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“I was poor, living in my friend’s houses. I had no shoes on my feet and only one pair of clothes to wear.” This sentence was how Bill Gates began his letter to the graduating class at Harvard University in 2007.
These were not mere words or a cliché, but an honest reflection of what he went through when he dropped out of college after two years, because computers caught his attention. He then founded Microsoft with Paul Allen. Today, Bill Gates has been named the world’s richest person by Forbes magazine for 17 consecutive years since 1995 and has amassed an estimated net worth of over US$130 billion as well as being one time the world’s wealthiest man.
We all want to live a comfortable life, but not everyone can. It takes hard work and perseverance to achieve the American Dream. The American Dream is a phrase that’s been around for generations, and it speaks to the idea of economic success in America and achieving financial freedom. But how many Americans actually live this dream? According to a recent study by Pew Research Center, only 53% of Americans have achieved or are on their way to achieving it.
Having the American Dream isn’t as easy as it sounds. The opportunity for financial freedom doesn’t come easily or often; it requires working hard and smart. Many people went from rags to riches with nothing more than their determination and drive.
This article talks about how you can follow your dreams, build a business for yourself, and practical strategies to help you get to the top even if you’re starting from scratch.
Getting Started- Have a Solid and Scalable Plan
Don’t let the world brainwash you with fairy-tales of instant wealth creation and overnight success. The first step to achieving financial freedom is having an excellent plan before starting anything. It’s not just enough to “blindly” establish a business of some sort. Ask yourself these questions; what is the higher purpose for my business? What problem am I solving? Who is my target audience?
After asking these questions, you would have a kind of reference point or understanding. It could be a product to solve a particular problem you’ve noticed in your area or a service you’re very good at. Starting small is part of the process, as you get to undergo several trials and errors.
Establish your short-term and long-term goals for the business, and make sure there aren’t any loose ends in your plan. A solid vision, core values, and a sense of purpose are one of the many foundations from which great entrepreneurs build great businesses.
Source For Funds— Network With Those Ahead of You in the Business
You don’t have to break the bank before you build a business or chase after your dreams. Many people often think they need a “large” amount of money to start a business. The thing is, starting small is very vital.
For example, if you plan on offering a service, it would cost you little to no money to get started. All you need to do is show up, play your part, and get paid. If your main goal is producing products, you can offer services to generate revenue, then later shift your focus to products.
Max Gloeckner—an international speaker and founding member of Healy World, gives a perfect example of starting small with little to no funds. Before he discovered the frequency device, Healy, he began with real estate. “I worked my ass off and went from house to house, apartment block to apartment block, by motorbike to gain about 50 new listings a day. During the first year, the agency grew to over 11 agents. I started my agency with the intent to be the most known luxury real estate agency in Bangkok. We worked with videos, drone shots, and other technology to separate us massively from the average. Not long after, a reality real estate show called Top Million Dollar Agent featured me in 4 episodes, and that gained me recognition,” he recalls.
Execution: A Plan Without Action is Simply Nothing
Now that you have a solid plan and you’ve been able to get some funds, you’ve got to take that leap of faith and execute your plan. Take a step and start following the plan you’ve laid out. If it’s a product you want to create, begin the manufacturing process.
The story of Do Won Chang exemplifies the power of instant execution. Do Won Chang and his wife immigrated to America from Korea in 1981. Chang had to work three jobs at a time to support himself and his wife in their new home. He put in long hours and worked endless shifts, and by 1984, he saved enough to open up a small clothing store. That particular store grew into the Forever 21 retail empire, which has hundreds of stores worldwide and is worth billions today. As he told the LA Times, “Forever 21 gives hope to people who come here with almost nothing, and that is a reward that humbles me.”
Taking instant action to follow your dreams would go a long way than procrastinating.
Forge Ahead Regardless of Obstacles
The journey may not be an easy one. That’s pure facts.
However, always rise above still waters. No business person has had an entirely smooth road. Let no one deceive you. What is most important is that you bounce back whenever you’re faced with shortcomings.
For example, things went awry for Max Gloeckner after a romantic relationship went sour. He was left with $0. Regardless, he sought to look for something more meaningful and deeper in life. Not long after, Gloeckner discovered Healy—a frequency device that analyses the body’s bioenergetic field and delivers frequencies to use and work with our energy. Today, Gloeckner rakes in over $50k monthly, and is a top global leader traveling around the globe to share this product and help people step into their best energy and live in their highest frequency.
People who are wealthy and successful don’t always start that way. They also go through shortcomings, but regardless, they never give up.
Summary
Everyone has a dream—a hope for something better in the future. But not everyone actually takes steps to make it happen. Instead, some are content with just dreaming about what could be. The difference between those who have achieved their dreams and those who are still struggling is that one group understands that “hope” is not enough; it requires work to achieve success.
The important thing is not where you start, but how hard you work at improving your situation for the better!
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