What is the best business advice you've ever received?

[RLorenzen]

Don't trust anyone. Business is war.

[kinjalshah]

The b5media Business Apprentice Contest has now become a solo competition, and my Best Business Advice I Ever Received post managed to get me through to the next round. Here’s this week’s challenge:

[cronyinfotech]

“Ethics first, then profit. And… throw away your junk mail or you’ll waste precious time on the most unproductive activity in the world.”

[David in Wyoming]

How about "A Rising Tide Raises All Ships"

D

[cpeter05]

"Sometimes you have to be uncomfortable to advance"

[aslamc]

like Bob Parson said, get outside your comfort zone.

- if you are always dealing in your comfort zone you are not progressing. In other words once you get done dealing with 100,000 and grow to a 1,000,000 grow with it... That is your new comfort zone

[David in Wyoming]

like Bob Parson said, get outside your comfort zone.

- if you are always dealing in your comfort zone you are not progressing. In other words once you get done dealing with 100,000 and grow to a 1,000,000 grow with it... That is your new comfort zone

Bob Parsons is a fascinating man who deserves our admiration for what he has built

D

[mbrand2222]

Buyers are liars. They say one thing and do another. But on the more positive side: stick to the golden rule. "Do unto others as you would have done unto you." Usually you hear this from your teacher when you're a kid, but it applies to business dealings, too.

[itstruyou]

always think with the mentality of "what if I had to" for ex. if somebody puts a gun to your loveone and said I need you to make your buisness project successful by next month or else!!! then you start to come up with brilliant ideas in getting that done!! whatever you come up with, thats what you should be doing.... why? because you had to!!! think like that and watch the events you want occur in your life!! --best advice i ever read and it got me where i am now and where im destined to be in the future! Try it cause it works!!

[minnesotacold]

Buyers are liars. They say one thing and do another.

Great one! I think this was the first big business lesson I learned. I contacted a potential customer about a sale last week and she was like " I need 9 of Item X, please stop by tomorrow at 5 pm and I will pay $150 + $20 for delivery", as a newbie, I got really excited !!(Thank God, I did not place the order!). Anyways, I send her an email the next day to confirm that I will be stopping by her workplace at 5 pm, she acts like the conversation we had the day before never took place! She said something like "Well, I was just considering buying it, I was not really interested" WTF? It is unbelievable how stupid, idiotic and senseless some customers can be.

[ttfing]

"Never loan money to friends" (nor family)

[millionaire]

love your business

[Gopal Dev]

To work hard, work smart, and work consistently even if results are slow to see (which is almost always the case). One has to cross a line after which point things will start to finally come together. Many quit beforehand and never get to reap those rewards. Success!

Gopal (The Musical Mad Scientist and Entrepreneur)

[Brainy]

The best book on product/service development that has helped me is "Entrepreneur America" by Rob Ryan, tons of advice that is tangible. (aka "Smart Ups")

As for talking with business owners; the best advice I have received was when I talk to 10-20 business owners concerning a new product or service in development. Feedback from potential clients is by far the best product/service development advice, which leads normally to a re-alignment and refinement of the product/service & business.

Briany

[Xander123]

Its ok to fail as long as you learn something from it and never make the same mistake again!

II timothy chapter 1 verse 7: for God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

These have helped me quite often.

Cheers,