Routine can be a trap

Routine is very good for creativity. Not having to make little decisions frees your mind up for thinking of more things. Routine minimises mental fatigue. Just don’t get captured by routine. Don’t get addicted to two coffees a day. Or melatonin at night. Don’t let yourself get to the point where you can’t not follow…

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Respect yourself

You can’t respect others unless you respect yourself. You can’t respect yourself unless you respect your actions. Don’t do things that make you ashamed. Only do things that make you proud. That’s how you build respect for yourself. That’s how you build respect for others.

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Criticise bad process, not bad results

Before criticising your team for delivering the goods, consider whether they make mistakes in the process. If the right path was followed, but somehow the wrong result achieved, don’t criticise. By the same token, if the right result was achieved, but the wrong path followed, your team must be criticised. Your job is to incentivise…

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You need a free exchange of ideas

That’s how you innovate. That’s how you find the truth. That’s how you stay ahead of the pack. That’s why America keeps creating new products, new companies. No one is arrested for saying what they think. People are free to air ideas, exchange thoughts. Do the same for your company.

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Different businesses have different leadership styles

Autocracy. Participatory. Democracy. Consultative dictatorship. Whatever the style, before you take-over/join/deal with a business, figure out it’s leadership style. Don’t try to change it. Trying to change it will result in failure. Rather align with it. Adopt it. Lead in the same way. That’s how you’ll take the company where you want it to go. Breaking…

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Your mentor can be younger or poorer than you

Mentors are people that give you advice that helps in your life/business. Mostly they’re people with more experience/money. But sometimes not. Sometimes a youngster and aspiring entrepreneur can teach you. Be cool with that. Open your mind. Pay attention. Your mentor can be younger or poorer than you.

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Even the best manager can be the little boy with the big dog

When a little boy takes a big dog for a walk, he spends his time waiting to see where the dog wants to go so he can take him there. That’s not leading. That’s managing. Leading is showing the big dog where to go, and taking it there.

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To be a leader means people are willing to follow you

People that aren’t necessarily leaders: Just because you’re one of the above, doesn’t mean you’re a leader. To be a leader means people are willing to follow you. That’s it.

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What are you?

Are you a fighter? A salesman? A politician? A grafter? Whatever you are, that’s how you find success. If you’re a salesman, you sell your way to success. If you’re a politician, you politic your way to success. If you’re a fighter, you fight your way to success. You can’t find success by being something…

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Most problems don’t need big solutions

Most of the time, the bigger the solution, the less likely it is to succeed.  Problems, big and small, are mostly addressed with small solutions. Avoid the temptation of a grand project to solve all the world’s problems. Find a small solution. Preferably one that no one else is chasing. Most problems don’t need big…

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Trust the process

Most entrepreneurs are impatient. When there’s a problem, it must be solved immediately. When there’s a solution, it must be grasped immediately. Speed speed speed. Now now now. That works well for a startup, but not so well as the business grows. Impatience can cause more damage than benefit. Speed can kill. Much better to…

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Plan every battle as though retreat is inevitable

Fight every battle as though retreat is not an option. That way you always have a fall-back position. But you also give yourself the best odds of victory.

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