The Leverage of Vision...

Greetings Sowpubbers,

Undoubtedly, one of the favorite topics of this board is the concept of LEVERAGE. Which is one of the qualities that makes it such a high caliber board.

Attaining true leverage can single-handedly have more of a positive impact on your life, both professionally and personally, than just about anything else I can think of.

So here's a unique twist on the idea of Leverage, which will hopefully provide a breakthrough spark for someone.

Every now and then, someone will "hit a jackpot" and create tremendous leverage almost instantaneously. And that's wonderful.

But for the rest of us, true leverage does not happen overnight.

It requires persistence, passion, trial & error...and most of all, VISION.

You see, leverage is actually a perfect paradox in most cases.

Here's what I mean by this.

Those who embrace the fact that creating maximum leverage often starts with having NO leverage at all; are usually the ones who end up with the ultimate scenarios of leverage.

For instance, when creating a model for a business system (SYSTEMS are the key, not projects), I have less leverage in the early stages as a teenager flipping burgers.

I'm doing my research...evaluating potential markets...writing copy...creating back-end systems...forming strategic alliances...doing some small scale testing...etc.

And meanwhile, little, if any revenues at all are coming in. I'm working *more* hours than the burger flipper, but getting paid less! Doesn't seem fair, does it? "What's this leverage stuff? I'm a grossly underpaid professional!" I used to think to myself.

But then a beautiful thing happens.

Little by little, the tides start to turn.

Some data starts to emerge from my tests. I start to gain some intelligence on what's working and what's not. Maybe I even get a few orders.

I make some tweaks and forge ahead.

Now I might have pulled even with the burger flipper.

I still have a ways to go. But each step becomes easier than the last. And each subtle tweak creates a greater and greater increase in the results.

Slowly but surely, exponential growth begins to occur. To the point where 5 minute tweaks now may translate to hundreds or thousands of dollars of revenue.

Why?

Because the model is now in place.

Because the desire to create LEVERAGE was so strong, that I was willing to work for NO leverage at all in the beginning.

And the end result, if you hit upon a winner?

You'll be among the highest paid professionals in the world. Your SYSTEM that started with a vision and NON-leveraged work can now very feasibly generate more money in a DAY, withOUT your involvement, than the burger flipper can generate by working for an entire month -- all 160 hours worth.

You'll literally have instances where you take off for a trip, and upon your return, things are even BETTER than when you left them.

Why?

Because true leverage takes on a life of its own. It does not require your physical presence or participation.

I certainly have not yet reached the highest pinnacles of leverage. I've got a ways to go. But I'm pretty happy with where I'm at, and leverage is one of the greatest blessings in my life. I'm a "leverage junkie" and am always looking for ways to maximize my leverage from almost any endeavor.

I hope my musings were of value to some of you.

Remember the power of vision, and leverage onward!

All the best,

-Jesse

Great post, Jesse.

To your concept of vision and systems, I would add the elements of focus and patience - focus keeps you on track testing and refining your system (instead of jumping from project to project). Patience gives you the the necessary time to develop the system so that it reaches its maximum earning and leverage potential.

Regards,

Bob

Excellent points, Bob. My post was admittedly from the big picture perspective, attempting to illustrate a process and a mindset conducive to success.

The traits of focus and patience are indeed of the utmost importance. The only thing I would add to patience is not to be so "patient" that you can't recognize when it's time to cut your losses and move to another venture. Even the best marketers and product developers don't roll out winners every time.

Thanks for your input, Bob. We could easily have full blown discussions on focus, patience, and many other intracacies of leverage.

Best,

Jesse

> Great post, Jesse.

> To your concept of vision and systems, I
> would add the elements of focus and patience
> - focus keeps you on track testing and
> refining your system (instead of jumping
> from project to project). Patience gives you
> the the necessary time to develop the system
> so that it reaches its maximum earning and
> leverage potential.

> Regards,

> Bob

Hi Jesse!

> leverage is one of the greatest
> blessings in my life. I'm a "leverage
> junkie" and am always looking for ways
> to maximize my leverage from almost any
> endeavor.

This part of what you said "always looking for ways to maximize my leverage from almost any endeavor" is one of the KEYS in using Leverage.

All through school we are discouraged from using Leverage... it's called "cheating." And yet, it's the very use of Leverage in the business world that enables you to get ahead.

Unfortunately, after 13 or so years of being discouraged from using Leverage in school, it can be difficult to change your mind set. And that's why I recommend for people to read and re-read The Art of Leverage.

By reading The Art of Leverage over and over again, your mind begins to see more and more Leverage possibilities. In essence, repeated reading of The Art of Leverage trains your mind to see and look for Leverage.

Another KEY is to start out with the idea of Leverage in your mind. Knowing from the beginning that using Leverage is your aim, makes it easier to use Leverage when you need/want it.

Picture the lawn guy who doesn't start out with Leverage in mind. He mows and mows and mows. Building his business as large as he can get it. He's now working seven days a week and has no daylight hours available for anything else but mowing.

He suddenly decides Leverage would be a good idea, but he has a problem. He has no time to interview potential 'staff' because he's too busy mowing and time off means money lost and unserviced customers.

IF he had started out with Leverage in mind, he would not have built his business so large before using Leverage. He may have built it to four days only and then hired someone else - using his off time to take care of the interviews and so forth.

And now with a 'staff member' he is free to continue to build his business some more. Even until he needs another mowing guy - after his personal work load goes up to four days again.

He can continue repeating this process over and over if he wishes - taking on more staff. OR each time he has enough work for another guy, he can sell the run as a franchise - pocketing a nice lump sum plus a residual weekly/monthly royalty.

When you begin building your business project/system with the premise (Vision) of using Leverage, it becomes part and parcel of your goal. And Leverage opportunities are seen much more easily. You have a Leverage mind set.

And a Leverage mind set grows upon itself - the more of a Leverage mind set you have, the more Leverage opportunities you see. The more Leverage opportunities you see, the more of a Leverage mind set you obtain, which enables you to see even more Leverage opportunities. Around and around. All of it beginning with creating the Leverage mind set, which can be done by reading The Art of Leverage again and again.

Michael Ross
Author of "The Art of Leverage"


Get your own, personal copy of The Art of Leverage by clicking here

Hi Jesse,

Thanks for that inspiring post! It's a very important point....

I agree, as you go forward your leverage usually does get better, especially if you keep looking for new ways to apply it!

It is unfortunate, though, that some get "stuck in a rut" and feel "trapped" by their businesses.... When this happens, it is precisely because they are NOT using leverage.... But they don't see it! It's not something that is usually taught (as far as I know).... Yet it is the key to "multiplying" the effects of your efforts.

To me, that's one of the most wonderful things about business.... As you essentially pointed out, employees don't have much leeway to use leverage.... If you're given a job to do, you're usually stuck with it. You don't have many options....

But in business, it's different! Because you are "your own boss", you can get the task done however you see fit! That includes outsourcing it, or doing some kind of deal with someone, or however suits you best.... The possibilities are tremendous!

Leverage can also be very important when you are just starting a business....

I just saw a video tape (the "Direct Mail Boot Camp") where Ted Nicholas spoke about how he started in business. He said he started his first business - a confectionary business - with $800 of his own money, and $96,000 in debt.

"How did you get yourself $96,000 in debt?" many people asked him.

Well, to buy the building for his manufacturing site and retail store, he did a deal with the owner. He said he'd paint and redecorate the property, to improve the quality of the premises. But that's not all....

The deal he proposed was this: if his business succeeded, he would pay what he owed for the property from the profits. If his business failed, the seller of the property would keep the premises, along with the improvements that he had made. The owner thought about it over the weekend, and figured he couldn't lose, so he agreed.

To get the manufacturing equipment he needed, he went to a business that had some old equipment in their warehouse. He suggested a similar deal to buy their equipment....

If he succeeded, he'd pay them from his profits. If he failed, they would get their equipment back.

They said "We can't do business like that, nobody does business like that," and they turned him down. But Ted Nicholas had no choice, since he had no capital, so he kept asking other companies who had the equipment he needed....

After being turned down several more times, finally someone agreed to his proposal.

And that's how Ted Nicholas started his first business.... through leverage.

This story is a GREAT example of leverage in action.... When you are aware of the power of leverage, lack of resources, time, etc. aren't enough to stop you! That's because you can figure out how to use leverage to get the resources, time, and anything else you could need! And it's win/win for everyone....

"The Art of Leverage" also has some other examples of people who have started their own businesses using leverage too.... It's a great concept to know. :)

Thanks Jesse - it's a very important topic!

- Dien Rice