Excerpt

Please read an excerpt from Your Hidden Goldmine

Introduction

When I first conceived of this book, the first thing I thought of was creating a goldmine, and like most of us in business it took me a long time to understand what this goldmine actually was.

Years ago, I had read Russell Conwells, “Acres of Diamonds”, and even though I thought I understood the principles and the context… I didn’t.  As it turns out, so many other business people also didn’t get it!

This e-book is the fruit of a long process of discovery to my own “Hidden Goldmine” and I felt that I needed to share this information because I believe all people who are in business or wish to start a business, need to know this information to guarantee their success.

So let’s begin the journey.

Years ago I heard this tale about the founding of IBM.

Thomas J. Watson Snr., and his associates got together and brain-stormed the development of IBM.  The goal was to determine what this company IBM would look like in 25 years.  Once they achieved this, they started IBM with the attitude that they were already this 25-year-old enterprise, and acted as if the future was NOW.

What a concept!

Interestingly, this isn’t how IBM started.  It evolved from another company called the ‘Computing Tabulated Recording Corporation’ which Watson joined as an employee and eventually became its President.  This company was later renamed IBM in the 1920’s.

But reality or myths, the real message is very clear for all businesses… “Always start with the end in mind!” – Stephen Covey.

To that end let’s get started in helping you find “Your Hidden Goldmine”, so that you can prosper and enjoy the fruits of your labours, now and for a long time to come.

By the way, I need to ask you this question (one of the few that will be asked throughout the book), “Why are you in business?” Or perhaps a better question is “What is the purpose of your business?”

Not surprisingly, when I was asked this question a number of years ago by my good friend and mentor Iain (pronounced ‘Iron’) MacKenzie, I got it very wrong… and I’m a business consultant.

I say not surprisingly (although it surprised me at the time), because I have asked this question to clients, workshop participants and audiences over the years, and very, very few have actually got right.

Despite the answers we all give, ie. freedom, flexibility, making money, being able to steer one’s own course and certainly being able to have control of our lives etc… we all pretty much miss the mark.

The answer is…

… to develop ‘sustained or sustainable profitability’.

Because without sustainable profitability, we could be making lots of money in our businesses and still be going broke, just like many of the largest corporations around the world have found out in recent years.

Without sustainable profitability we very easily become slaves to our businesses, working 16 to 18 hour days, seven days a week.  Eventually the idea of being a wage slave where we have our nights and our weekends free to do other things, starts to look good.

The reason I asked this question, is that by knowing the real answer we can now start to build a better business… by always starting, building and growing with the ‘end in mind’.