Begin with the end in mind…what will your business look like when it’s finished?

It’s just a couple of weeks since we will welcome in 2019 and a lot of people will be working really hard at achieving their New Year’s Resolutions.  For others, their resolutions will be nothing more than a dream or good idea that now finds itself neatly tucked into the deep recesses of their minds, until the day it surfaces as an uncomfortable feeling to prick their conscience.

One of the challenges with most resolutions is that they are nothing more than good ideas and very little time is actually invested in thinking and planning them through and, as you are no doubt aware, every great plan begins with the end in mind.

It is more likely that the people who stick resolutely to their resolutions have probably taken the time out to mentally place themselves in the future, at a time when they have achieved what they set out to do. They will have asked themselves some better questions:

-What will I feel like when I am a non-smoker or I am fit and healthy or I have that better job?
-What will achieving this enable me to do that I am not able to do at the moment?
-What will my perfect day look like when I have achieved this?

The pictures that these people dream up in their minds will provide the brain with a ‘towards pull’ or motivation and, at the same time, provide the body with the feel good factor. When we are rewarded with a good feeling, we are more likely to do the necessary actions that are needed to reproduce those feelings.

Resolutions or goals can sometimes be tough.  If they weren’t, we wouldn’t need them; we would already have everything we want. It is in these tough moments that beginning with end in mind really helps.

As an example, if your resolution was to quit smoking, when you get that urge to have the cigarette imagine the picture you have created of how much better life will be when you are a non-smoker.

Whilst struggling to do those press-ups, how much better do you picture you will feel when you are fit and healthy.

Picking the phone up to deal with that troublesome customer, how much better you will feel when the cash is flowing through your business.

You may be asking this is all well and good, but what has all this to do with what will your business look like when it’s finished?

For some of you may be thinking “my business will never be finished” there will always be more to do, people to meet, markets to tap into, bigger and better opportunities etc., etc.

Firstly, let me explain what I mean by finished…..

A finished business is one that is able to be sold for a value that is a true reflection of it’s worth and potential.

If you were to sell a finished business, you would attract the right type of buyers, who are more prepared to pay top market valuation for a great investment.

For some, you may be thinking, ‘I have no intention of selling my business and all this sounds too good to be true.’ I am not suggesting you should sell your business, what I am asking you to consider is what would your business need to look like to be sold for the top market valuation?

To do that, you would have to start thinking from the end in mind perspective.

Ask yourself, “If you were in the market to purchase a top market value business what exactly would you be looking for?”

By stepping into the shoes of a potential purchaser you might ask questions like:

-What do I want?
-What needs to be in place for me to feel safe about this investment?
-What concerns have I got?

By asking questions like these you will now have is a clearer picture of what your business needs to be, do and have for it to become an attractive enough proposition for top investors to be interested in it.

You also have the start of a picture for a compelling future business that is fulfilling its true function; to serve your future ideal lifestyle.

Just imagine what it would mean to you if your business was finished? What lifestyle would you be able to have as a result?

The truth is a finished business will give you freedom.

Starting today, ask yourself “What will my business look like when it is finished?” The clearer the picture, the clearer the path to freedom.