5 days to Change for Success – Day 2: Building Strong Foundations

Change for Success - Build Strong Business FoundationsIn the first post of this 5 day series 5 days to Change for Success – Day 1: Clear the decks! we started to clear the path ready for creating strong foundations. Once you have cleared the decks, you are ready to start putting your strong foundations in place.

Why are strong foundations important?

If a builder didn’t put strong foundations in place, what he is building is likely to fall down and not be fit for purpose.

The same is true for creating success in your business, lifestyle or family life – the stronger the foundations, the better results you will get.

Four essentials to create strong foundations for success

The following four points are an essential part of building strong foundations because without them you will not be creating success and freedom on your own terms.

Important note: Suspend your belief of what is possible when doing this exercise. Imagine you have no limitations at all – anything is possible:

1. Create a vision.

What does your business and lifestyle look like when it is ideal?

Write it down using the present tense. Be really specific. Put it somewhere you will see it every day. Find images that reflect each aspect of your vision and create an inspiring and motivating vision board.

2. Create a B.H.A.G.

This as a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Create a goal that is so big it fills you with excitement and inspires you.

3. Clarify your values.

For true success, freedom and fulfilment you have to build your business, lifestyle and family life around your core values. What are the most important things to you? What do you value most? Get clear and specific.

4. Create your Success Definition.

In the blog post Whose definition of success are you living by? I explained why this is so important. I recommend reading it before doing this exercise.

Create a definition of success for your business, lifestyle and family life. Ensure this is based on your core values. Be careful you are not listing down other people’s idea of success. It’s time to create success on your own terms. Listen to your gut.

Once you have completed these points you will have created the foundations for building success in all areas of your business and life. Now it’s time to create the road map to get there. That is what we will be focussing on in the next post – Day 3 – Getting into Action.

In the meantime, have fun playing with creating your strong foundations and do let me know how you get on.

Related posts:

1. 5 days to Change for Success – Day 1: Clear the decks!

2. Is your Business a Vampire?


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  • http://www.6aliens.com Ben Lumley

    Very nice Ali. Sorry I'm a day behind.

    I like the idea of BHAG's – very good.

    I think a lot of people miss the definition of success step however. They set up there goals and start working but have no idea what the end result should look like. That for me is always the most important part.

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    You are right, a lot of people do overlook the definition of success part yet it is absolutely essential for business success and living life on your terms. Glad you like the BHAG's – that one is really fun to play with.

  • http://www.cormacmoore.com/ Cormac

    very true – I just got back from helping someone with a thesis on coaching in the IT sector. He asked me about using coaching/nlp to elicit the behaviours/traits of successful people in the IT sector and could that information accelerate the success of potential workers.

    I asked him what he ment by successful people and we hit a bit of a block…

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Cormac, that is a really interesting example. Thank you for sharing it. Hope he managed to get past the block.

  • http://www.cormacmoore.com/ Cormac

    yea i think it was good tho – he then had to decide for himself what “success” ment to him and what to focus on in his thesis – and you know with those boring academic projects, you have to be specific or you get slated!

    I wrote about something kinda similar here, not about defining success, but about listening to yourself and your gut, you may find it interesting http://www.cormacmoore.com/advising.php

  • http://www.diary4life.com Paul

    Ali,

    Building a strong foundation is so important to achieving success in our lives; your strategy of vision, goals, values and success is such a great tool to use. I find values can be a stumbling block, for many people to move forward because they are unable to identify, them with honesty.

    Thank you for sharing this.

    Regards

    Paul

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Glad you found it useful Paul. I think the stumbling block people face with getting clear on their values is that it is not something that is commonly taught in families, schools, and so on. So for many people it can take a while to get their heads around. But a business, lifestyle and family life orientated round values is the only way to go and a key to true and lasting success and fulfillment.

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Great to hear it lead him to think about his own definition of success.