A seller its always working, always selling, always kissing ass, always returning calls. A buyer manages her own time. Has a glass of wine, takes calls when she wants. A seller is controlled. A buyer is in control. Which are you?
Never badmouth the competition
First, it just gives them free PR. Second, it makes you look petty and small-minded. Third, you never know when you need the competition to be your ally. There’s no upside to badmouthing the competition.
Is your identity what you are or what you do?
What you are is your values, your family, your aspirations. What you do is your job. Which one is you? Take a guess what the right answer is.
Mistake stories are much more useful than success stories
Mistakes can be generalised across all types of businesses. Success is usually specific to a company. In other words, you can learn from other’s mistakes much more than you can from their wins.
You need to hit THROUGH the ball
According to every tennis coach, ever, if you want to hit the ball far, you must hit through the ball. If you just aim to hit the ball, you won’t have follow-through, and the strike will have less power. Same for your business dreams. Dream bigger than what you think is possible. You probably won’t…
Don’t pity others
You’re not helping them and you’re not helping yourself. If anything, pity just makes enemies. No one wants to be pitied. Empathise, try make a difference, help. Don’t pity others.
If you want to be a better observer, learn to watch
Everyone knows being an observer in a boardroom/sales pitch/HR meeting, is the best way to learn. Standing aloof whilst others debate gives you can edge. So how do become a better observer? Learn to watch. Learn to resist the urge to talk, or play with your phone, or let your mind wander. Pay attention and…
Beware
We think Mark Zuckerberg is a genius for turning down an offer to sell Facebook to Yahoo. But people criticize Yahoo with as much passion for turning down its own buyout offer from Microsoft. What is the lesson for entrepreneurs here? There is none. Both decisions were in such different contexts so as to be…
Being right is the enemy of staying right
We all want to be right. But beware the dangers of being right. It leads to arrogance, which leads to ignorance, which leads to being wrong. The only way you can be right is to understand how the world works, To understand how the world works you need to always be 100% humble. Easy to…
Pessimism is seductive
Your cricket team is losing. Economic growth is stalling. The markets are tanking. Bad news abounds, you don’t have to look hard to find it. Which is why pessimism is seductive. So easy to let yourself be enveloped by the warm, comforting tendrils of negativity. But where does that lead you? Guaranteed failure (and surrounding…
How will you react when the pain has it’s way with you?
Startups can be like training for the Olympics. There is pain, every day. The question is not whether there will be pain. There will be pain, every day. The question is how you will react when the pain has it’s way with you. When it’s pummelling you, breaking you, making you want to cry. Will…
Running a startup is like rowing a boat
In rowing, the enemy is the water. It slows you down, but without it you can’t row. In startups, water is cashflow. You’re constantly battling for more, but without it you simply don’t have a business. Cashflow is your enemy, but without it there is no such thing as business. So embrace the water. Love…