30 August 2013

Instructions for Business Success


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.


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