The other day, I was watching an Eban Pagan video from the Engage Today event in 2009. In the video, Eban said something really interesting that caught my attention. He asked, “Are you living “at cause” or are you still “at effect?” It’s a great way to put something that I’ve been saying for years!

What does it all mean? First, what does “at effect” mean? “At effect” means you’re waiting for something. You’re waiting for the silver bullet — that one thing that will make everything okay, the thing that will solve all your problems. Maybe you’re a workshop junkie. Maybe you know all the “big names” and you’ve already given them thousands of dollars to solve your problems for you and give you the answers to bring you great success. Problem is, that’s not what many of them are there for (but that’s a topic for another day).

So let’s look at the flip side. What does “at cause” mean? It means to take charge, take action, be in the driver’s seat. Those are all good, general “catch” phrases, but what does that look like in your small business? It looks like putting all those great ideas that we know work into action. Ideas like choosing a target market, creating a memorable brand, positioning yourself as an expert, being credible and authentic, marketing your business with integrity, offering solid, useful content, overdelivering on what you promise, and giving everything you’ve got to the clients and customers who choose to trust you with their business.

“At cause” also means investing in your business and making sure you’ve got enough capital to fund your business, so you can take decisive action when it’s needed. I don’t mean you necessarily need a fortune, but you want enough to cover essentials like having a professional web site designed, marketing copywriting done, and getting the right team in place, one that includes a mentor, virtual assistants, and other pros who will help you get your business off the ground without overwhelming you.

If you want your business to grow and if you want to see benefits in your personal life as well, try living “at cause” every day. Wake up each morning knowing that you’re taking decisive action. Know that you’re ready for true business (and life) mastery, and you’re in charge of your own life. Live “at cause” and your life and your business will change.