It?s a fact. If you don?t know where you?re going, you won?t know when you get there. That?s why I ask my clients: ?How do you measure success??

August marks the end of the official summer vacation period. As we begin to gear up for school and the renewed pressures of work, we begin thinking about what needs to be accomplished in the coming months. And, like it or not, our performance will be measured - by management, by family, by friends, by just about anyone with whom we have a relationship. Are you comfortable being measured? How do you measure up?

The people I have met who are passionate about their business, have clear goals, and put realistic plans in place to reach those goals, are much more content than those who dream but fail to take action. They have made that leap of faith that every entrepreneur must embrace. And, despite the risks, they are generally happier than those who are willing to accept, without question, the measurements imposed by others. Why is this?

I believe it?s because they have taken responsibility for their own results, not just accepted responsibility. They are proactively taking action to define and reach their goals. And those goals are not just about sales and income; they have to do with quality of life: family, friends, and fun.

So, as you begin to gear up after your summer ?vacation?, take the time to make sure that where you?re headed is where you really want to go. You?ll enjoy the journey so much more.

We probably shouldn't refer to it as selling, because it's really about giving the customer an opportunity to "purchase a solution", but the August issue of Entrepreneur Magazine had a great article subtitled "Sales Success", with practical ideas for improving yours.

For those of you who aspire to be great networkers, Sharan Tash has created a website that includes a calendar of networking events in the greater Chicagoland area. You can sign up for free.