Have a plan (a realistic plan)

Goals are vital, as Rule #10 makes clear, but you must also have a plan to achieve your goals, and it must be realistic.

Start with this: Though SFI is truly one of the few businesses where you can earn while you learn, think of your first 6-12 months primarily as a training period. Build this into your plan. In this era of "instant everything," I know that's a tough for a lot of people to deal with, but big incomes simply do not happen overnight. It's just not reality. If it was, everybody would be rich.

Instead, plan to work the hardest your first 6-12 months or so and get compensated the least. Don't expect large earnings until after you've educated yourself and given yourself time to put your plan fully into operation.

Tip: For a great book on creating your plan, try The One Page Business Plan for the Creative Entrepreneur, by Jim Horan

"Failing to plan is planning to fail."

-Unknown

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination."

-Fitzhugh Dodson

"I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacation with better care than they do their lives."

-Jim Rohn

"if you want to pick apples, don't plant weeds."
-Unknown