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steve kennedy

Happiness
is not a reward-
it is a consequence.
Suffering
is not a punishment-
it is a result.

–Robert Green Ingersoll

Articles Articles

Why win the game of business?
Why would you want to win the game of business!

In the end, the reason we all want business success is to be happy. But you want to be happy in all areas of your life, don’t you? Of course you do. We all do. So why do so many of us try to separate our business lives from the rest of our lives?

My opinion? Big mistake.

People typically spend 50 – 60 hours a week at work, and, if you own a business, you spend another 20 hours thinking about it. So any attempt to separate your work life from the rest of your life means separating yourself from who you are.

If you are going to spend that much time doing anything, you might as well enjoy yourself. Would you spend your life in a relationship with someone you don’t like day after day, week after week, year after year? I know some people do. But would you really want that?

I worked for years in a business that I really disliked because I thought I had no other choice. Truth is, we always have choices. And it’s best if we make work and business-related choices while listening to our inner values. But often, because we don’t lay the proper foundation before going into business or taking that big job, we don’t honor our own inner values. Or even worse we don’t even know our core values and we make decisions that compromise who we are and what we really want. Sometimes we make such decisions in total opposition to our true inner feelings! Then, even when we do make money, we are not really happy. We forget that being successful in business not only has to do with the bottom line, but must also allow us to express and respect our personal values as well.

What if one of your core values was connection with others, and your business is such that you are spending many hours a day alone at the computer? How long will you enjoy this work when you are in conflict with what you desire?

So what am I talking about here? The 5 foundational steps I am talking about are simple:

1. Get clarity about what you really enjoy doing.
2. Identify your core values. These will guide you when making decisions.
3. Look at your beliefs about whether you can be successful doing what you enjoy.
4. Create a Road Map (Plan) to get there.
5. Take daily action steps that move you toward your goals.

What is winning the game of business?

For years I thought success meant accomplishment in business, making lots of money, and earning prestige and status. And, if I did all of these things, I'd be rewarded by feeling great. I had a beautiful wife, two healthy, wonderful kids. We even had the dog and the white picket fence. All my life, I'd been taught that goals like these, when achieved, guaranteed good feelings. So I believed, worked very hard, and here's what I accomplished:

• A 5-million dollar company with 50 employees,
• Built my own dream house,
• Plenty of money,
• New cars in driveway,
• Elected town official,
• Flourishing retail business in my home town,
• Awards for public service
• Trophies for sports...and even more!