Furthering your business is going to take less spontaneity and more intentional planning and strategy. It’s nice to have dreams for your business, and goals that you want to reach. But, having a plan and being proactive is what’s going to get you there.

1. Stop HOPING and start HUSTLING : You are putting all the positive vibes into the air, you know what you want, but you don’t know how to get there. Faith without works is dead. This means that you must put some action behind those thoughts. Make a plan, write it out and start knocking things off your to-do list.

1. Over planning is Under productive: Congratulations! You wrote out this detailed, well-composed 5-year business plan. You’ve designed your logo, chosen your font, heck, you’ve even thought of a catchy business name. But where are the moves? You’re not making them! Sometimes we get so concerned with planning the perfect strategy that we never take the time to actually act on it. This can come from the fear of our execution not being as beautiful as the presentation we just made. Be honest and be self aware. Starting a business isn’t easy. You will fail. But you never want to be in the position where you know you should have started sooner. Handle your business, do what you got to do, and bring that pretty presentation to life.

1. Be aware of potential pitfalls: It’s great to be optimistic and plan for success, but it’s important to have some safety measures intact in case an unforeseen circumstance ravishes your business. For example, this moth may have been great, you grossed $10,000 and you want to treat yo self! SO you splurge and go on a $5,000 shopping spree. That may sound like all fun and games, until next month’s numbers come in and you’ve only made $1,000. It’s best to save and plan for varying month-to-month incomes. That way, if a situation like this occurs, your bills are paid, your business affairs are in order and your ship won’t sink.