I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of Young Guns: The Fearless Entrepreneur’s Guide to Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own by Robert Tuchman last week. Riding in on the train Thursday night  from CT to NYC, I had the opportunity to finish the quick read begun earlier in the week.

I was meeting five of my CTI Leadership tribe members for dinner. I found myself quoting passages of the book to a fellow Jaguar who is putting together a vision for a new business overseas. She brought up the subject of a business plan and how daunting that piece can be. Having just read a section about that in Tuchman’s book, I pulled it out of my bag and turned to page 47 showing an image of his one page hand-written plan that includes these (abbreviated) bullets:

  • Best idea for a name for your busines
  • Description of who your business will help (groups, market)
  • Vision of what the company will look like in 5 years (employees, profits, salaries, etc.)
  • Main goal to accomplish in the first year
  • Three important and immediate goals in the next 30, 60 and 90 days to support the main goal

There, reproduced as an illustration, was one page of notebook paper the author used to flesh out his idea. It can be that simple.

What I most enjoyed about this book was the reminder of how big a part passion plays in the formula of business success. The author refers to this as the ‘homework’ test. If doing research for your business feels like work, something you have to do, forget it.

I’m going to the EWN Luncheon in a couple of hours. Some might look on a networking event as work, an obligation, something to check off the list. I can’t wait to go. I see lots of friends, former, current and prospective clients, and I am seen–an important piece of the networking puzzle. I love it! I’ll also hear a great speaker and wear a new outfit. Does this sound like work? And by the way, networking is my primary marketing tool. It’s how I get most of my business.

Of course there are bumps along the way. Tuchman tells hair-raising stories about being near the brink. But I’ll save that aspect of business ownership for another day.

How lucky am I, that what keeps my business flourishing is fun, rewarding, easy and social! Take it from Robert Tuchman’s easy-to-read new book–if you follow your passion, business success can be yours.