Alice in Wonder-Where-You're-Going Land

On our first encounters into this wondrous world of business, the journey seems doable. Then as the years click by, something a little “curiouser” happens—disillusion, disappointment, frustration—REALITY—sets in, which seems to take away the joy of it all. We discover we have somehow lost our way, self-doubt becomes the norm and we begin to think, "Maybe this dream of being independent and owning a business is for others, not me!?”

The business has taken over your life and, in some cases, the dream has become a nightmare, where nothing is what it should be. You're working endless hours and still not able to keep up with the day-to-day grind of operations.

Yep, you wonder where the WONDER went!

Back to Alice's encounter with the Cheshire Cat.

On first read, Alice's question—asking a grinning, sometimes disappearing Cat, which way she should go—may seem a bit bizarre; however, the Cat's response, "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," was perfect.

You've heard the saying, "Without a vision the people perish." In my book "System Busters," I go into great detail of how a business owner needs to SET the vision, regarding how they want their company to look and operate, and even what the size of it should be, in order to fulfill their dream. Then an owner needs to make the decision to bring that vision into reality, systematically.

Dreaming of farms in the country, traveling and being independently wealthy is great—but, FIRST-THINGS-FIRST!

The vehicle you need, to take you to the wonderland you've dreamed about, is your company! The vehicle has to be built with a plan, well-maintained and continually serviced, in order for it to take you and your family to the promised Land—what you envisioned as you began your business.

When Alice said she didn't much care where she would go, the Cat's next response was even MORE perfect: "Then it doesn't matter WHICH way you go!"