| Take a moment now and envision your | | | | inspires you? What hurdles might stop you from |
| company's future. Then answer the following | | | | achieving this vision, this glorious end game? What |
| questions. When do you want your vision's end | | | | strategies can you implement to prevent, blow |
| game actualized? I recommend in 2-5 years. Do | | | | through, jump over, walk around these hurdles? |
| you want a lifestyle business, one that you will be | | | | Write your vision down, look at the keys to your |
| involved with for the foreseeable future, or do | | | | end game every day: in how many years you |
| you want to build up your current business and | | | | exit your business (or if a lifestyle business, when |
| sell it? If you want to build to sell, using 5 years | | | | you have achieved your greatest revenue goal); |
| as an example, what financial amount do you | | | | what the amount of your exit or peak revenue |
| want to sell it for? To whom might you sell | | | | is; and if selling, the type of company you sell to |
| it--what type of company do you sell to? | | | | and what assets they now enjoy. This will guide |
| Why do they buy your company? What do they | | | | how you shape and grow your business. Let's drill |
| get, specifically, from buying your company? | | | | down on exactly that-starting with your business |
| Perhaps a huge database of repeat clients? A | | | | model. |
| diverse product line? A well-known and powerful | | | | Your business model will make or break you-and it |
| brand? What are the assets the acquirer is | | | | may change often as you adapt to market shifts, |
| gaining? How does it feel to achieve this vision? | | | | launch new products or services, and respond to |
| How do you and your loved ones benefit? | | | | competitive threats. Your people will help you |
| How are celebrating the success of this vision? | | | | execute your business model. As I explain in our |
| Can you now afford things you couldn't before? A | | | | Team Essentials module, you'll be constantly |
| waterfront home in a gorgeous location? Providing | | | | training and hiring people as your company's needs |
| an exceptional education for your kids? Taking | | | | evolve. Your money will come from financing as |
| your partner or spouse on exotic vacations? | | | | well as from sales, two topics I address in the |
| Making a large donation to a non-profit that | | | | Financing and Sales Essentials modules. |