,861,1059,863,897,864,935,865,937,867],"class_list":["post-1949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-coaching","tag-benefits-of-business-coaching","tag-business-coach","tag-business-coaching","tag-business-coaching-advice","tag-business-coaching-guarantee","tag-business-coaching-tips","tag-business-owner","tag-business-owner-mindset","tag-business-systems","tag-delegation","tag-entrepreneur","tag-growth-coach","tag-leadership","tag-marketing","tag-small-business-management","tag-strategic-business-owner","tag-strategic-mindset"],"yoast_head":"\n