Entrepreneurial Success Without Fulfilment: Who Wants That?
What makes a successful entrepreneur? Owning a big and financially successful business? Selling a business for a tonne of money? Having all the assets/toys that represent success? Having business and life choice?
Perhaps it is all of those. Perhaps it is none of those. In my experience an entrepreneur can have some or all of those achievements and still feel empty inside.
I have met and worked with many business owners whose businesses are worth millions, or they have sold their businesses for millions and as a result they have lots of money and choice, but still, they are not happy.
Why? Because they are not fulfilled! They don’t have a sense of purpose to their life that in some way is fulfilled through their business. Life is too short to live without fulfilment, don’t you think?
What’s another word for fulfilment? PASSION! For me, to live with passion is to live with meaning, purpose and fulfilment. That is what makes a successful entrepreneur. There are many examples of passionate and successful entrepreneurs…. they exude life, purpose and fulfilment within their business and that reflects in the quality of their life: Sir Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg to name a few. How many can you name?
As we edge towards the end of 2014, are you planning 2015 for your business? I hope so. I also hope that you are planning your own life for 2015 and beyond too. It is never too late to plan your life. Start now if you have not done it before; create your life plan. How can you integrate your personal passions into your entrepreneurial life so that you get a real sense of fulfilment through your business?
Think about these important questions:
- Who are you?
- What matters to you in your life?
- What are your personal values?
- What do you want to do?
- What do you want to share with the world?
- Why do you want to share it with the world?
- If you didn’t have to work because you had enough money to sustain your lifestyle, what would you be doing?
- Where are you in life now versus where do you want to be?
- What would make your life fabulous NOW on YOUR terms?
Take this exercise and thinking time seriously, and DREAM big. For me DREAM means: Destiny Represented Evocatively, Actively and Magnetically.
Then ask yourself the really BIG question. How congruent are your personal life goals with what you are doing in business? If they are congruent, then you will be feeling fulfilment in and passion for your business as you will be working with purpose. Plus others with notice it too. You will exude vitality and life.
If there is little congruence, then it is highly likely that you are not being fulfilled through your business and therefore, you are not living with purpose. You will feel underwhelmed with the outcomes of your entrepreneurial success and life, and quite possibly, you will feel overwhelmed by your day to day work.
In summary, you will not feel alive! And sadly, others will notice it too; your staff, your customers, your suppliers. You might have what looks to others as all the business and financial success in the world, but you will not feel successful. Live to be alive!
For me it is called VIVA Leadership™ – Vision Internalised is Vision Actualised™: internal clarity and ownership and achievement of our personal vision, and congruence with our business world creates purpose, fulfilment and a feeling of being totally alive and in command of our lives.
That is what makes a successful entrepreneur. That is the success I support entrepreneurs around the world to achieve. I hope you make 2015 your best year yet for entrepreneurial success and personal and professional fulfilment.
Could some guidance from me be helpful to you? If so, please arrange a free 30 mins Skype strategy meeting with me. Here’s my calendar to book a meeting. I’d love to support you in some way to gain ‘seductive clarity’ in any aspect of your business or life.
Other articles on What Makes Successful Entrepreneurs:
Seven Secrets of Super Successful Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship vs The Meaning of Life
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?
All Work + Little Play = Boring!
7 Secrets of Business Success
Sir Richard Branson Asks…
Ordinary vs Game Changing
Thriving within the Juggling Act
Business Success and Cookie Dough
What Ice Cream Flavour is Your Business?
