If you delve into your company and find that staff are too afraid to speak, be afraid. There is never, ever a scenario where fear of communication is a good sign. It means you have managers who rule by fear. At best your culture is damaged. At worst something is being hidden and you’re going…
Fire sooner than later
If you have someone who is not delivering the goods, or causing internal politics, don’t hesitate. Fire him. Every single day of delay results in financial loss, time wastage, morale damage. You know what you have to do. Toughen up, and do it.
Don’t implicitly trust anyone until you’ve gone to war
It’s only in the fight that you find your true friends. So don’t 100% trust anyone until you’ve been in a fight.
Travel light, travel far
In other words, the lower your overhead, the further your company can go. You want to be able to survive for as long as possible. Sometimes its the only way to find what you’re looking for (ie: profit). Travel light, travel far.
There’s no problem if you make a mess, as long as you clean it up yourself
Missed deadline because you forgot an important document. Lost a client because you forgot to return a call. Short on revenue targets because you lost your star salesman. No matter what the problem, no what the reason, it’s not big deal, on ONE condition. You clean up the mess yourself. If you leave a mess…
Don’t let who you want to be stop you from being who you should be
Who you think you should be may not be who you should be. If you don’t know your strenghts, you have no idea what you’re be excellent (and happy at). Instead of spending your energy chasing what you think you want, spend time learning who you are so can be more accurate about who you…
You are only as strong as the soldier on your left
In their heyday, the Spartans were the most formidable military force in the civilised world. Their battle form was to have a short sword in the right hand and a small shield in the left hand, and to stand side-by-side facing the enemy. If the man to your left fell, your left-hand side was made…
Being happy is the best tool to fight uncertainty
Entrepreneur life (and life in general) can get pretty uncertain. It’s at times like this that it’s useful to have psychological tools to help manage stress. One such tool is to think of your life being a river heading for a pre-destined destination. You have no choice about the destination. You can only choose how…
Are you a buyer or a seller?
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.