Making Tomorrow a Better Day

What's the definition of success for your small business? And what steps are necessary to achieve that success? The answer is different for everybody but one general foundation for success is articulated nicely by Dr. John C. Maxwell: "The secret to my success is determined by my daily agenda-by the daily decisions I make, and the daily disciplines I practice."

It's a relatively simple idea that illustrates a fundamental truth: if what and where you are today is a direct result of your previous actions, then what you do today directly affects what you will be tomorrow. Often, people underestimate what they have the power to do in the present while, at the same time, overestimating what they can do in the future.

Take a moment to think about this and you'll see just how true it is. "I'll do it tomorrow" is a familiar refrain. But then, tomorrow comes and, if you don't do it, tomorrow becomes "the next day" or even the next. Eventually, we may hit a crisis and find ourselves taking that action at the expense of something else or we may just never actually do it.

Let's say, for a moment, that you're an entrepreneur building a coaching business: how can you get new clients if people don't know you exist? If you're not taking actions like publishing informative articles in your areas of expertise or attending networking events to expand your circle of contacts, then how will you get your name out there? Consider how many articles you're posting on the Internet this week. Evaluate whether you've done any networking today. Don't let excuses like writer's block and traffic keep you from taking these important steps. There will always be reasons why you can't get things done if you choose to use them.

The same kinds of scenarios can play out with your finances. Take debt, for example. If you're struggling to make ends meet, what changes can you make? Can you call your credit card company and beg? Can you throw away bills and stop answering the phone? Of course, you could, but it certainly wouldn't be ideal. Better solutions are to look for ways to generate multiple streams of income, pare down your expenses, pay fewer taxes, put a solid plan in place to pay off debt, and spend your time moving forward rather than worrying.

Think about what expenses you can track today that can be considered tax deductions. Spend some time brainstorming how you can work a bit more today to earn the money you need to cover those expenses. Find a financial seminar you can take or read a book about building money management skills. Learn how to alter your spending habits today so you can enjoy tomorrow.

Oscar Wilde said "every action of the common day makes or unmakes character." That's just another way of reiterating that what you do today affects where you wind up tomorrow.

Of course, no one expects you to flick a switch and become an organizer extraordinaire with perfect credit and a knack for budgeting overnight. This is all a process that takes time but it's important to get started. Remember that financial issues can cause two different kinds of pain: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. It's your choice. Play now and pay later. Or pay now and play later. Playing later is definitely the more appealing long-term route, especially when it comes to ensuring a strong financial foundation. When you put off paying, that payment is compounded and is made larger by time and missed opportunities. So the sooner you buckle down, stop procrastinating and take action, the sooner you can enjoy a more rewarding tomorrow.