Forty years ago, I started my business, ComPsych, with an idea and $1000. Fast forward to today, and it is the world's largest provider of mental health services, serving 78,000 organizations ranging in size from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, helping more than 163 million people in 200 countries.

I am often asked how I did it and I always go back to mine guiding principles for business and life. Here are the seven principles that guided me as I built my company from a startup to what it is today—fulfilling my wildest financial dreams and dedication to my mission—that can also help you build a profitable business and personally fulfilling.

Connected: Do you have a business idea? Here's how to put it into action.

1. Imagine the unimaginable

It is a must for entrepreneurs set their sights not just up, but in the stratosphere. When starting out, don't limit yourself by setting too modest a vision. “Dream big“It sounds like a cliché, but it can also become a self-fulfilling prophecy. History is littered with entrepreneurs who others thought were crazy before eventually achieving unimaginable success.

Of course you'll need to set additional goals along the way, but throughout your journey as a business owner, remember that the only person who can truly put a limit on your business's potential is you.

2. Engagement versus engagementyou

One business school trap I see entrepreneurs fall into is spending too much time trying to build consensus. Instead, focus on building commitment to your vision. Why? Because bold ideas are often not embraced by consensus. I often say that reversion to the mean is a compromise for mediocracy: Trying to please everyone often results in your ideas becoming a shell of their original concept. A classic example of a “committee” project is where everyone is heard and no one is happy.

Instead, hire a group of people who believe in you and your unimaginably grand vision and who are inspired by the future and potential you see.

3. The crowd is usually wrong

Challenging the crowd mentality is not only positive, but essential. If you want to differentiate yourself, why would you do exactly what your competitors are doing? My advice: Design your course.

When I started my business, everyone else was trying to provide care to every corner of the country through their various offices and in-house doctors, which is impossible to do effectively. I bucked the trend, embracing a nationwide network model. This centralized approach allowed us to offer a wider range of services at a lower price, reducing bureaucracy and costs. We were immediately competitive and grew rapidly as a result.

Fast forward to today, when online-only tools have become the status quo, and we're still going against the grain as a hybrid provider that offers both digital tools and telehealth services, as well as the industry's largest personal network and comprehensive organizational support services.

4. Renting for height

As you grow from a small team (or even a team of one!) to a business with tens, hundreds, or thousands of employees, you'll see how important it is to hire with purpose. I believe the people you bring on board make or break your company. Look for people you love drive the business forward.

These people will not all look the same. Some will have a wealth of valuable experience in the field, while others will come from different backgrounds. What's most important is that they reflect the characteristics that are central to your mission and culture. Honestly, I value qualities like intellectual curiosity, tenacity, and rigor as much, if not more, than traditional experience because I know they're the kind of people who thrive at my company.

5. Be smarter than the problem

Most questions in business have relatively simple answers. We are the ones who make it too complicated. As humans, we have a tendency to catastrophize. This can lead to a ton of extra work and pain.

Instead of going around in circles, I rely on the old Navy axiom, “Keep it simple, stupid.” Just think about what the problem really is (hint: it usually is NO what everyone is talking about) and how to solve it. This direct and thoughtful approach is often not only more convenient, but also more effective.

6. Perfection is the enemy of success

While we all strive for perfection, remember that focusing too much on perfection will be to your detriment. Like Nike's iconic slogan, sometimes you have to “Just do it.” There will be opportunities to iterate and improve in the future. In the meantime, work to execute your vision as best you can, while realizing that there will literally always be room to grow and improve.

If I waited until everything was perfect, I wouldn't have done most things. Quick but thoughtful execution is key. Over time, you'll hone your instincts, see consistent patterns, and learn to trust your gut when it comes to taking decisive action. The biggest thing is not to worry unnecessarily or get stuck immobilized while weighing your options. The worst decision you can make is no decision at all.

7. Be bulletproof

I believe that integrity, and therefore your reputation, is the most important thing in business and in life. When I say “Be bulletproof”, I mean live your values ​​100% of the time. This ensures that your business never strays from its mission while building a reputation that people trust. It also fosters a culture of accountability and helps insulate you from criticism stemming from hypocrisy.

Nearly 20 years ago, Warren Buffett popularized the notion of “newspaper test” — The concept that if you wouldn't want something you've done to be published on the front page of a newspaper, then it's not the right thing to do. It's an easy way to make sure your actions match your words.

These may seem like straightforward concepts, and they are. The challenge comes from applying them as you navigate unforeseen disasters. It is the rigor and discipline of applying the same set of principles to every situation that will make the difference over time. After 40 years in business, I have realized that nothing is insurmountable. With extraordinarily big dreams, an unwavering commitment to your vision, confidence to chart your path, the right people by your side, a bias toward simple, smart actions, and strong values ​​to guide you, you're likely to you succeed not only in business, but in life.