Preparing for business growth is much like preparing for a marathon. There are exercises and scheduled training that you must implement if you want to make it past the finish line.

Yet, many entrepreneurs treat their business growth like a race. The first few minutes of that race they're in the lead, running at a brisk and solid pace. Then, suddenly, everything changes...

Their pace begins to taper, they become winded and might even feel a little queasy in the stomach. The finish line seems out of reach.

If you are racing to the finish line of success in your business, understand that you are more likely to 'win' if you train and prepare yourself for growth:

Set Your Schedule:

All athletes, and successful business owners are adept at setting goals. I know, I know, you've heard all about goal setting.

What you may not have heard is as simple as this...

If you don't know what the finish line looks like, you won't know when you get there. And, when you do get there you won't know when you've lost it.

A clear plan, outlining what the finish line looks like for you ensures that you get there and stay there.

Know your Time:

There is no such thing as an 'overnight success'. The most successful people you know worked steadily to achieve luminary status. They invested in honing their craft and finessing their process or system down pat.

Make no doubt about it, when you're introduced to a hugely successful person, their success was an evolution. This evolution is a symbol of their well-practiced, well timed, pace.

Be satisfied with your results, no matter the size. When you are unhappy with your results, it is usually not because you're not doing your best but because you're comparing yourself against someone else's time.

Carry the Right Gear:

Are you guilty of wanting to run in someone else's lane? Did you know that the person you compare yourself against has developed skills and talents that qualify them to be in that lane?

What about you? What are you investing to run in a different lane? You see, if you aren't investing in learning new skills, strategies and tactics, you will continue to get the same results and place yourself in a constant state of yearning.

Stop comparing! Instead, arm yourself with the right gear. In your business, this means being a student of business - a student of learning.

During a recent interview, a multi-million dollar female entrepreneur shared that she invests a minimum of thirty thousand dollars a year on her personal and professional development

Why so much? Because she understands that to run in the fast lane, she needs to be armed with the right information, the right tools, the right gear.

Select Your Marathon Companions:

Your skills and stamina will be put to the test during the business growth marathon.

If you're a solo professional, you may not find yourself in a position to have a 'stand-in' grow your business for you. You can however, surround yourself with an all-star support team.

You can't experience big business growth all by yourself. To prepare for your growth, you'll need to identify top talent. It's this support team that will oversee those duties and responsibilities that can take your focus away from your training.

Just imagine how much lighter you'll feel running in your lane when you have a support team taking care of the day-to-day operations - leaving you with more time to concentrate on business building activity.

Don't Skip Mental Training:

You may feel you're getting into the last stages of your marathon feeling unprepared and fearing failure. Taking care of yourself (mind, body and spirit) will give you fuel to 'gut it out' but in the end, its your will that pushes you over the finish line.

I'm often asked why I write, speak and teach so heavily on the topic of mindset and personal development. That is because in the end, no matter what race or marathon you're running it's your mental toughness that carries you through.

Don't run against others. Run with the voice within you...the voice that suggests your purpose and passion not anyone else's.

©2007, Liz Pabon. All rights reserved.