One thing I've noticed about successful people is that no matter what their circumstances they always seem positive and confident. It's like they believe that their attitude with control their future, not the other way around. Seems true doesn't it? When you let yourself be down in the dumps it seems that there's no way out, but when you are happy and looking forward to tomorrow then the sky's the limit.
If you dress for success and think for success, you will be successful - at least this is my credo at the time. It was this thinking, more than anything else, the got in my way when I tried to start a profitable small business.
Trying to start a business requires realism above all else. The most profitable businesses were not started by charismatic salesman, but by realists. Sometimes, they would have a visionary idea behind them, but visionaries are notoriously low on charisma. They almost inevitably need the aid of a sound business man if they want to make one of the most profitable businesses.
Despite What all of the books that try to sell you some magical code of success tell you, there is no key to having one of the most profitable businesses. In reality, most of these highly profitable businesses were started by people who already had a lot of money. They would use this money in an intelligent way to make even more money by investing. I am not saying that it is impossible to start one of the most profitable businesses without a lot of money. Nothing is impossible, and it has been done before. I am just saying that you probably have a better chance of winning the lotto. Start with reasonable goals and you will not get discouraged. Leave the dreaming for the dreamers.
If you do have a truly visionary idea, however, what you need is to be pragmatic. Rarely are the most profitable businesses started without sound financial backing. Start up businesses can struggle for years, not because they do not have good ideas or good leadership, but simply because there are bigger fish in the sea. If you are absolutely driven to make money, you probably will make it one way or another, but it requires a lot of hard work.