Obstacles to Success: 5 Ways You May Be Strangling Your Success

With any new business venture there are going to be obstacles to success to overcome. There are ways you can start out ahead and avoid strangling your success.

I had a really intriguing conversation with a person new to business a few months ago. She wanted me to walk her through crafting a business proposal. She was interested in leasing commercial space, getting a storefront, staffing, vans and a whole lot more. It was a wonderfully BIG DREAM!

My concern kicked in when she indicated she’d only taken a handful of courses in her specialty several years earlier and had no experience in the field. It seemed she would be saddling herself with a lot of misconceptions, second guesses, and unnecessary start up costs. All of which added up to a lot of obstacles to success. It’s important to have a BIG DREAM always; it is equally significant to understand where you are starting out and how to avoid strangling your success.

Here are 5 sure ways to strangle your success, and how to avoid them:

#1 Lack of Planning (Obstacles to Success)

This is most common when you wing it! Before diving into any venture, do your research. If you have the opportunity, go and work (even part time) for someone in the industry you want to get into. Don’t allow appearances to deceive you. There are no overnight successes. Instead it is more often 20 years of toiling in relative obscurity to create that magical “big break” that appears to be overnight success! Oh and “build it and they will come” is not a plan of any sort. Avoid obstacles to success with proper planning.

#2 Lack of Passion (Obstacles to Success)

Passion is critical as it will get you through the tough spots and there are going to be lots of those. Your passion will keep you pushing through when lesser personalities would give up. Your passion will give you the energy to work the long hours at the outset and still love what you are doing.

# 3 Lack of Positioning (Obstacles to Success)

You must know going into any venture where you will stand in your field, in your industry. Where do you want to wind up? Are you going to be at the top end with exclusive clients and high end customers? Or are you going for mass appeal and low cost, like the Walmarts of the world? By the way, there is no real middle anymore to speak of because that is where too many get stranded by trying to be all things to everyone. Know that the first client you accept is likely indicative of many clients you will attract.

# 4 Lack of Principal (Obstacles to Success)

Many businesses can be launched on a shoestring and it is wise to do so. I say wise because burying yourself in debt to start any business isn’t generally smart. There are no guarantees even if you buy an existing business. Minimize your capital outlay and particularly your debt as a solopreneur or small biz owner jumping in. Once you’ve got a track record, then it’s time to look at leveraging what you’ve built and going after capital for growth.

#5 Lack of Prayer (Obstacles to Success)

No, this isn’t a religious statement. Simply put, to launch any business, you need a lot of faith. Faith in yourself, confidence in your talent, your gifts, your experience and your expertise, belief that when you take the right and best steps, do your research, and remain flexible to what can happen, you will succeed. When you lack faith you will find yourself bounced all over the place mentally and emotionally and your business will run you over. Stand in your strength.

Please share your feedback and comments always! I welcome them. And if you need a bit of help getting rid of the obstacles to your success, email me and let’s see how together we can ditch the hurdles and create a path of profitability and passion with purpose.

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