I recently had the opportunity to listen to Michael Gerber, author of e-Myth Revisted, talk about why so many small businesses fail. One of the main points I took away from the talk was in order to determine how to improve your business, ask the following question "What is missing in this picture?". He used the analogy of building a jigsaw puzzle and having the end picture or goal in mind. How tough would it be to build a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box and how many jigsaw puzzles have been sold without the final picture on the box. Likewise, how tough would it be to build a successful business without the end goal in mind. How many businesses are started and successful without a clear picture of what the business should be at the end. This can also be said of ourselves.

How many people are successful without a clear picture of what they want their life to be like at the end. What do I want to be doing in 20 years, how have I made a positive impact on other people's lives, where do I want to live, how much money do I want to be making. These are all questions that can be answered when you have a plan in place and know where you are going. Additionally, on the days that are tough both professionally and personally, wouldn't it be nice to know where you are going and have the end goal in mind. One way to do this is to create a personal mission and vision and review these daily.