Entitlement in Business As Dr. Steve Maraboli, author of Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience, says, “It’s a quick transition from a nourishing sense of gratitude to a poisonous sense of entitlement.” The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that anyone who believes that everyone owes them something is a fool. This feeling can overtake you as you...
All Confidence and No Capital Starting a business is incredibly stressful, and you have to be on top of your game if you wish to succeed. Having solid financial backing isn’t just important logistically—it’s important to be properly bankrolled psychologically as well. When you try to launch a concept with little (or no) money, you...
Small Gestures It’s no secret that networking is huge in the business world. I am a big proponent of making a genuine effort to make the connections in your network feel important and special. Respect the power of a small gesture! It might only take a handshake and a question about their family—these things add up. An authentic...
Limitations Be honest with yourself, especially about your limitations and how they might affect your future career goals. Let’s say you’ve always dreamt of being an actor. If you’re 35 with a spouse and a child, it may be less realistic to fully chase this dream than when you’re in your 20s with less “real” responsibilities and people depending on...
The Law of Reciprocity in Business Growing up, we all learned to “treat others as you would like to be treated.” But, do you know how this age-old credo applies to the Law of Reciprocity? This law basically states that when someone does something nice for you, you feel the obligation to do something nice for them...
On Learning to Listen Thoughtfully To get the most out of any interaction, be it personal or business related, I’ve found that a valuable skill to possess is the ability to simply be humble and listen. You may be amazed how much you find out. Strive not only to hear but to understand. The more you let people talk about...
The challenge for any business hoping to last for years to come is to provide something above and beyond what their competition is able to provide. This isn’t an insurmountable task, but it does takes dedication and commitment to success. Sound overwhelming? It shouldn’t! I’ve found that a great goal and starting point is to offer your client something that...
Unlocking Potential As leaders we wear many hats, but you will find that an important role in the development of a successful team is learning the fine art of unlocking potential. An inexpensive (and by that I mean free!) and surefire way to keep your employees engaged and happy is to recognize them for their achievements. According...
Leverage Your Time There’s no way around it: as entrepreneurs, we are busy people. Running a successful business tends to be more than a full time job, and leaders seek ways to manage their time. It begs the question, if time cannot be controlled, why are we taught that we should manage it? Even the most detailed schedule...
Take Steps Toward Your Future After a brief Memorial Day hiatus, I’m back with my weekly motivational moment. One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself while you’re young is to take steps toward your future before you get there! What I mean is this: before making any big decisions, take a moment...
