Imagine this… Years ago, Warren Buffet wanted to work for someone for free, but the individual declined his offer! Sounds a bit illusive doesn’t it? But it’s a fact. In 1952, Warren Buffet wanted to work gratis for the GEICO Insurance Company. Surprisingly, Buffet was met with a refusal from Benjamin Graham. Benjamin Graham was an American economist and professional investor and is considered the first proponent of value investing. (more…)

As an entrepreneur, you may be feeling quite confident that you are the captain of your ship or the pilot of a business enterprise whose mission it is to succeed. As we all know, success in business is not an easy mission to achieve.  Ask any CEO, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, or Steve Jobs and they will tell you that one of the key factors in achieving business sales success with products and/or services is the ability to present ideas and concepts in a way that induces, influences, or convinces people to purchase.

Keen business presentation skills are always the order of the day — whether you are reporting to your stakeholders, bidding for contractual work, motivating your sales team, presenting ideas for venture capital, or merely convincing family members. (more…)

Getting the greatest possible return on your investment, starts with good financial records.  Simply put, any small business that fails to keep complete and accurate financial records places its long-term success and survival in jeopardy!

Take note of the following three (3) reasons why you should maintain complete and accurate financial records – it’s critical for your business success: (more…)

Staying on track with business and personal obligations can become a struggle. At times, you may even be tempted to, as the proverbial saying goes, “put things off” until tomorrow or make excuses for your inertia.

I would like to share with you a segment of an article entitled, “Good-Bye, Excuses,” written by Dr. Wayne Dyer. You probably recognize the name since Dr. Dyer is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development.  In this segment, he talks about the self-defeating practice of making excuses; and then, suggests a strategy to avoid repeating this practice.

“Our excuses,” begins Dr. Dyer, “tell us that it’s okay if we fail to achieve what we set out to do today. We’ll do it tomorrow…maybe. Our excuses tell us its okay to stay with what’s safe. Trying something different could be difficult and risky.  Soon, we start to accept our excuses as truths. Left unchecked, these excuses will prevent us from ever reaching our goals.  A good strategy to combat this is to have a conversation with yourself about what you are willing to do to bring this about.  Next, write out a contract with yourself summarizing what you’ve agreed to do and the schedule on which you’ve agreed to do it.  Review this contract every day.”

I thought that Dr. Dyer’s “words of wisdom” were noteworthy. Perhaps they may help you if you are finding it difficult to “stay on track.”  Remember that your success in any endeavor will hinge upon your ability to deal effectively and in a timely manner – no matter which issue or challenge you encounter, no matter which objective you attempt to achieve.  You must remain persistent when carrying out the necessary steps and activities that will ultimately help you reach your final destination.

Staying on track and maintaining perseverance are daunting tasks. They are, however, possible and achievable if you make them your priorities!

What technique do you use for staying on track?

Charles Foster, PhD., MBA, is the director of The Chestnut Hill Institute in Boston (a research and consulting firm that focuses on the psychology of business success) and is the author of What Do I Do Now: Dr. Foster’s 30 Laws of Great Decision Making.  Dr. Foster spent 10 years studying decision makers.  He identified 35 people who generally made good decisions, and 35 people who frequently made bad decisions.  He then observed them over time as they made big decisions.  His research led him to two conclusions…

• Good decisions come from disciplined thinking. He advises that if you follow some basic rules of decision-making, most of your plans will work out.  If you think haphazardly during your decision-making process, your plans will be “hit or miss.”
• Good decisions are habit-forming. Each time that you make the right decision, you gain more self-confidence, and this in turn, encourages you to continue making good decisions.

According to Dr. Foster, two of the most crucial rules for making great decisions are: (more…)