I talk with dozens of entrepreneurs each week, from those with budding ideas to those with millions of dollars of income. The path to success and greatness is fairly simple.

Not easy, but simple.

First, define success, which is not what you have, but what you feel about what you have. It is also a peace of mind—a direct result of the effort to become the best.

Success is common, it just isn't noticed too often. I encourage people to celebrate their success on occasion. Life can get pretty brutal otherwise—beating yourself up all the time.

Next, define greatness, which is consistently doing things others cannot or will not do. There aren't that many people who are great out there. It's a combination human nature and math.

Many pretenders, however, are out there peddling false hope.

Some of these self-help gurus will tell you to "find your passion." I have not seen this method lead to success very often. In many cases, it leads to crippling anxiety.

What does lead to success and greatness?

Finding your purpose. However, that won't be easy and there aren't many stories where it is easy. I say there are two guarantees when it comes to finding one's purpose.

Guarantee #1: It will be difficult.

Guarantee #2: It will be worth it.

So the three simple steps are:

• Find your purpose or become purposeful about an idea.

• Become an "expert" at what you're purposeful about.

• Find an audience—a group of people willing to pay you for that result.

If you start chasing riches, you will never get there. Even if you do, it will end poorly.

Never in my life have I heard a serious person say, "I want to be a monetizer."

Lots of people want to monetize their idea, however. They just don't know how.

• Define your "why." Your purpose should inform you about who you help, what you help these people do, and why you do it.

• Find the audience. Again, like finding your purpose, the two guarantees above still apply. Search for partners to help you grow.

• Build relationships. It's not about what you're saying as much as who you are.

• Get people to start with you. Have a product or a service that meets their needs.

• Convert your people from starters to finishers.

It is usually the start that stops most people.

You might stop early on because you don't think you're an expert. Well, I'll challenge you on that.

Not sure if you're an expert? I put together a quick little checklist to find out.

As always,

Brian

P.S.– Got another idea? Rinse and repeat to find more greatness and success in your life. Take a moment to enjoy it every once and a while, too.