This is Tip #11 for creating a successful business.

Define and visualize your success.

What does success look like to you? I've run into a lot of people lately who measure their success by how much money they have. I'm not one of those people. Don't get me wrong. I like money as much as the next person, but I've always seen it as a tool, not an end to itself.

If you don't measure success by how much money you are making, how do you measure it? For me, it's the number of hours I spend doing what I love to do (writing, training, and spending time with friends and my son.) The higher the number of hours I get to do what I love to do, the more successful I am. (When I'm doing what I enjoy, the money usually follows.)

Spend just a few minutes visualizing what success looks like to you. If it's money, that's fine. Picture yourself surrounded by bank accounts and stock reports or the things you get to purchase if you have the money. But be sure to also visualize how you get to that level. Does your company increase its client base? Do you get higher fees for the work you do? If money is not your measure, visualize what life would be like if you reached your own definition of success. Again, see what needs to happen to get to that point. The key here is to make sure it's your definition and not someone else's.

After you've visualized your image of success, write it down. Write it as if it is already happening. You'll notice I don't use the term goals. Goals seem to be a lot like New Year's Resolutions - frequently broken and therefore guilt-inducing.

Success is a great deal like taking a road trip. The very first thing you have to figure out is your destination. Once you know that, it's relatively easy to find a map - or the specific steps you need to take to get to where you want to be. Too often we aren't sure of the destination, so when an opportunity presents itself, we take it, never giving much thought as to whether it gets us closer to success or not.

Just remember to stay focused on what you want - and ask yourself at each fork in the road, which path gets me closer to what I want? When you can see that success in detail - what it looks, sounds, feels like - you'll be on your way to making it happen.

My friend Cheryl Cook has a wonderful newsletter (and if you like this one, you'll like hers, too.) Learn how to get more cash in your pocket, more sales in the door, and reduce the amount of cash leaving your business. Subscribe NOW for this biweekly ezine here.

Join me at one of the following seminars:

CONDUCTING BUSINESS BY EMAIL
Wednesday, November 17
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
SEMINAR FOR MEN: MARKETING TO WOMEN
Wednesday, December 8
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Each class: $21.00, John Marshall High School, 8000 Lobo. Register by phone (210-522-8100) or online at NISD's Community Ed Department

Join me at the City of San Antonio's and Bexar County's Fourth Annual Small, Minority, Women- Owned Business Enterprises Conference on Wednesday, December 15.

It's that time again! I'm looking for as many people as possible to help with registration, directions, seminar assistance, display floor assistance, etc. Shifts start at 6 AM, but if you aren't an early riser, you can pick any two-hour shift during the day. We especially need people from 10 AM to 2 PM to help direct during lunch.

This event gets bigger every year. This is a great opportunity for your business or organization to market itself. Put together a team and have your volunteers wear their company T-shirts. But I'll take individual volunteers as well who want to be a part of this amazing event.

Email me at the link below with the time you can work. I'll be in touch soon.

Do you have a clear growth strategy for your business?

Can you articulate that strategy to others?

Do you have trouble prioritizing when faced with the competing demands of customers, employees, limited resources, and dwindling time?

Focus on Business Growth from The BottomLine is a succinct, but highly effective one-on- one three-hour strategic solution for the small business owner. It will quickly help you clarify your options and rank your priorities. Led by veteran business strategists and marketing consultants, you'll leave with greater insight and practical next steps on your path to growth.

For more information, click on the link below to visit The BottomLine or call 210-392-3309.

Do you have used computer equipment taking up valuable storage at your business? Are you keeping it in the hope that you will be able to sell it and recover some of your investment? Is the equipment dropping in value every day you hang on to it?

Corona Visions will pick up your equipment, wipe any storage (hard drives, fax machine memory, etc.) of existing data, and repair and resell or recycle your equipment. You may even qualify for the new E- Broker Program and have part of the net profit of any resale value returned to you.

Call 210-521-7612 to find out how Corona Visions can help you free up that storage space.