Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Every Entreprenur that I know has received some sage advice that they have owned and kept with them along their journey.  Mine was from a favorite very successful Uncle.  When I was in college he took me to lunch and told me  "Just because there is one jackass in the room there is no need to make it two!"  I have owned that and it has served me well through the years.

What is your sage advice?

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Our success is measured not only from the money earned or advancements achieved but from lives enhanced, rivers not polluted, kids not poisoned, illnesses prevented and lives financially tranformed

I think I mentioned this in another post once, but my old boss drove an older Camry and was very down to Earth, as was his wife. One day I went to their house and realized that they were very wealthy. I asked him why he drove his car when he could afford a much nicer car and he said that someone successful had told him "Never invest in something that depreciates in value." I will always remember that. My current vehicle (Saturn Vue SUV) is one that I bought new to hold my growing family, but it`s a 4-cylinder, front wheel drive stick shift and it`s great on gas.  I think I will always think in a practical manner when it comes to purchases that depreciate like cars and PCs. I won`t skimp on quality, but I will on the extras.

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Chris

The Dippy Chick Company, Inc.

Chris, I have a similar saying... maybe it`s my own, but maybe I unknowingly stole it... Never invest is something that eats while you sleep.

eats can be food, interest, maintenance... you get the idea. But at the same time, you cannot hold any saying as always true. If it were, life wouldn`t have so many odd changes.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

You have 86400 seconds in a day to use. They do not carry over to the next day. At the end of the day they are gone. Make every second count. Use each of them to the best of your ability.

R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog

Two of the greatest pieces of advice I`ve received in regards to business:

From my mother:  "Always write a personal `thank you` note"
I hated it as a kid when my mother would sit us kids down at the kitchen table to write thank you notes for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts or other kindnesses.  However, I still do so today in the course of my day-today work and it has become one of my most valuable business tools.

From adman John Kobasic: "Always take the time to share what you have learned about the business with others interested in the profession."
When I got out of college in 1980 there were no design jobs to be had. Instead of asking if firms had available jobs, I basically begged people to talk with me about their jobs and career history.  John Kobasic, the principal of a Portland ad agency at the time, was one of the individuals that said he could give me about 20 minutes of his time to discuss the industry. He shared a great deal of advice that I still remember very clearly today. After talking with me for over an hour, he brought our discussion to a close. I thanked him profusely, and told him I hoped I could somehow repay his kindness in taking the time to meet with me. He smiled and said, “You can show your appreciation by always taking the time to share what you have learned about the business with others interested in the profession.”

- J.




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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

There are a couple of things I follow.

1. Be Kind. First because you should be and second of all, karma comes back to bite. I have seen it happen first hand, the implosion of individuals and businesses who didn`t follow that rule.

2. You get what you pay for. Value and quality are much important than the cost, you have to weigh both when making decisions in life, business, etc.




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Mary Hutchison Design LLC design + strategy + counsel 206.407.3460 info@maryhutchisondesign.com

"The glass may be half full or half empty, but in either circumstance, it is always capable of taking on more." A guy I used to work with used to say this all of the time. No matter how bad something gets it has the ability of getting worse, so enjoy the fact that it isn`t any worse. No matter how good something is, there is always a potential of getting better, so strive to reach that better level.

These three ones have been pretty useful over the last few years (-:

- The value is in the links, not in the nodes

- Failing to plan is planning to fail

- Know when to act, when not to, when to lead, and when to let others lead

Oh, and:

- It`s not what you know, it`s who you know.

That makes four.

Pierre

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Pierre LEONARD
Founder, CEO Virtual Words Translations
Co-Founder, Virtual Words USA
Virtual Words Translations - Turning Language barriers into a Competitive Edge

Sorry, but I started to laugh as I began to read your excellent advice. 

It reminded me of talking with a friend about her rather scatter-brained mother.  She said:  "With my mom it`s not whether the glass is half empty or half full - it`s "oh, what a pretty glass!`"

(Back to the regularly scheduled thread topic...)

- J.





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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

  -- This is a speech that was given by Nelson Mandela during his 1994 inagural speech. I know not everybody is religious, but there`s a principle here that drives me every day... I think as entrepreneurs, we do more good in this world by talking to one more client, complimenting one more employee, listening a bit more than we talk, taking just one more piece of advice, etc. The age old values of honesty, care and respect are unfailing. We do have our times when we have to be decisive and unrelenting (kindly unrelenting)... but in my business each employee knows that not one good deed goes unnoticed, and each member of Drop Box is as equal as the next without exception. I believe businesses thrive on empowerment.

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Collin Cummings
President, Drop Box, LLC
dropboxmail@gmail.com