What is a cynic? A man who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Oscar Wilde 1854 – 1900 Some time ago, I was working with a client who wanted to improve his sales volume and net income by a substantial margin. After a few sessions with … [ Continue Reading ]
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. Helen Keller 1880 – 1968 I grew up in Mississippi, and in the late 1950s, I attended a program called Boys State/Girls State. The program was held in the legislative offices of the state capitol, and each participant … [ Continue Reading ]
Everything you want in life has a price connected to it. There’s a price to pay if you want to make things better, a price to pay just for leaving things as they are, a price for everything.Harry Browne1933 – 2006 Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to a friend, Madame … [ Continue Reading ]
It is unreasonable to think that we can earn rewards without being willing to pay their true price. Epictetus 55 – 135 A.D. Do you remember when buying bigger, more expensive items on layaway was a common thing? At one time, most department stores offered a layaway plan. While a … [ Continue Reading ]
If things go wrong, don’t go with them. Roger Babson 1875 – 1967 Over the past few weeks, some of you may have received holiday gifts you don’t like, and you might be thinking about selling them on eBay or Craigslist. There’s an important business principle called sunk costs that … [ Continue Reading ]
If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. Jim Rohn 1930 – 2009 It’s unfortunate, but most people tend to avoid doing the things which will have the biggest impact on their lives. We’ve been taught since childhood to be careful, … [ Continue Reading ]
Appearances often are deceiving. Aesop c. 550 B.C. Some time back, a certain bookstore (which we’ll leave unnamed) ran what seemed like a very nice online promotion: buy 1 item, get the second item for 60% off list price. Sounds good, right? Wrong. My daughter took advantage of the promotion … [ Continue Reading ]
If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing. William Edwards Deming 1900 – 1993 Throughout our school years, we were conditioned to answer questions asked in class and on exams. We became accustomed to thinking that the key to success is having the right … [ Continue Reading ]
It is much better to die of hunger unhindered by grief and fear than to live affluently beset with worry, dread, suspicion, and unchecked desire. Epictetus 55 – 135 A.D. I want to discuss a growing trend that’s been taking place around the country: the proliferation of self-storage businesses. It … [ Continue Reading ]
What’s so curious about human beings is that we can look deeply into the future, foresee disaster, and still do nothing in the present to stop it. The majority of people on this planet, they’re overwhelmed with concerns about their immediate well being. Dan Gilbert 1957 – Most people understand … [ Continue Reading ]