"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." ― Pablo Picasso

This month I thought I would share a difficult story with you. In May I received a phone call from long term clients, let's call them John and Mary for privacy purposes, to say that John had an aggressive brain tumor. He subsequently passed away 3 weeks later.

Read more: Don't put the important things off

"It is necessary ... for a man to go away by himself ... to sit on a rock ... and ask, 'Who am I, where have I been, and where am I going?'" ― Carl Sandburg

I have found over the years when the end of financial year draws to an end, as with most business owners, I reflect on what has happened over the past year and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Read more: Reflections on the financial year almost behind us

“General Douglas McArthur once said that every failure could almost be explained by two words: ‘TOO LATE’. Too late in realising danger, too late in preparedness” - The Australian Financial Review

As an Australian, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) says I statistically have a 3 in 4 chance of having a major illness during my working life!

Read more: Every failure could almost be explained by two words...........

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." – Jim Rohn

I read this quote recently and it really got me thinking. What if the success of your business is determined by the average of your five most important advisers?

The five might fall into any of the following categories:

Read more: Do You Surround Yourself With Excellence

PEOPLE DON'T BUY WHAT YOU DO, THEY BUY WHY YOU DO IT!

Someone asked me recently to describe succinctly what I do!

Describing what you do concisely is tougher than you would expect. Let me have 1,000 words or 10 minutes, no worries. I can provide you a fantastic explanation why I love what I do. Unfortunately 1,000 words and 10 minutes doesn't really fit into the succinct category.

This then reminded me of the video clip I saw

Read more: Why/How/What

WHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?

Let me pose a few questions.

If you had:

• a brain tumor, would you see a dentist?
• a car with a broken automatic transmission, would you see a doctor?
• an old (or no) Will, would you see an engineer?

I can imagine you will all say "That’s stupid Ben!"

Read more: Be Careful Who You Listen To

Apathy or Procrastination of Business Owners

With the New Year in full swing, I was reviewing my business plan for the year and I asked myself "Who is my greatest competitor?"  

This is a simple question, with an even simpler answer:'the apathy or procrastination of business owners'.

Read more: My Greatest Competitor

‘FINANCIAL FREEDOM' IS A CATCH PHRASE BUT WHAT IS IT?

Is it more money or maybe more stuff? How much money and stuff do we need to be financially free or even happy? It is my experience that most people confuse wealth and happiness. They falsely believe more or better or different stuff will make them happier.

My definition of financial freedom is “having and maintaining the financial means to spend your time doing what it is you enjoy.”

Read more: What is Financial Freedom?

Your Business Estate Plan - AKA the "Business Will"

I was in Brisbane last week sitting in the Queen Street Mall watching hundreds of people having lunch and negotiating the crowds.

The thought crossed my mind. I wonder how many of these people are business owners and if they have in place a Business Estate Plan?

Read more: Business Estate Plans - The Forgotten Necessity