Create a business that your heart desires, and have fun, too!

Imagine that you've just won the lottery and in order to receive your check, you must have a full time job. What would you be doing? Would it be what you are doing now? If not, ask yourself why. Do you just need to add a little fun to your career or business, or are you not happy with your current position and feel ready to go for what you REALLY want to do?

Here are some ideas on how you can make the most of where you are, or take the steps to get to where you want to be.

--Choose a career that "makes your heart smile." It's your desire level and commitment that will keep you going during any rough times.

--Make sure that your end product - your business - has a market. You need people who need your product and will pay for it, too.

--Know what helps you maintain your integrity -- your top 5 values, needs and wants. Base your decisions on what's important to you. Tony Robbins' book, "Awaken The Giant Within" has an excellent chapter on values. You'll find the book at http://www.coachmaria.com/books/ Values, needs and wants are also part of the "101 Things To Work On With Your Coach", too. Download the report, free, at http://www.coachmaria.com/ebooks/

--Be prepared financially when transitioning into your business by making sure that you have a reserve of money in the bank or another income.

--Even with the best planning strategies, things do occur that end up costing us more money than we had planned to spend.

--Build a strong support system, including a business and volunteer network as well as friends. Join a success group or a networking group, and hire a coach or consultant to assist you in your business evolution.

--Recognize your strengths and work from them. Acknowledge your weaknesses and failures, life's way of providing feedback, and grow from them. Read The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber... it's a "must have" business book.

--Create a strong business foundation: a business plan, marketing plan, pricing packages, elevator speech, ideal client profile, and operations manual. Follow them. Create forms and processes to keep you on track, etc. Moreover, choose to be organized and consistent-- Your clients and employees will appreciate it!

--Develop your boundaries and standards. They affect your business too!

--There are some wonderful Top Ten Lists on both topics at http://www.topten.org

When business is no longer fun, it's time to reassess what you're doing. Even better, step back and assess your "fun quotient" every six months. Hey-- maybe it's time now!

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