Have you ever wondered how some people make success look so darn easy? You are out busting your hump each day to get more clients , have fewer fires, and ultimately squeeze in 5 minutes of peace of mind. If building this venture seems hard to you , and your business isn't exactly where you want it to be , then you are missing a component of the Winning "5" Combination.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration , over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years. The top reasons for small business failure include lack of planning , lack of differentiation from competition, and poor marketing strategy. However, the small business administration failed to address two critical points that also lead to failure for small businesses: lack of life balance , which contributes to burn out , and a lack of confidence and support, which causes individuals to feel isolated and hopeless about creating success.

These figures aren't meant to scare you , but to prepare you for the path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting or growing a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However , success is absolutely possible with the right mindset , support, and resources. There are not shortcuts.

Success is not merely about wealth. By building a business that honors your values , you will tap into a passion that will naturally generate peak personal performance and fulfillment. This natural passion will attract the kind of business you desire and enjoy working on. It's a natural cycle.

Building a solid foundation will help you focus on what is really important to achieve fulfillment and happiness. The strategies in this report will also help you to avoid the pitfalls of failed businesses by planning ahead and constantly moving in the direction of your vision. Success doesn't have to be hard.

"If you have built castles in the air , your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.' - Henry David Thoreau

Mastery is a great skillfulness and knowledge of a subject or activity. Mastery is not a destination , but rather a journey. As with anyone who masters a certain task , you must be in continual practice to sustain that level. To do that you must have a strategy. A strategy is a plan , a "how , " a means of getting from here to there. The Winning "5' Combination is a culmination of the key strategies the successful use in their business.

Self Inquiry: What are your core operating values?

The Winning "5" Combination

The Winning "5" Combination is like a recipe for small business success. Have you ever tried to bake a cake without using flour or only throwing in a dash of sugar? Pretty awful sounding , huh? It is the same principal with achieving a mastery level of business. If you combine the right ingredients in the right order you can create a delicious masterpiece. In the first part of this article, we will go into depth on winning combination number. Parts two and three will discuss winning combination two through five.

Winning Combination #1 - Develop a Success Mindset Winning Combination

Winning Combination #2 - Design Your Success

Winning Combination #3 - Create Systems for Success

Winning Combination #4 - Know , Love and Trust Your Customers

Winning Combination #5 - Create Consistent Marketing (Promotion) Engines

Self Inquiry: What part of the combination am I missing?

Winning Combination #1

Develop a Success Mindset Winning Combination

I have a secret to tell you. I really want you to read and absorb this secret. In fact , once you have read the sentence , close your eyes, and repeat it in your head at least 5 times.

The only thing standing between you and success is you!

Fire the "Committee' & Clear Up Some Space

The committee (or those little voices in your head that create guilt and anxiety) are the instigators of the Wants Vs. Shoulds argument. Save yourself a whole bunch of time and energy and fire them!

Clarify between what you want and what you think you should want. My simple definition of balance is: achieving what you want in each area of your life. You've probably noticed that it's very difficult to achieve what you want until you know what you want. And it's completely de-motivating , dissatisfying , and unfulfilling to pursue shoulds.

Extinguish Limiting Beliefs

What are the lies we believe? These ideas we call beliefs. They are usually hidden and because they are hidden , they are unseen enemies that flourish unchecked. There are two kinds of limiting beliefs. The first is a global limiting belief which usually starts with a statement such as Life is , I am , People are…. Then there are rules that are set to let you know when to feel bad and when to feel good. Beliefs are a feeling of absolute certainty about something and they are created out of a persons attempt to meet their need at the time.

They come from early experiences we have had and have been formed as a way to protect us from hurt. And they lie just under the radar of our awareness. So they kind of operate on autopilot , and we experience their results in our lives , but we do not usually detect them.

Research suggests that these limiting beliefs cause over 95% of every problem we have in life! They motivate our thoughts , our feelings , and some of the harmful behaviors and habits that cause us pain and also hurt the ones we love.

People express limiting beliefs with statements like: 'I cannot... , ' 'I have to...' or 'It is impossible to...' These leave you no choice or alternative possibilities , and they are therefore disempowering. Here are some of the destructive limiting beliefs that can be a hidden part of our lives…

(1) I am never going to get clients (2) I am unorganized (3) I am a failure (4) I am bad at marketing…sales...business (5) I can't do it

Those statements are not true - they are beliefs. Limiting beliefs do not serve you and your success. In fact , they can keep you from what you truly want!

Here are some positive beliefs to replace those negative beliefs. If you believe you can - you can and if you believe you can't - you won't. So let's create some new "beliefs' to govern your journey by.

There is no such thing as Can't. There is only I choose not to. There is no trying in business. There is success and failure and they are interdependent of one another. If you believe you will succeed you will , if you believe you won't you won't.

Self Inquiry: What limiting beliefs have I bought into?

(This article will be continued in parts two and three.)

Copyright (c) 2006 UpLevel Strategies