Ten Traits of Successful People
“Some minds seem almost to create themselves, springing up under every disadvantage and working their solitary but irresistible way through a thousand obstacles.” – Washington Irving (“Roscoe,” The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, 1819-20) Investor’s Business Daily, according to Investor’s Business Daily, “has spent years analyzing business leaders and…
The Deviant’s Advantage
“All good things which exist are the fruits of originality.” – John Stuart Mill (On Liberty, 1859) The history of great ideas is a history of boldness and ridicule. The printing press, to take a relatively old example, was condemned as a tool of the devil. The steam engine was…
In Your Business Dealings, Remember That “Fair” Is Not An Exact Point Where Two Parties Meet But A Range They Can Wander Within
When two people want to do business, both sides must agree to a set of terms within which they can work together fairly. That is easy to accept, but understand that “fairness” is not an exact point but a range of acceptable considerations. If you think of it otherwise —…
On Being a Good Business Partner
“He that plants thorns must never expect to gather roses.” – Fables of Bidpai, circa 750) I do business with a lot of very accomplished businesspeople — entrepreneurs and executives who understand how business really works, who are expert in financially valuable skills, and who emphasize sales and marketing as…
Buy Into an Existing Franchise – Or Turn Your Business Into One
“How sweet an emotion is possession! What charm is inherent in ownership!” – David Grayson (Adventures in Contentment, 1907) It’s an interesting problem er opportunity. Investing in a franchise — as this person correctly guesses — isa very different ball of wax than owning your own business. Have…
How Wealthy People Get Wealthier
It’s a common misconception that borrowing money is bad. I’ve had students proudly tell me at seminars that their only debt is their mortgage and that they pay cash for everything else. While it’s good that they have no consumer or credit-card liabilities, these people are not going to get…
Pummel Your Best Prospecs with Direct Mail
“Much effort, much prosperity.” – Euripides (Hippolytus, 428 B.C.) Your customer list should be mailed to at least twice a year. If the list is good and reasonably large, you can mail to it once a week — even once a day. Prime prospects are people who, for one reason…
How To Write Better Copy By Being Honest
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson The unflinching principle of all successful advertising … of all marketing … of all business … of all relationships … is one of the oldest success secrets in the world: “Do unto others as you would have…
A Simple Way to Make Your Business Memorable
“Memory is a net; one finds it full of fish when he takes it from the brook; but a dozen miles of water have run through it without sticking.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, 1858) “People spend $185 on a bed-and-breakfast and remember the…
Think Like a Customer and Act like an Owner
“First, say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus (Discourses, 2nd century) We’ve talked a good deal about how you can elevate yourself to the top position in your business. I’ve recommended that you: * Get to work earlier than everyone…
How to Grow Your Business Through Endorsements
A famous business publication interviewed me once and asked me this question: “If every one of your marketing concepts but one was taken away, which would you hold on to at any price?” I didn’t need a second to think about the question. I immediately answered that I’d never give…
Three Steps To Making Your Direct-Mail Copy Super-Strong
I’ve been directly or indirectly responsible for more than a billion dollars’ worth of direct-mail copy over a span of more than 20 years. During that time, I’ve never stopped trying to find new and better ways to make the copy stronger. What follows is a simple but (for me,…