Small business owners and entrepreneurs who are seeking sustainable success probably dont realize that they are creating their own success puzzle. Each executive builds a puzzle that is a unique picture because success is different for every entrepreneur.

However, within each of these success puzzles are many pieces that are always present even though the shape, size and color when comparing pieces may be different. And in some cases, there may be more than just one piece.

1. Accountability Is accountability executed by everyone within the organization?
2. Attitudes Is your success because of knowledge and skills or attitudes and habits?
3. Awareness Is your ability to think creatively and out of the box
4. Commitment What is your level of commitment to doing the right thing at the right time in accordance with the right plan and aligned with the right values?
5. Customers or Clients Do you have an identified customer base and how are you serving those customers?
6. Dreams What are your dreams for your business and for yourself?
7. Execution How well do you consistently execute your plans?
8. Goals What are your goals?
9. Initiative or Risk Taking - Is initiative valued in your business or do you fear taking a risk?
10. Leadership How well do your lead your business?
11. Measurement Do you actively measure your actions to ensure that you know the results of your activities?
12. Mentors Who do you turn to when you have questions and who supports you when you execute new initiatives to reach your dreams?
13. Passion What is Your Passion or how do you love life?
14. People Development Are your people being developed to reach their full potential because people make or break your business?
15. Plans Do you have an overall strategic plan that includes marketing, sales, financials and productivity plans? Remember: If you dont have a plan, then you are on someone elses plan.
16. Processes What processes do you have in place to ensure the smooth movement of products and services to your customers?
17. Products and/or Services What products or services do you deliver to your customers or are needed by your customers?
18. Purpose What is reason for you being in business?
19. Quality Is quality part of your ongoing business development?
20. Values What behaviors will you allow within your business for both internal and external customers?
21. Vision What is your big picture of where you wish to take the business?

• First, make sure that all 21 essential pieces are present within your success puzzle.
• Second, when completing your success puzzle make sure that all pieces are connected to each other.
• Finally, the picture that your success puzzle creates should be your picture of success not someone elses vision.