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[Dave Kotecki Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 5]

Without going through the whole thing again here in the forum, (I wrote an article the way you're supposed to)
here's the deal:

I am constantly amazed at the number of people who just throw out the "You've gotta have a business mindset!" crap.

So I wrote an article about it.

The question is, what exactly do you mean when you talk about a business "mindset", and does whatever you mean by that phrase actually help your business at all?

Before you answer, be sure to go to my profile and check out the article.

Believe me, by the time you're finished reading it, you'll be ready to write a reply.
Bigtime.

[Warren Veach Company: State Continuing Education Contribution Level: 4]

Dave,

Your line, "The only reason you're doing whatever you do now, is to put food on the table and a roof over your family's heads." is right on.

I understand the "if you help enough people get what they want" mentality, but it has to be balanced with the bottom-line in the business world, and "value" is in the eye of the beholder.

I offer a very valuable, and needed product, but its only valuable to those they are in need of the product.

When I think about a business "mindset", I personally think about staying focused on my target group and how that focus will benefit my bottom-line.

[Michael B Wilbraham Contribution Level: 4]

HO,HO,HO...Dave, you're the MAN!!

In your article you say - "You start a business to make a profit. That is the ultimate goal. Without that, no matter how many people you help, inspire, empower or whatever feel-good crap you're spewing today, your buinesss will fail."

Radical man, just radical!

That is the absolute truth...let's face it, there can be NO OTHER REASON! Profit is what drives business. To be in business must mean to make a profit - otherwise you're packing up & going home.

Wouldn't it be crazy if top businessmen said "I'm in business for charity, for fun, because I LOVE it" - baloney. Top businessmen, any businessman, business person, whatever...who are in business, are there to make a profit - absolutely & without a doubt.

So, I guess if I really have a look at my business, the "brick & mortar" business I built up over the last 6 years or so, then I guess I would have to say yes...I do have a business mindset. One thing I will tell you is that is has had nothing to do with the people I help, inspire, empower or any of that other feel-good crap that everyone spews out to us every day.

It has had everything to do with delivering exceptional service, being able to supply the right product at the right time at the right price, employing reliable, courteous, customer oriented staff, monitoring & managing overheads in terms of margins (correct pricing), & about a hundred other business oriented activities that need to be managed every minute of every business day.

So, if that is what is meant by having a business mindset, then once again, yes...I absolutely have it!

Without it, I would find it really difficult to make a profit.

[Dave Kotecki Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 5]

Thanks for the atta boy, guys.
Sometimes the truth has gotta be told.

I wonder how many people out there are looking for someone who can show them
how to make money, and how many are looking for a "mentor". I bet most are simply
looking for a way to make a little extra jack.

[Michael B Wilbraham Contribution Level: 4]

Dave, I think most people "out there" are looking for someone to make them a little extra, as opposed to doing it themselves.

They all want the moolla but pitiful few are prepared to WORK to earn it.

I would call it a distinct lack of "business mindset"!

[Jason Jahr Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Dave. Great article. Yes you are correct: PROFIT must be your motive in order to start a business. Countless people begin their own ventures simply because they consider what they do to be enjoyable. And that thinking is okay. But without focusing on actually making a profit, their business will ultimately fail. I enjoy what I do and therefore have decided to keep on doing it. But if I do not make money at it, then I will quit and do something else. Having fun doing your business can keep you going (how many of us are fed up with dead-end jobs and ungrateful employers?), and the time can indeed fly. But every business that remains in business focuses on generating a profit (and yes, profits are good; profits work). And network marketing is a business. Plain and simple.

[Michael B Wilbraham Contribution Level: 4]

Dean, how do you think Richard Branson got to where he is today, the same goes for Donald Trump?

I reckon it's because they did worry about the bottom line at some stage in their business careers. The fact that they pay someone to worry about it now, means that they still worry about it today.

Otherwise they wouldn't bother!

The question we need to ask is this - "Did these guys get to where they are today as a result of a business mindset, or not?"

Wishing you all an inspired day.

[Nathaniel Johnson Contribution Level: 6]

hahahaha Dave, I agree man, all I can say is that I agree.

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

.

Great thought string Dave.
You're becoming quite the writer bro.
I'm diggin' your stuff more and more every time you post. Good show!


I would agree that the "mindset" jargon is a bit cliché these days.
It actually has been for quite some time.

But like any good "keyword," mindset has been "trending" on a good run in the network marketing circles.

I see a very distinct difference between someone with a "business owner" mindset and that of an "entrepreneur."

The business owner can very easily be broken out of the mold that Kiyosaki placed the vernacular in and placed on the E/S side of the quadrants. The business "owner" can be the mom & pop grocery store or hardware store down the street. The hair salon your cousin started. The tanning salon your sister opened. The hometown auto dealership on the corner.

The common thread in all of these scenarios is that these people set out to "start a business." To some extent you could say they have an "entrepreneurial" spirit simply because they struck out on their own. They wanted to "work for themselves" "set their own hours" ... "Do Their Own Thing, without being constricted by a (boss)."

But it's relatively small thinking. Small Business.
And while the "why" or the "big vision" may be there to some extent, I argue that it's fairly minuscule when compared to the level of "WHY" amongst the likes of Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Howard Hughes, J. Paul Getty, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, Elon Musk, Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield, Jerry Yang, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The list can go on and on.

These men were pioneers, visionaries ... DREAMERS.
My contention is that the "bottom line" was NOT the focus of the endeavor.
Sure, absolutely, I'm sure the moment was there when they sat around drinking beers or something and the "ah ha" moment struck when they looked at whoever was lucky enough to be sitting in the chair across from them at the time when they said .... "Damn - We Could Be Rich!"

But I'm pretty sure if you ask them what DROVE them, what motivated them to work the all nighters, make the calls that no one wanted to make, do the things no one was willing to do, was, at the end of the day, fueled by their WHY. The BIG DREAM.

And yes I agree at it's core level to whatever extent, the thought process of "What can I do to make money?" comes in to the picture when you start thinking about "the Big Idea." But I've also been apart of mastermind sessions, both on my own and with other entrepreneurs, where the IDEA was really the only "currency' on anyone's minds at the time. It really was just a matter of "Damn that's a kick ass idea!"

On the other hand, you have the the mom & pop store.
Did they set out to conquer the world one shovel at a time? Or did they find themselves "by luck or chance" in a position to fill a need. Did Sue start the salon with the intent to develop a business system that would allow her to franchise the model and own a brand with salons in every major shopping mall from coast to coast? Or was she just sick of her 9-5 and pretty good at cutting hair anyways - so why not?

See the difference?

Gary Vaynerchuck discusses this topic quite a bit. As do people like Frank Kern, Eben Pagan, Yanik Silver, Mike Hill, Jeff Johnson, Mike Dillard and other paramount figures in the modern marketing realm.

Gary in particular preaches the need to focus on something you are passionate about.
Do what you love ... and the money will come.

His point of view really resonates with me because I DO want the money, without a shadow of a doubt. People that claim some elevated consciousness, esoteric, "I Just Want To Help People - I Don't Care About The Money" rhetoric are 100% full of shit! That's a lie. I want to help people too. In fact, it's PART of MY VISION. One of the things that gets me excited about what I'm doing and where I'm going.

But you know what, I want to live a great life too. I want my kids to be taken care of. I want to buy my dad a house. I want to hire house keepers for my wife. I don't want "money" to be an "issue" in my life or my children's lives EVER AGAIN. Hell yes I want to be Richie Rich!

But focusing on the money will only get you so far. The VISION, the DREAM, that's the juice that is going to light your ass on fire with excitement and vigor and unstoppable "Get On or Get the Hell Out Of My Way" determination.

And yes, money, for a time will motivate you when you don't have any. When the power company sends the "shut off notice" you can bet your ass you're gonna figure it out - quick!

And as someone who's lived the 6 figure lifestyle and owned the million dollar company I can tell you with first hand experience, that once you taste the money, you'll never go back to the rat race again. You'll bust your ass to make sure you NEVER EVER go back to that hell hole of an existence again.

But I can also tell you from first hand experience as someone who has to "start over" that building that million the second time, does seem easier, but it is absolutely, unequivocally, 100% driven by (1) a vision and (1.5a) money.

And here's why I think that is ... it's simple really.
Anything less than a lofty endeavor fueled by an exciting vision at this point is just a job in disguise. And those are waaaaaay easier to create than it is to engineer an empire.

Again I can share this from first hand experience. It's super easy for me to go out and get a web client. Someone who needs a website built. I fill the need and "cha ching" they fill my bank account with X dollars. Or slap together an affiliate campaign.
Ok, now what?

Need more dollars? Get another web client. More dollars? Another client. And on and on. Nothing all that exciting about that is it? Maybe it would be for someone reading this. Maybe that fits their idea of a "business mindset."

But building a global empire? Flying people into space? Creating an alternate form of mass transportation? Shaping the New York skyline like your personal lego set? .... that is NOT a simple "business mindset."

That's VISION.
That Is What a TRUE Entrepreneur dreams about at night.

Nothing wrong with admitting "you're in it for the money." Who isn't really.
I mean really, if everyone were 1000% honest with themselves. But that fuel you talked about doesn't come from black or red ink.

I think it comes from living the dream outside of the limiting reality of the balance sheet and financial statements.

Fulfillment and being truly happy with what you are doing, what ever level that is and what ever that looks like, is what ensures the money follows you.

At least that's how I see it.

Here's a cool interview with Richard Branson (he's one of my favorite entrepreneurs)
Pay particular attention to the conversation at point 2:45 in the video where he shares his view of a "business mindset" and how it correlates to "paying the bills" and the role of being an entrepreneur.



One Last Thing ...
I will say, that at the most basic level, I do see the point that if the average person coming into this industry misses the point that "Without sales, without product moving and money changing hands, You Have No Business" to chase some pie-in-the-sky idea that "I Do This For Free Without Any Expectation Of Monetary Gain and Rely Solely on (the Secret) ..." will produce nothing but a bunch of broke, disgruntled, MLM drop outs.

Even the Bible discusses "Faith Without Works Is DEAD!"
and ...
"In all labor (work) there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty."


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[Adam Taha Company: Amway Contribution Level: 7]

From what I've been reading about Richard Brandson and many others, their books - it wasn't about money, the bottom line that was all that Richard Brandson was going for.

His own own words are these:

Richard Brandson quote - "

Above all, you want to create something you are proud of…. That has always been my philosophy of business.

I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money.

If that is the sole motive.....

then I believe you are better off doing nothing.

I don’t think of work as work and play as play. It’s all living.

I’ve had to create companies that I believe in 100%. These are companies I feel will make a genuine difference.

Then I have to be willing to find the time myself to talk about them, promote them and market them. I don’t want to spend my life doing something that I’m not proud of.”

It's the same thing I said in other threads regarding money.

Personally mindset is Financial IQ, which most do not really invest in. Glad I did at Robert Kiyosaki training. Workshop was great but I went further and enrolled on their courses.

Which got me to meet some of Robert's right hand people, millionnaires who are building the organisation and investing in properties in UK.

I asked them, "is it the bottom line the money you do it for?"

Their reply, were different but it was never, "profit." Yes, it's stupid going into business without planning, research to identify cashflow. But it's the underlining part that got them to invest in learning for years WHEN they had no money is the key.

In other words Desire, the pain they felt.

I remembered one of them clearly, who replied,

"See that crowd here, who come on course, they did it for bottom line and money. Look where it got them. Fking nowhere. Now, they understand the reason "why" and not the bs they learn from amateurs."

I asked him to eloborate.

He simply replied, "You don't get a burger because of getting one, do you?"
"No" I replied.
"You get the burger, food because you're hungry. Hungry for what?"
"Food in my stomache."
"And if you don't get that burger or any food, you feel what?"
"Erm, pain?"
"Then think of what you ain't got and what it causes you. Humilation, lack of control, pushed around by a boss, ridiculed by peers, associating with fools. Debt. Think of the why. That's gets you. But do not think you do not need Financial IQ, knowledge to create cashflow.

I still got the notes with me. On last sentence he adss..

"There we go. Money is a tool, power but what is it you want to do with it? I really mean what ticks you off so bad. What rattles you. What you so pissed off about? What do you passionately want to do and be successful at, known for, family proud of you, your kids look up to and you can look in the mirror and smile? What?

Why you here pal?"

Each millionnaire on that course talked on those same lines except they explained differently.

Napoleon Hill knew what he was talking about. It's just people don't put it in the context he studied it and teaches it by.

They'll read books and do no action.
They'll have a badge of recognition of joining a business and no action.
They'll have pictures on the fridge and...no action.
They'll do lots of tasks and no mastery of a skill to create the profits.

So yes, I believe in the mindset of "why." and it needs "Financial IQ." It's common sense.

And best way I get to where I am was by a mentor who has done it.

Adam Taha