There are undeniably many components of success, and you already possess some of them or you wouldn’t have ventured (or are seriously thinking of venturing) into creating your own business.

There are plenty of people who complain about the grind, about working for someone else, or corporate America. Since you’re reading, I know you are a person who has done more than complain. You decided to employ your skills, talents, and work ethic to create your Dream Business and your dream lifestyle.

You know you have a skill and talent that can fill a need and a niche, so why shouldn’t you be your own boss putting those assets to work for yourself rather than rather than putting profit into someone else’s pocket? You know the effort it takes to launch a business, but you also know you have the personal work ethic you need.

Those three things – skill, talent, and work ethic – are definitely components of success. But I have some bad news: those three things will only carry you so far. There are countless entrepreneurs who employed those three components but still ended up with failing businesses. People who were extremely talented, had the right skill set, and worked incredible hours but who learned the hard way that those weren’t enough to create success.

Or they’re now working ridiculous hours, barely eking out any profit, and are far from running their Dream Businesses and living their dream lifestyles. In fact, their dreams have become nightmares because their businesses have become anchors, preventing them from having the time to do what they want or derive any enjoyment from running their businesses.

Yes, you need skill, talent, and work ethic but you need more. In looking at it another way: Your skill and talent serve as the machine, and your mindset is the fuel that drives it. You can’t have one without the other. The greatest level of skill and talent will just sit there if there’s no fuel… no motivation or mindset. On the other hand, all the most positive mindset in the world can go nowhere unless it is supported by the ability to serve a need profitably and get things done.