Water is life. In business, cash is water. If you want to survive, and thrive, you need cash. So make sure you have enough cash. There’s no such thing as too much.
There’s no such thing as too much water
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Making it big is like waiting for a kill
One of the most appealing things about visiting a nature reserve is seeing a kill. Leopard taking down a baboon, lion taking down a kudu. How do you do that? First, you must find the right spot, probably near a watering hole. Second, wait. If you run out of drinking water, you’ll have to leave…
A back pack hurts the first two days
Starting a company is like going hiking. The backpack hurts. It chafes. You project forward for a full month and you think it’s impossible. May as well give up now, you’ll never survive. Then suddenly, after two days, you feel ok Your body adapts, the pain goes away. You can handle it for as long…
Listen to the Universe
Much of business life is like buying a car. You know what you want. A second-hand mauve VW T-Cross. Suddenly a friend has a white model available for sale. Or you see an ad for a mauve Toyota Corolla Cross. Or you see a brand new mauve T-Cross on the showroom floor. What is this?…
You are a good person
Business is rough and tumble. There are many unpleasant decisions. You’ll make mistakes, you’ll accidentally hurt people’s feelings. Don’t let it get to you. Don’t let it make you doubt yourself. Remember: You are a good person.
Before you start a business…
Find a potential customer. Ask her what problems she has. (ie: no money for funerals) Pick a problem that you think you can solve (ie: funeral insurance) Ask her what she’ll pay you to solve that problem. Do your business plan, if you can make a profit, start. But don’t do anything until you’ve done…
Help when you can
Guaranteed, you will one day need a helping hand. What do you think will happen when that day comes? Did you help others along the way? When partners/colleagues/staff/friends ask for a helping hand, help if you can.
Just believe in yourself
Yes, you have a little doubting voice in your head. Yes, there is so much uncertainty, so much risk that only you can see. Yes, things can go wrong, you might not keep your promises, you may fail. Park the self-doubt. The fact that you are an entrepreneur means you have substance. Just believe in…
Deadlines make the world go round
Break your business goals into bit-size chunks with small time-based objectives. Set deadlines. They focus the mind, both yours and others. They force you to make decisions and clear bottlenecks in your inbox. They trigger action, speed, outcomes. Make sure you have regular deadlines. They make the world go round.
Don’t waste people’s time
If you manage to get a meeting with someone important, don’t waste their time. Get to the point, make your ask, get out. Or better yet, don’t ask, give. Most powerful people are used to people asking for stuff. Seldom does anyone offer anything. Be that someone. And don’t waste their time.
Life is a movie. Act.
Just have fun. Put on a mask and pretend. Play the part, act. Life is a movie.
It’s only a fight if you think it’s a fight
If someone wants to fight with you, fine. That’s their problem and their prerogative. But that doesn’t mean you’re in a fight. It’s only a fight if you think it’s a fight. So, if you don’t want the distractions of a fight, don’t think it’s a fight.