The 5 M’s for Entrepreneurs: The Freedom Path

Look, if you're in business, or you're thinking about jumping in, you’ve got to have a few fundamental things in place before you even think about scaling. There’s a lot of talk about growth in the industry, but what people miss is that in order to grow, you need to have the bases covered for the Grand Slam to work. I call these the 5 M’s.

You see, the 5 M’s aren’t just some random buzzwords; they’re the core functional qualities that every entrepreneur should have in place to build their business successfully. If you’re ready to grow your influence, impact your community, and make the kind of profits that let you sleep easy at night, then these are the 5 things you can’t ignore:

1. Mindset: The Foundation of Everything

Starting right off the bat with the most important point - having the right mindset. If you don’t have this, nothing else matters. Your mindset as an entrepreneur will dictate everything - your ability to lead, your resilience in the face of challenges, and your overall vision for your business. If you’re not mentally prepared for the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, you’ll crash and burn faster than you think.

The right mindset is about owning your decisions, embracing failures as lessons, and pushing forward no matter how tough it gets. If you want to scale, you have to develop mental strength. Entrepreneurs are problem solvers by nature, but they’re also leaders - and leadership starts with a growth mindset that lets you see opportunities instead of obstacles. It allows you to adapt, pivot, and keep your eyes on the prize. A subconscious thread every entrepreneur has is also thinking they have something of value to offer.  Understand and lock in your mindset around your value, know your worth, and don’t allow yourself to be subjected to less than what you are worth. 

2. Methodology: The How Behind Everything You Do

You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don’t have a solid methodology for how you’re going to make it happen, you’re just spinning your wheels. Methodology is the system that holds everything together. It’s the processes, the operations, and the strategies that keep everything moving forward.

In the tactical world I came from an impactful and well known statement goes like this: “You do not rise to the occasion… you fall to the level of your training.”  That hits home and makes sure you always stay sharp and well trained.  The business equivalent for me goes like this: “You do not rise to the occasion… you fall to the quality of your systems.”  Better have that Methodology figured out. 

So, whether you’re delivering a service or selling a product, you need a clear and structured way to get things done. How will you sell it? How will you deliver it? How will you collect money? What’s the process from start to finish? The methodology is what ensures your business runs like a well-oiled machine, even when you're not there.

If you want to scale, your methodology must be ready to grow with you. The more you build your systems, the easier it will be to expand. So don’t just wing it - get a process in place and make sure it can handle the weight of your vision.

3. Materials: Everything You Need to Deliver Value

Now, materials aren’t just about the physical stuff. Sure, if you’re in a business where you need some type of inventory, that’s part of it. But materials also refer to your tools, your resources, and anything else that helps you deliver value to your clients or customers.

Think about it, what do you need to make sure you can deliver your product or service in the most efficient way possible? What software, equipment, or resources do you need to build your business on? Don’t overlook the small stuff. Without the right materials, you’re limiting your potential.

It’s easy to think materials are just a one-time purchase, but the truth is, you’re always going to need to upgrade or restock. Whether it’s new tech or even hiring the right team, always be prepared to reinvest in your business to keep delivering at a high level.

4. Mentorship: Have the Right Influence in Your Corner, and Influencing

If you’re not leveraging mentorship, you’re missing out. Here’s something I've learnt over the years - no matter how good you are, you can’t see everything. There are gaps you’re missing. There are blind spots in your strategy. Mentors are the ones who see the things you’re too close to the action to notice. They’ve been there, done that, and they know what’s coming next.

If you’re thinking, “Well, I’m not sure who to turn to,” start looking for people who’ve already achieved what you’re aiming for. If you're not learning from others who are already where you want to be, you’re going to be stuck in the grind for much longer than necessary.

Mentorship isn’t just about getting advice; it’s about getting the right advice from someone more knowledgeable. When you’ve got a mentor who's got your back, the path to success becomes a lot clearer. Your influence as a leader also grows because you can pass on those lessons to your team.

On the other side of Mentorship you need to make sure you develop the proper Mindset and Methodology into your team, contractors, clients and third parties.  Having a strategic and systematic way to develop people, interact with relationships and collaborators, and then delegate effectively all boils down to planned Mentorship. 

5. Measured Growth: Set Clear Goals and Track Your Progress

The reality is, if you’re not tracking your growth, you’re doing business wrong. You can’t scale a business if you don’t know how you’re doing. Measured growth is about being intentional. It’s about setting clear, tangible goals that you can track and hit, month after month and year after year. 

Don’t just talk about growth - take action to measure it. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) that actually matter. If you want to increase revenue, do it with precision. If you want to build your team, set specific hiring goals. If you want to expand your influence, track how your marketing efforts are working.

This is about accountability, not just for you but for your team as well. You set goals, track growth, and make adjustments as needed. You need to constantly review your progress. You can’t afford to just hope things are going in the right direction. You need to be sure. Part of Mentorship is making sure you set and track markers for your people on their path upwards.  With clearly laid out and tracked Measured Growth you will have a lifetime of joy in watching efficiencies improve, people progress, and revenues increase! 

The 5 M’s Course is Loading… Watch This Space!

I’m excited to announce the upcoming 5 M’s for Entrepreneurs course where I’ll be taking you step-by-step through the 5 pivotal qualities you need to have in place as your blueprint for success. The goal of this course? It’s for you to go out there, build your 5 M’s, and turn your business into a powerhouse that even your competition will want to take notes from!

If you want to take your leadership skills to the next level right now, head over to the Forging Leaders YouTube Channel. We share insights, practical advice, and leadership tips on how to engage, inspire, and lead your team to success.