When I was in my teens, I started to think seriously about where I wanted my life to go. Like many young people I had visions of doing something significant. I also knew that most people abandon their dreams. So I promised myself that I would never give up trying, no matter what difficulties might come.
And the difficult times did come—some of them more painful than I could have imagined. But I kept my promise. I've never given up. I've been blown out of the sky several times, but I've always been able to put things back together and lumber down the runway to bluer skies.
My greatest fear had always been that I might reach the end of my life and feel that I hadn't fulfilled my purpose—that I hadn't made a lasting difference in the world. I no longer have this fear, but I'm still driven to make the most of my talents, my experiences and my resources.
During my 30 years of personal development research, I've seen many people—good people, hard-working people, talented people—not experience the success they deserved.
They weren't failing, they were just no longer willing to go for the best that's within them. They had good intentions, but somewhere along the line they got disheartened and gave up on themselves—they let their dreams slip away.
It was out of my commitment and this concern, as well as my own failings, that I started my company. What I strive to do with my writing and with this network is to coach people to be their best—personally and professionally. No professional athlete would consider competing without a coach. And yet, few people have a coach for the game of life.
Coaches challenge and motivate the player. A good coach will help the athlete develop a game plan and create accountability for following that plan.
And we all need a game plan—a plan for a balanced, value-driven, principle-centered life. I believe that happiness is a result of continually striving toward worthwhile objectives while also enjoying and appreciating what is here and now. It's a paradoxical balance struck between what I call "inspirational dissatisfaction" and contentment.
By investing the time and energy to get clear on our values and life purpose, by defining and articulating what we really want from all areas of our life, and then consistently acting on our objectives, we will live a successful life.
This kind of work isn't easy. It requires deep thinking and honest soul-searching. It's not something you do in an afternoon. It demands constant focus and attention. Unless you're the architect of your life, you're at the affect of everything and everyone you encounter. It's something with which we all need help.
My passion is helping people discover, develop and fulfill their dreams. In the process, I fulfill my own.
I take great joy in supporting people and organizations to consistently create excellence. To participate in the development and realization of a dream is, for me, to walk on holy ground. By living our dreams, we give birth to things that never would have been, but more importantly, we become more of who we are in the process.
Ever thought of running a home based business? You could save time on the daily commute, keep the hours that suit you, and enjoy the benefits of being your own boss. Many people see this as their dream way to work, but it might seem like an impossible dream. Where should you begin? Could you really make it work?
Working from home is easier than most people realise, but it does require discipline. If you're self-motivated and capable to sticking to a schedule even when there's no-one else around to tell you what to do, you might have got what it takes. Running your own business is always going to be hard work, but doing it from home can make a lot of things easier. A home based business doesn't cost as much to start and it doesn't cost as much to run. Dealing with the bank and the tax office is simpler. If it doesn't work out, you have a lot less to lose. This means that it's much easier for you to take your business idea and run with it.
What sort of businesses work when based at home? If you have a good broadband internet connection, you have the potential to do business all over the world; alternatively, you can use part of your home as an office from which to run a local service. Retail businesses can require you to find a lot of storage space, so most people running home based businesses prefer to stick to service industry and small scale manufacturing work. Think about the business skills you have which you could put to use this way. Think about what you enjoy doing - it's much easier to work hard if you're doing something which is fun and worthwhile. After all, being able to focus on what you enjoy is one of the biggest benefits of running your own business.
Being based at home has a lot of other benefits. You won't need to face the traffic in the morning, and if you feel unwell it's okay to have an extra hour in bed provided you make up for it later. If you're a parent, you can fit the activities of your home based business around school hours so that you get to spend more time with your children. For many disabled people and carers, a home based business can provide employment opportunities which simply wouldn't be there otherwise. Retired people may enjoy running this kind of business part time. It can open up a whole new world.
If you have an idea which you want to turn into a business, why not get started today? A visit to your local library or a browse around the internet can let you know about local services available to people like you. Many start-up projects are eligible for grants and low-rate loans to help them buy the equipment they need. You can also get free advice on how to put together a business plan which will help you work out the viability of your project. You can look up other companies working in the same area to find out how much they charge for their products or services, to help you work out what you should be charging, and you can examine the way they advertise to work out how you can go about getting publicity. After all, no-one will buy from you if they don't know you're there.
Although it takes ingenuity and hard work, running a home based business is within reach of everyone who really wants it. You may have to struggle to begin with, but after that you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that everything you earn is down to you. While your former colleagues continue to toil away at the nine to five, you'll be living your dream.
Both Michael Angier & Dassana Jayalath are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Michael Angier has sinced written about articles on various topics from Gift Ideas, self improvement and motivation and Seduce Women. Michael Angier, founder of , recently released the New SuccessNet Resource Book--the Top Must-Have Tools, Products, Services and Resources for Running Your Busi. Michael Angier's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.
Dassana Jayalath has sinced written about articles on various topics from tax, Home Management and Guided Meditation. Dassana Jayalath is the editor of WebSuperTips newsletter. Visit to access free ecourse :. Dassana Jayalath's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.