Most women want more from their business endeavor than just money.  Profit is important but there are other things on the list too.  Here is a way to look at what return you want from your business, and how to make sure that the business you start will fill those needs.

Make a long list of the potential things that you want from your business.  Consider the financial goals: wealth, profit for personal or other use, a salary, equity for retirement, security, or money to pay off debt.

You may also list organizational goals: owning a company, respect in your industry, be your own boss, provide jobs for others, lead a new technology, work in the right environment, solve challenges, make your own decisions, be empowered, be in control, be a role model, be free from corporate limitations, effect change, or follow your own values.

Other items on the list may be personal: personal satisfaction, accomplishment, lifestyle choices, flexibility, make a contribution, build a better mousetrap, more creativity, celebrations, excitement and growth, learn new things, freedom to make mistakes, confidence, rewards, self-fulfillment, independence, risk taking, balance, broader horizons, or follow a personal vision.

You may even want to fulfill some community or social goals:  to improve lives, make more contact with people, make a difference, make a contribution, effect lasting change, provide jobs for others, provide service to the community.

Try to add any other reasons that you want your business to be successful.  Then go over the list and circle all the ones that are important to you.  Look quickly at the circles and beside each one indicate how important it is on a scale of 1 – 10.  Each one gets a 1 or a 4 or an 8 or a 10.  Do it quickly.  Then look at what you have.  Did you circle a lot?  If so, you want your business to provide a lot of things for you; not just profit.  If you had a lot of high numbers, a lot of 10’s, then these things are really important to you.  It will be worth a lot to create a successful business that fulfills all of these needs and desires.  If you work hard to create that business, it may satisfy many of your desires for a long time.

Norma J. Rist
No-Nonsense Business Coach

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