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5 4 G R A P H I C S P R O • J U N E 2 0 2 3 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M T H E R I S I N G T I D E O F B U S I N E S S | A A R O N M O N T G O M E R Y Planting the Seeds of Success Take action out of inspiration, not desperation W hat does growing or launching your business mean to you? Does it look like chasing shiny objects, working your fingers to the bone, and hoping to get it right? What if there was an alternative? I'm here to tell you that there is, as long as you don't get stuck in the trap of chasing quick fixes and magic bullet solutions. S T A R T H E R E Aaron Montgomery is certified by New York Times best-selling author Jack Canfield as a Success Principles Trainer and is the co-founder of OurSuccessGroup.com. Aaron has over 25 years of experience with personalized products and small business development and is the co-creator of the "5 Keys of Business Suc- cess." You can also find Aaron co-hosting the decorator's industry podcast 2 Regular Guys Podcast (2RegularGuys.com). Also, check him out on his podcast channel called Small Business Saturdays (SmallBusinessSaturdaysPodcast.com). Aaron will emcee this year's START HERE Academy @ GPX in Indianapolis, June 14, and will present Planting the Seeds of Success: Achieving Your Goals with Clarity and Confidence. It's time to focus on the FUNdamentals and lay a strong foundation for lasting success. at foundation includes key elements such as clarifying your purpose and developing a solid business plan. As part of the START HERE Academy happening in Indianapolis on June 14, I know laying a strong founda- tion for your business as early as possible is like planting a seed to grow your very own money tree. Starting a business can be an exciting and daunting experience. For many people, the initial enthusiasm can quickly fade away as the realities of running a business set in. It's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks of keeping the business afloat and lose sight of the bigger picture. e key to avoid- ing this trap is to create a business that you love, rather than just another job that steals all your time and is overwhelming. More than a mission statement e first step in creating a business you love is clarifying your reason. Some people might call this finding your why, or your mission statement. is is the foundation upon which everything else will be built. It's essential to have a clear understanding of why you want to start a business, and if your reason is "to make money," you are going to have to dig a little deeper. e truth is, your reason is not to make money, or to do some small thing. Your rea- son should be a driving force that goes well beyond just money. It is understanding why you want to make money doing this each day and why you do the small things you do. It is ultimately the reason or purpose you have that is unique to you and brings you joy and passion. For example, one of the small business owners I get to work with did the work to get clarity on her why. e