Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

BrandAlchemy- I went through a year almost like the one you described - with four people passed away plus so many other dramas.  But you survived!! You didn`t give up! And with the very last statement you wrote I know 2007 is going to be one great year for you!!

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Life isn`t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

I`m not only grateful for what I learned--I`m also grateful for those who taught me!  Hope you enjoy these...

What Kip taught me...
1. You can be the boss and still have fun at work.
2. You can be the boss and still laugh until you cry with your co-workers.
3. You can be the boss and tolerate bad attitudes if you just love people.

Things that leaders taught me
1. Attitude determines your altitude
2. Between knowledge and behavior; sandwiched right in the middle is how we feel. And that`s attitude.
3. I was born an original...I don`t want to die a copy.
4. Peak to peak principle--which tells me that I never quit when it`s tough...I ride the valleys out to the next peak.
5. I can choose my response.
6. I can do anything well when I decide to do it well.

Three things Bill taught me
1. If you want to beat a dog, you can always find a stick. But you have to ask yourself, "do I really want to beat a dog?"
2. Your feelings are real but they might not be right.
3. That my wife gives the best hugs. (I knew that by the way.)

Three things a magician taught me
1. There are only three tricks: make something appear; make something disappear; or make something change.
2. You can only pay attention to the major movements and all minor movements are concealed.
3. Hold an audience`s attention and they will hold you in their hearts.

Three things my dad taught me
1. When you put your feet to the side of the bed, you will feel like getting up when they hit that cold floor.
2. Never compromise your integrity.
3. Do all you can, when you can.

Three things Fred taught me
1. Give the fan what the fan wants
2. Give people enough rope and they will either make awesome knots or make a noose
3. People WILL do what they WANT to do

Three things that David taught me
1. Act in charge, when you`re in charge
2. People you meet might become your friends someday--or your enemies.
3. Never be satisfied with being satisfied.

 

And something Mark Twain taught me:
People ALWAYS act in their own self-interest, rational or not. It`s only a problem to figure out what it is those people believe is their self-interest.

I learned that delayed gratification is ok. I also learned that climbing out of debt is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I am really glad I didn`t start my business when I wanted to in 05, because we were having a hard time making ends meet. Now that we are almost out of debt and will soon be able to save up, it makes a new venture much less risky. It is not easy to be confident if I`m risking the well being of me and my husband. Now that we are on our feet, he is much more supportive of my business goals. It took all of 2006 to make that happen, and in 07, once that tax refund hits, I`m using it all for capital on my new career in art fairs!

So glad to hear all of this - we`ll meet up this coming december and see what new wisdom we`ve each gained.

Looking forward, have you each gotten your goals on?!

Hope you find our series on setting goals useful for your best possible 2007.


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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation