What is Your Entrepreneurial Path?

On my Facebook newsfeed and in the many Internet marketing newsletters I receive, I see coaching programs that may be guilting people into believing they are doing something wrong if they aren’t earning tons of money.

The problem I see with these programs is not the programs themselves but that people tend to get sucked into the allure of a high income without knowing why they went into business in the first place. How about you? Have you been thinking that there is something wrong with you because you haven’t earned six or seven figures in your business yet?

Since we all have different skill sets, experience, and values it’s ill advised to follow coaching advice until you gain an intimate knowledge of exactly why you went into business. So, before you start suffering from self-esteem issues because you can’t figure out why you aren’t achieving certain money goals, realize that each of us aren’t in business for the same reasons.

I’ve identified three different types of people and the reason they would have for starting a business. It’s important to know which one you are when building a business model and base your income goals on a life you want to create. You will see that only one has an inherent value that requires a really large income stream.

The Empire Builders
These people are the ones who love business. They usually desire to build something big to leave a legacy when they are gone or to sell the business and start something new. They don’t mind working long hours and see business as a game or something to master.

The Freedom Lovers
These people create businesses because they desire a lifestyle that is flexible, mobile and fun. They want to travel, meet new people, and work when and where they want to work. Work blends in with their personal life and they consider owning a business a way to enjoy life to the maximum without the nine to five grind.

The Altruistic Visionaries
These people create businesses to make a difference. Whether it’s people, pets, the environment or health they either have a cause or have a passion to help someone or something. They may start a non-profit business, an association, or for profit business to further their cause.

Only the Business Builders have a true, innate drive to build a large business. If you don’t love the idea of working lots of hours, investing heavily into your business, and managing lots of people this style is probably not for you. The Freedom Lovers and Altruistic Visionaries would be happiest if they built a business that would cover their business and household expenses and allow them to invest for the future. Occasionally altruistic visionaries create large organizations but they usually believe that their business has to operate on a larger scale to further their cause and reach.

Knowing what you value in life is an important part of creating a business and a desired lifestyle. Before going a step further in your business look at the above styles and figure out which style best fits you. Then you can create realistic income goals that fit the way you want to work and the lifestyle you want to live. When it’s time to hire a coach you’ll know if they can get you where you want to go and you won’t waste time and money building something you don’t desire.

Sherrie Koretke, Niche Clarity Coach. Certified Professional Career Coach, Law of Attraction Specialist, Small Business Coach and Consultant. Visit her at sherriekoretke.com

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