It’s time for another Young Entrepreneur poll! This time we’d like to know “What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?”
From all the people you’ve met, stories you’ve read, interviews you’ve listened to, what is the one piece of advice that has stood out the most and has helped you with your business?
Please share your wisdom by commenting here or in our Forums so that other up and coming young entrepreneurs can benefit from the advice as well!
To vote in the forums please check out our post: What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?
I have received alot of great business advice, but the statement that comes to mind was given to me by a mentor, Vandalyn Kennedy. She told me, “Thomas, you cannot always stick around to see the results.”
I had to learn when to draw the line between being an employee and a consultant. As a consultant, I had to learn how to equip and inspire clients to implement my ideas without holding their hand through the entire process. By co-creating solutions, I don’t have to stick around to see the results. I just facilitate the creation of their solution and follow-up with them. I think that’s what process consulting boils down to – facilitation and follow-up. That’s the best business advice I have ever received, along with the lesson learned.
A lot of times, it’s easy to get caught up in making the best decision possible. This takes valuable time and productivity for the main reason of not messing up.
Don’t get caught up in making the best decision up front. Make a decision and make that decision the best.
This is not saying don’t make an educated decision but when you’re down to a couple paths instead of investing more time and energy in additional research and cautiousness — make a decision.
Solve important customer problems. If you do that everything else follows.
The best business advice that I have received was from Peter Drucker, author of ‘The Effective Executive’. In his book on page 111, Peter says
“A good many studies of research scientists have shown that achievement (at least below the genius level of an Einstein) depends less on ability in doing research than on the courage to go after opportunity. .. It is more productive to convert an opportunity into results than to solve a problem- which only restores that equilibrium of yesterday.”
The best piece of business advice I have received was from a wise old man when I was about 32 years old. I asked him for some tips and when he told me I almost dismissed them as irrelevant. Now that I’m 51 years old I realize how wise it really was.
He said, “There are two things I try and do in business
1. I never try to beat any body. I only try and beat myself.
2. I try and do my job better today than I did it yesterday.”
Ethics first, then profit. And… throw away your junk mail or you’ll waste precious time on the most unproductive activity in the world.
I received the best business advice just about 6 months ago now and it was at a hypnosis seminar by Topher Morrison. I have found that many people are practicing daily affirmation and stuff like that after seeing “The Secret” what I have also found is many people are getting frustrated because they think they are in alignment with what they want. I have found that this may even be so in many cases. However, I found the missing piece!! We must have our subconscious minds prepared and looking for what we desire and here is what I have found to work:
Our subconscious minds responsibility is to keep us healthy correct? Keep the heart beating, muscles working, body healing, and all of that stuff. Well when I set up a goal or an affirmation I then back track it to preservation of the body. When you can link whatever desire you have to, how will this preserve my body and keep me healthy? This carries much more weight than, I want a million dollars, or a new car, or house. It has worked wonders for me, I hope it is beneficial to some of you out there. Have a great day!
Best business advice I ever received:
Choose your battles!
In business you’ll always come across someone or something that really aggravates you that you don’t want to stand for. Taking on every aggravating situation and always trying to get your way only promotes headaches!
John Osher is a very successful serial inventor and entrepreneur form NE Ohio. Among his many success stories is the Crest $5 spin brush which was sold to P&G for $475M. Over the years, John paid attention to the mistakes he and his entrepreneur friends made. His list of 17 startup mistakes, posted recently on my blog, are well worth the read.