Ever sit with a single puzzle piece of clouds and wonder how you will ever put the entire sky together? Life as an entrepreneur is often just like that-- lots of the little pieces, creating products, taking care of clients, wrestling with computers, finances, taxes, etc.-- and a whole lot of sky. The big open space where you create a successful and enjoyable business. There were many pieces of 'puzzle sky', I was drowning in an ocean of sky blue. After over a decade of struggling with my own company to fit all the 'pieces' together, I have finally put together the big business puzzle-- and it's not what I thought it would look like.

As a sponge for knowledge, I would constantly search for information to help me grow. Emblazoned in my mind was a quote that I stumbled upon by accident while researching William Shakespeare in the old, smelly, humid junior high library (thank goodness for the Internet). "Information is power" insightfully said by Sir Frances Bacon. At thirteen years old, I didn't exactly know what power was but I knew I didn't want to be a 'dork' or a 'druggie', like so many of my friends. So, I wanted power. So... I needed knowledge. I lived for it.

I became a "knowledge" junkie and didn't 'know' it. How ironic is that? I graduated from college with over twenty more credits than needed because I kept taking classes. A habit that carried into adulthood, waaay past college, anytime I tackle a new endeavor or head in a new direction... I take a class. A class-- the perfect place to get knowledge right? Yes, though I found I gave up something for that knowledge. And I didn't know it.

For me, every pursuit of knowledge was a piece of "puzzle sky." I was excited with the opportunity to learn something new. Exhilarated by the threshold of my un- dorkiness being expanded. Enamored with the teacher teaching me! Yet at the end of each 'learning' experience, something felt-- wrong. Yes, I had gained a piece of knowledge but felt empty and unattached. So, I would throw myself into another class, another learning opportunity-- ever on my quest for power. I had no idea that with each learning experience, I was instead seeking permission for the new undertaking-- and was sidetracked by the high I got from the experience of learning. (Gosh, I hope I'm not the only one.)

With more and more people leaving their cushy corporate job, there's an explosion of entrepreneurial workshops and seminars teaching you how to be more, make more, more, more, etc. With all these portals of power, how do you know what's valuable information? Every one of these workshops and the information they offer are a benefit to you-- ONLY IF it is part of your larger picture. So let me help you now... you don't need permission to "see" exactly what is inside you daring to come out.

To be successful you must dare to learn, surround yourself with knowledge, savor each individual learning experience, HOWEVER always hold it in relationship to your big picture-- your success sky.

You must have a clear vision of the sky... your sky. No one else's. You get to establish if it's blue or green. You get to establish is it's clear or cloudy. You even get to establish if it's up or down. The important thing is that you "see" it, establish it, create it by surrounding yourself with knowledge to supports that vision.

The next time you are considering taking a course or workshop for your business, ask yourself these three simple questions:

1. What is my sky?

2. Which piece of my "sky puzzle" does the course fulfill?

3. Can this knowledge help me "see" my sky better or help me create it faster?

Knowing the answers will ensure you get actually what you need.

After all my years of knowledge hunting, I'm amazed to find I am now in the knowledge-sharing business. Of course, I learned how in an incredible workshop :) (Email me at info@whybrandu.com I'll tell you about it!). I know you can accomplish whatever you want. It just takes the right individuals to remind you and expand your knowledge. I'm honored to have the opportunity to be one of them.

? Castle Montone, Limited All Rights Reserved.

Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU? - the home of only step-by- step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!

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