A lot of people talk about the importance of building foundations in your business. 

But would you break ground on your dream home without a clear plan of what the finished product was going to look like? 

Probably not. You’d likely want a blueprint to start.

The same concept applies to building your business.

Do you know what you’re building? Do you have a crystal clear vision of what success looks like? Or a North Star that guides every decision you make? 

If so, you have more clarity than most solo-founders who are building online.

If not, you’re running the risk of building a business that ends up being less fulfilling than the corporate grind you were trying to escape.

Here’s why: You have an infinite number of options when it comes to building online.

You can create: 

• Communities

• Memberships

• Low ticket courses

• High ticket courses

• Fractional services

• Consulting packages

• Done-for-you services

• Done-with-you services

• 1-on-1 coaching services

• 1-to-many coaching services

And hundreds of other offers. 

If you aren’t clear about what you want from the business (beyond sales), it's easy to get stuck in a vicious cycle of indecision, confusion, and frustration. 

Or worse, you could end up with a business that's wildly successful by someone else's standards, but unsatisfying by your own. 

Here's an example of two contrasting definitions of "success" playing out with a couple well-known entrepreneurs... 

Last week, Leila Hormozi tweeted about her schedule and routines managing a $200 million portfolio of businesses:

Justin Welsh replied sharing his schedule and routine running his $2 million a year, one-person business::

If you’re the kind of person that lives to work, thrives on demanding schedules, and wants to build an empire, Justin's schedule might sound boring.

If you're the kind of person who wants to earn enough to do whatever you want… but keep your schedule free enough to actually do it, Leila's schedule probably sounds like a nightmare. 

This isn't about who's right and who's wrong. I have my definition of success and you likely have yours... if you've taken the time to clarify it.

Sadly, most service-focused entrepreneurs don't. They may end up with a business that does well-enough to pay the bills, but isn't really fulfilling the original dream. 

That's why every member of my coaching program starts with a process of establishing a clear picture of what success looks like. Yes, that involves some financial targets the business needs to deliver on. But more importantly, it requires clarity about the targets to hit for the founder as a person. 

Sometimes that's location independence and travel. Other times it's freedom to spend time with family. And yes, for some it's building an empire. 

I have my own vision, and I most certainly didn't move my family to a beach in Baja to work from 5 am to 9 pm. But my "right" isn't yours. 

The question is, have you clarified yours?