1. Remember, being nice is always good business.
2. Have a firm handshake.
3. Never shave with a new razor blade before
going to an important event or meeting.
4. Don’t criticize people in front of other
people. Nobody ever feels better.
5. Be the first to say, “Hello.”
6. When buying a present for a client, choose
the best in its category.
7. Remember that the ultimate challenge for us all is not to do something but to be
something.
8. Don’t succumb to negative self-talk. Never say, “I can’t,” “I’m too old,” or “I’ll
never.”
9. View customer complaints as an opportunity to
show them how quickly and expertly you respond to problems.
10. Do a good job, and you won’t have to do it
over or explain why you didn’t do it right in the first place.
11. Ask your boss he or she is currently reading
and then buy and read the books yourself.
12. When starting your business wardrobe, invest
in the best suit and shoes you can afford.
13. Don’t feel you’re entitled to something
you’re not willing to work hard to get.
14. Never be lured into a job just for the money.
15. Remember that the smallest step toward your
goal is worth more than a marathon of intentions.
16. Never leave
a job interview without telling the interviewer specifically why you should be
hired and offering specific examples of how you can improve the company’s
business.
17. When attempting a conference or study group,
introduce yourself to as many people as you can.
18. Don’t be so casual in dress, language, and
manner that people don’t take you seriously.
19. Keep your word, even to your enemies.
20. Make a list
of ten guiding principles that you want most to direct your life. Every three months ask your family how well
you’re living up to them.
21. Never get into business with a person you has
more troubles than you.
22. Don’t wait
until you get your “dream job” before giving it all you’ve got. Excel at the job at hand and the dream job
will appear sooner than you think.
23. When you can’t solve a problem, at least try
to find some humor in it.
24. Don’t let anyone see you tipsy.
25. When negotiating, never lose your
composure. Anger is the worst reason to
miss a deal.
26. Remember that any job done exceptionally well
has within it the seeds of greatness.
27. Never start a business unless you feel a
passion for it.
28. Get mad if you must; then get over it.
29. Be happy with what you have while working for
what you want.
30. Don’t delay in acting on a good idea. Chances are someone else has just thought of
it too.
31. When someone gives you unwanted or
unsolicited advice just say, “Well, that’s something to think about.”
32. Every week try to bring two or three new
ideas to your boss.
33. Be tactful.
Never alienate anyone on purpose.
34. Be wary of anyone who only has one solution
to a problem.
35. Remember that creativity plus discipline is
almost always a formula for success.
36. When interviewing for a job, ask them the one
mistake they learned the most from.
37. Ensure your success by doing common things
uncommonly well.
38. Send your boss an arrangement of fresh
flowers and a note when you’ve received a raise or promotion.
39. Compliment even the smallest improvements.
40. Say “thank you” a lot.
41. Say “please” a lot.
42. Once or twice in life ask for the moon. You never know, someone just might give it to
you.
43. Never do business with a man who cheats on
his wife.
44. Live beneath your means.
45. Wear polished shoes.
46. Ask for a raise when you feel you’ve earned it.
47. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be
treated.
48. Don’t waste time learning the “tricks of the
trade.” Instead, learn the trade.
49. Remember, it’s better to trust and be
occasionally disappointed than to be distrustful and miserable all the time.
50. Demand excellence and be willing to pay for
it.
51. Admit your mistakes.
52. When
someone wants to hire you, even if it’s for a job you have little interest in,
talk to them. Never close the door on an
opportunity until you’ve had a chance to hear the offer in person.
53. In business and in family relationships,
remember that the most important thing is trust.
54. Remember that knowledge is powerless unless
you act on it.
55. Look on the positive side of things. Life’s happiest and most successful people
are almost always inspiringly optimistic.
56. Learn how to read a financial report.
57. Use credit cards for convenience, never for
credit.
58. Never cheat.
59. When you arrive at your job in the morning,
let the first thing you say brighten everyone’s day.
60. Write “thank you” notes promptly.
61. Never waste an opportunity to tell good
employees how much they mean to the company.
62. Remember people’s names.
63. Introduce yourself to the manager of the
branch where you bank. It’s important
that he or she knows you personally.
64. Keep your watch five minutes fast.
65. Don’t say
you don’t have enough time. You have
exactly the same number of hours each day that were given to Helen Keller,
Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and
Albert Einstein.
66. Learn Spanish. In a few years, more than 35 percent of all
Americans will speak it as the first language.
67. Get acquainted with a good lawyer,
accountant, and plumber.
68. Resist the temptation to put a cute message
on your answering machine.
69. Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have
to cross the same river.
70. Keep your desk and work area neat.
71. Be punctual and insist on it in others.
72. Avoid negative people.
73. Remember that without good character,
knowledge and talent are wasted.
74. Offer to leave the tip when someone invites
you out to eat.
75. Resist telling people how something should be
done. Instead, tell them what needs to
be done.
76. Never give up on what you really want to
do. The person with big dreams is more
powerful than one with all the facts.
77. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
78. Read carefully anything that requires your
signature. Remember, the big print
giveth and the small print taketh away.
79. Don’t quit a job until you’ve lined up
another.
80. Never criticize the person who signs your
paycheck. If you are unhappy with your
job, resign.
81. Become the most positive and enthusiastic
person you know.
82. Remember, it’s not your job to get people to
like you. It’s your job to like people.
83. Have a good posture. Enter a room with purpose and confidence.
84. When
traveling out of the country, keep photocopies of your passport, tickets, and
credit card cancellation numbers separate from your wallet.
85. Don’t forget that a person’s greatest
emotional need is to feel appreciated.
86. Choose work that is in harmony with your
values.
87. When traveling by plane, don’t pack valuables
or important papers in your suitcase.
Carry them on board with you.
88. Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
89. Give your best to your employer. It’s one of the best investments you can
make.
90. Don’t discuss business in elevators or
restrooms. You never know who may
overhear you.
91. Spend less time worrying who’s right, and
more time deciding what’s right.
92. Praise in public. Criticize in private.
93. Have impeccable manners.
94. Remember that to be a big success, you’ll
have to be the first, best, or different.
95. Smile a lot.
It costs nothing and is beyond price.
96. Show respect for others’ time. Call whenever you’re going to be more than
ten minutes late.
97. Learn to be cheerful even when you don’t feel
like it.
98. Remember that the best job security is being
paid a little less than you’re worth.
99. Avoid like the plague any lawsuit.
100. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
101. When
facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail. If you’re going after Moby Dick, take along
the tartar sauce.
102. Remember that of all the things you wear,
your expression is the most important.
103. Cut out
complimentary newspaper articles about people you know and mail the articles to
them with notes of congratulations.
104. Never use a toothpick in public.
105. Discipline yourself to save money. It’s essential to success.
106. Remember the deal’s not done until the check
has cleared the bank.
107. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Learn to say “No” politely and quickly.
108. Keep overhead low. Keep expectations high.
109. See problems as opportunities for growth and self-mastery.
110. Judge your success by the degree that you’re
enjoying peace, health, and love.
111. Remember that hard work, persistence, and an
enthusiastic approach to life will get you most anything you want.
112. Don’t bore
people with your problems. When someone
asks you how you feel, say, “Terrific, never better.” When they ask, “How’s business?” reply,
“Excellent, and going better every day.”
113. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
114. Whatever
your present job, even if you’re dissatisfied, give it your best shot. This will get you to a better position
quicker than anything else you can do.
115. Remember that winners do what losers don’t
want to.
116. When
traveling, put a card in your wallet with your name, home phone number, the
phone number of a friend or close relative, plus the phone number of the hotel
or motel where you’re staying. This is
critical information should you be involved in an accident.
117. Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in harbor is safe, but in time, its
bottom will rot out.
118. Don’t let anyone talk you out of pursuing
what you know to be a great idea.
119. Remember, no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to
acknowledge those you help you.
120. Do business with those who do business with
you.
121. Give you clients your enthusiastic best.
122. Take charge of your attitude. Don’t let someone else choose it for you.
123. Pay close attention to the details.
124. Be bold
and courageous. When you look back on
your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
125. Remember that experience is often
over-rated. Passion, character, and
creativity are often more important to success.
126. Start meetings on time regardless of who’s
missing.
127. Be an original. If that means being a little eccentric, so be
it.
128. Don’t flaunt your success, but don’t
apologize for it either.
129. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes
be wrong.
130. Take care of your reputation. It’s your most valuable asset.
131. Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his deathbed, “Gee if I’d
only spent more time at the office.”
132. Don’t accept “good enough” as good enough.
133. Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy
in your voice.
134. When
meeting someone you don’t know well, extend your hand and give them your
name. Don’t assume they remember.
135. Never compromise your integrity.
136. Keep a notepad and pencil on your bedside
table. Million-ideas sometimes strike at
3am.
137. When you
find a job that’s ideal, take it regardless of the pay. If you’ve got what it takes, your salary will
soon reflect your value to the company.
138. Stand when greeting a visitor to your office.
139. Don’t be
rushed into making an important decision.
People will understand if you say, “I’d like a little more time to think
it over. Can I get back to you
tomorrow?”
140. Be prepared.
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
141. Don’t expect others to listen to your advice
and ignore your example.
142. Go the distance. When you accept a task, finish it.
143. Watch for big problems. They disguise big opportunities.
144. Never admit at work that you’re tired, angry,
or bored.
145. When negotiating your salary, think of what
you want; then ask for ten percent more.
146. Keep several irons in the fire.
147. After you’ve worked hard to get what you
want, take the time to enjoy it.
148. Be alert to opportunities to show praise and
appreciation.
149. Your mind can only hold one thought at a
time. Make it a positive and
constructive one.
150. Never apologize for being early for an
appointment.
151. Don’t procrastinate. Do what needs doing when it needs to be done.
152. When reconvening after a conference break,
choose a chair in a different part of the room.
153. Accept a breath mint if someone offers you
one.
154. Volunteer.
Sometimes the jobs no one wants conceal big opportunities.
155. When you go to borrow money, dress as if you
have plenty of it.
156. Keep a
diary of your accomplishments at work.
Then when you ask for a raise, you’ll have the information you need to
back it up.
157. Seize every opportunity for additional training
in your job.
158. When someone asks you a question you don’t
want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
159. Carry two big safety pins when you
travel so that you can pin the drapes shut in your motel room.
160. Remember
that the moment you say, “I give up,” someone else, seeing the same situation,
is saying, “My, what a great opportunity.”
161. When a person compliments your tie, take it
off and give it to him. He will never
forget the gesture.
162. Never be photographed with a cocktail glass
in your hand.
163. Look for ways to make your boss look good.
164. Give people more than they expect and do it
cheerfully.
165. There are people who will always come up with
reasons why you can’t do what you want to do.
Ignore them.
166. When you
are totally exhausted but have to keep going, wash your face and hands, and put
on clean socks and a clean shirt. You
will feel remarkably refreshed.
167. Set high goals for your employees and help
them attain them.
168. Do your homework and know your facts, but
remember it’s passion that persuades.
169. Dress a little better than your clients but
not as well as your boss.
170. When
concluding a business deal and the other person suggests working out the
details later, say, “I understand, but I would like to settle the entire matter
right now.” Don’t move from the table
until you do.
171. Never underestimate the competition.
172. When
hiring, give special consideration to a man who is an Eagle Scout and a woman
who has received the Girl Scout Gold Award.
173. Remember that a person who is foolish with
money is foolish in other ways too.
174. When anyone says, “Don’t worry, you can trust
me,” hold on to your wallet.
175. Treat your employees with the same respect
you give your clients.
176. Be quick to take advantage of an advantage.
177. When
interviewing for a job, don’t bring up the subject of salary too soon. When asked about your salary requirements,
say something like, “I’m open to whatever salary range is being offered, and
I’m sure you’ll be fair.”
178. What you must do, do cheerfully.
179. Don’t waste your time waiting for
inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will
find you.
180. Win without boasting; lose without excuses.
181. Watch your attitude. It’s the first thing people notice about you.
182. Ask someone you’d like to know better to list
five people he would most like to meet.
It will tell you a lot about him.
183. When you find someone doing small things
well, put him or her in charge of bigger things.
184. Some things
need doing better than they’ve ever been done before. Some just need doing. Others don’t need doing at all. Know which is which.
185. Remember that experiences are more valuable
than things almost every time.
186. Don’t carry expensive luggage. It’s a tip-off to thieves that valuable items
may be inside.
187. Be advised that when negotiating, if you
don’t get it in writing, you probably won’t get it.
188. Don’t do business with anyone who has a
history of suing people.
189. Remember that you can’t accomplish anything
extraordinary without stepping on a few people’s toes.
190. Mind the store. No one cares about your business the way you
do.
191. When giving a speech, concentrate on what you
can give the audience, not what you can get from them.
192. Don’t accept unacceptable behavior.
193. Remember that almost everything looks better
after a good night’s sleep.
194. Become famous for finishing important or
difficult tasks.
195. Do a good job because you want to, not
because you have to. This puts you in
charge instead of your boss.
196. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
197. Don’t work for a company led by someone of
questionable character.
198. Act with courtesy and fairness regardless of
how others treat you. Don’t let them
determine your response.
199. Remember that everyone you meet wears an
invisible sign. It reads, “Notice
me. Make me feel important.”
200. When you are a dinner guest at a restaurant,
don’t order anything more expensive than your host does.
201. Start every day with the most important thing
you have to do. Save the less important
tasks for later.
202. If you make a lot of money, put it to use
helping others while you are living.
That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
203. Remember that not getting what you want is
sometimes a stroke of good luck.
204. Never hire someone you wouldn’t invite to
dinner.
205. Perform a job better than anyone else
can. That’s the best job security there
is.
206. Judge your success by what you had to give up
in order to get it.
207. Never “borrow” so much as a pencil from your
workplace.
208. Don’t discuss domestic problems at work.
209. A
racehorse that consistently runs just a second faster that another horse is
worth millions of dollars more. Be willing
to give that extra effort that separates the winner from the one in second
place.
210. Remember this statement by Coach Lou
Holtz: “Life is 10 percent what happens
to me and 90 percent how I react to it.”
211. Grind it out.
Hanging on just one second longer than your competition makes you the
winner.
212. When attending meetings, sit down front.
213. Be better prepared than you think you need to
be.
214. Let your handshake be as binding a signed
contract.
215. Keep and file the best business letters you
receive.
216. Give handout materials after your
presentation, never before.
217. You may dress unconventionally, but remember,
the more strangely you dress, the better you have to be.
218. Be suspicious of a boss who schedules
meetings instead of making decisions.
219. When a guest, never complain about the food,
drink, or accommodations.
220. Regardless of the situation, remember that
nothing is ever lost by courtesy.
221. When staying at a hotel or motel, don’t
accept a room next to the ice or vending machines.
222. Work for a company where the expectations of
you are high.
223. Remember that all success comes at a price.
224. Treat your company’s money as you would your
own.
225. Never
complain about a flight delayed for mechanical repairs. Waiting on the ground is infinitely better
than the alternative.
226. Make a list of travel necessities, laminate
it, and keep it in your suitcase.
227. Always take your vacation time.
228. Once a month invite someone to lunch who
knows more about your business than you.
229. When you need to apologize to someone, do it
in person.
230. Be especially courteous to receptionists and
secretaries; they are the gatekeepers.
231. Worry about the consequences of the choices
you make before you make them, not afterward.
232. Locate the emergency exits as soon as you
check into your hotel room.
233. Take a course in public speaking.
234. For better security when traveling, take
along a small wedge of wood and jam it under your hotel room door.
235. Occasionally
leave a quarter in the change return slot of a pay phone. Somebody always checks. Finding it might make their day.
236. Never be too busy to meet someone new.
237. Welcome the unexpected! Opportunities rarely come in neat,
predictable packages.
238. Offer to pay for parking and toll when you
ride with someone.
239. Take advantage of free lectures on any
subject in which you are remotely interested.
240. Never give up on a dream just because of the
length of time it will take to accomplish it.
The time will pass anyway.
241. Before criticizing a new employee, remember
your first day at work.
242. Dress for the position you want, not the one
you have.
243. Be innovative; be passionate; be committed.
244. Don’t get caught glancing at your watch when
you’re having a conversation with someone.
245. Eat lightly or not at all before a speech or
presentation.
246. Find something that’s important to your
company and learn to do it better than anyone else.
247. After someone apologizes to you, don’t
lecture them.
248. Once a year, take your boss to lunch.
249. Read biographies of successful men and women.
250. Remember that nothing important was ever
achieved without someone taking a chance.
251. Never resist a generous impulse.
252. Be wary at stopping at restaurants with Help
Wanted signs.
253. Remember that wealth is not having all the
money you want, but having all the money you need.
254. Don’t live with the brakes on.
255. If you know you’re going to lose, do it with
style.
256. Ask your boss what he or she expects of you.
257. Never use sarcasm when reviewing an
employee’s performance.
258. Don’t employ the services of any professional
whom you wouldn’t trust with the key to your house.
259. Read Dale Carnegie’s classic, How to Win
Friends and Influence People.
260. Make friends before you need them.
261. Never criticize your country when traveling
abroad.
262. Aim high; work hard; play fair; help others.
263. Send a hand written letter to a longtime
customer, thanking them for their business.
They will never forget it.
264. Never enter your boss’s office without a
notepad and pencil.
265. Be an example of what you want to see of more
in the world.
266. When
interviewing for a job, learn as much as you can about the business by visiting
the library and reading the past year’s industry trade magazines.
267. Hold important meetings on your turf.
268. Make two photocopies of the important cards
and licenses in your wallet. Keep one at
the office and one at home.
269. Take
advantage of the power of networking.
Attend those parties and conferences, and smile and schmooze not matter
how you feel.
270. Avail yourself of a “second opinion” whenever
you can.
271. Remember, some problems are like zits; if you
leave them alone they get better.
272. Become an expert in an area essential to the
success of your company
273. Remember the quickest way to get a raise is
to raise your commitment to the company.
274. Don’t wait until everything is nearly perfect
before being happy or optimistic; be superior to circumstances.
275. When you
enter a room where there are microphones and TV cameras, always treat them as
if they were “on” and picking up every word you say.
276. Determine a person’s character by how he
earns his money, how he spends his money, and how he treats his family.
277. If you don’t believe the product or service
you’re offering is of the highest quality, get another job.
278. Stay in touch with contemporary youth culture
by watching MTV every once in awhile.
279. Read Undaunted Courage by Stephen
Ambrose.
280. Remember that the best antidote for worry is
action.
281. When you feel in the need of a compliment,
give one to someone else.
282. Celebrate victories and analyze defeats.
283. Should you
be given disappointing accommodations or unprofessional service at a hotel,
tell the manager that you intend to write letters to the Better Business
Bureau, the local convention bureau, Mobil Travel Guide, AAA, and travel
magazines.
284. When
asking for a raise, don’t dwell on your personal financial situation. Speak only of your financial value to the
company.
285. Remember that the most challenging management
problem we ever face is ourselves.
286. Never bet against anyone who is better
prepared and more committed than you.
287. Remember, it’s not enough to do your
best. You must also do what’s necessary.
288. When sending typed letters, add a handwritten
salutation or postscript to make it more personal.
289. Never
think you are working for someone else. You
are ultimately your own boss, and you can make any job a launching pad for
success.
290. Proofread carefully everything that goes out
over your signature.
291. To get someone’s attention, ask for their
opinion.
292. Look for opportunities to assume more
responsibility than you presently have.
293. Remember that talent and ability are of
little use without integrity.
294. Never give a person’s name as a reference
unless you’ve received his or her permission.
295. When someone says they’ll get back to you,
ask for a specific time and date.
296. Never let the odds keep you from pursuing
what you know in your heart you were meant to do.
297. When you meet a person for the first time,
speak his name at least twice. It does
wonders for your memory.
298. Remember that a crisis is an opportunity to
show people what you are made of.
299. Be as friendly to the janitor as you are to
the chairman of the board.
300. Unless you’re the president of the United States,
there is no reason to take a cell phone to lunch. Leave it in the car.
301. Pay for your mistakes today. Tomorrow the price goes up.
302. Regardless of the situation, react with
class.
303. Remember that a good example is the best
sermon.
304. Never work for someone you wouldn’t be proud
to introduce to your mother.
305. Remember that the quality of your life is
determined by the choices you make.
306. Remember that people forget what you say and
what you do, but they never forget the way you make them feel.
307. When deciding matter of great importance,
even if you think you have the answer, give it another 24 hours.
308. Never speak ill of anyone who’s had you as a
guest in their home.
309. To get an instant smile, hand someone a box
of animal crackers.
310. Remember that when you take inventory of the
things you treasure most, none will have been purchased with money.
