I recently took at tour of a castle here in Colorado Springs.  That's right, a castle in Colorado Springs.   General William Palmer, founder of the City of Colorado Springs built a Tudor style castle in 1871 in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, right next to the famous Garden of Gods.  The castle is now maintained and cared for by the Navigators and is fully restored.

During that tour, I was shown an amazing, 12 foot high fireplace located in the Grand Ballroom.  The fireplace was built with huge stones and actually had to be constructed before the room was built around it.  The stones were so large that they had to use a crane of sorts to place the stones.  They did not use any mortar, even though the fireplace formed an arch.  By placing the cornerstone at the peak of the arch, the structure has stood unmoved for the past 138 years!  All of the weight of the structure is focused and controlled by the cornerstone piece. 

As I have been developing my own mindset for leadership and operating a successful business, I have found that there is a foundational piece that functions as the cornerstone of that success; the belief that I deserve success and that I have accomplished it.  Even though I have had the entrepreneurial bug for most of my adult life, I still realized a while back that I had the 'employee' mentality.  I gradually worked my way with self improvement efforts and self accountability to change that mindset, and...lo and behold, when it became my cornerstone, everything fell into place.  

As you develop your business, don't forget that your personal skills and leadership mindset are the most important parts of your business.  Take some time to develop yourself...and it will make the difference!  

To your success!

Cari

Like many of us in the U.S., I was brought up in the mindset that you go to school, find a career, work a job, handle your money well and in 30-40 years, you will have the 'nest egg' that will allow you 'enjoy' your retirement years.  Likewise, I knew what the 'American Dream' was; if you work hard and are creative, you can do anything.  Bridging the gap between those two mindsets is the key, but at least in my case, I had to have a moment that forever changed how I viewed my life and the world...I had to have an epiphany.  

Issue #1 - My learned mindset told me that freedom from trading my time for money would only happen when I retired from my long term career.  I assumed less risk for a sure and dependable future.  

Home Business Epiphany #1 - Entrepreneurs are responsible for creating the companies that 90% of us work for! To switch sides from the employed to the pace setter was the key.  It was my mindset that was the problem. Here's why:

"Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line in support of an idea or enterprise. They willingly assume responsibility for the success or failure of a venture and are answerable for all its facets."
- Victor Kiam, best known for his "I liked it so much, I bought the company" ads for Remington electric shavers

The very moment I began to change my mindset away from the security of the daily grind and toward assuming responsibility for my success or failure, my home business took off.  I didn't want the business for money, I wanted the time and freedom to fulfill my dreams.  I want the abundant life. 

Issue #2 - I wanted the American Dream, but didn't really believe it could happen for me.  I was initially uncomfortable with the idea that I might fail, or worse, look the fool.  

Home Business Epiphany #2 - "If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always gotten."  I needed to let go of the mindset that hinders success. 

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”                                         - Epictetus, Greek Philosopher.

I changed...and so did my business.  I like epiphanies.  Do you?

I want to welcome you to join me on the beginning of this journey online.  To blog.  To join the 'blogosphere'.  It is a momentous occasion to join the vast flow of bytes across the internet.  But it is nice to stake a claim.  I feel fortunate to be in the position to offer something to others traveling the path that I have; the path towards freedom by starting a home-based business and building it on the internet marketing platform.  I believe that there is no better way to make a significant income at home.  

I have a story like many others...(if you would like to read a little more about my story check out my "About Me" page), I tried a lot of different things and even witnessed my parents go down the MLM train, only to find that the momentum that they worked so hard to attained couldn't be maintained.  They burned out...and won't try anything ever again.  It is sad that so many of us who have sought that 'internet nirvana' have struck out.  I can only hope that you have found this site at last.  I want to offer hope and excitement that a successful online home-based business is attainable.  

To offer that hope, I intend to offer commentary on real skill sets that have taught to me, practiced by me and have worked for me.  Social marketing, video marketing, Google Adwords, Banner Advertising; you name it in the marketing world and I hope to talk about it or have others comment on it.  More importantly, I aim to touch on my ongoing process of changing my mindset to one of success, being a committed, servant-hearted leader, supporting my teammates and showing the way to true freedom and wealth...to be The Wealth Pilot.

Please comment often and I hope to have some RSS feeds ready soon so you and I can connect on an ongoing basis.  Have a great day! 

If you are ready to take action and start with our team, enter your name and email here and you will be taken immediately to the beginning of your flightplan to freedom...welcome aboard!