I missed it in a big way too!!

Apple Co-founder lives on Social Security June 24, 2010 CNN

Ron Wayne sold his 10 percent stake in Apple for $800 just days after he helped found it.  It’s now worth $22 billion.   He says he began to “second guess” himself after talking to friends and now at age 76 he is writing a book about it….on a PC. 
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At one point in my life I had the opportunity to purchase as many shares as I would like – for less than a dollar each – of a new little company that was promising to deliver packages and letters overnight for just 10 bucks.  I went to the “experts” in the field…the postmaster (grandpa) and the letter carrier (dad) and they said; “no one in their right mind would spend 10 bucks to send a letter overnight when stamps are just 14 cents.”.  That little company we all know and love is FedEx.

I missed it because I listened to the “they says” and allowed them to feed my fear.

So when other opportunities came into my awareness I decided to do my own due diligence, to take a pass on the comments from the “they says” and to trust my gut, heart and to use my fear as fuel to move forward towards my goals.  So ask yourSelf these 2 questions;


1. How long do parents give an infant to learn how to walk before they declare a failure?

2. In relation to your success in this business – what’s a thought you’ve never thought before? 

For the ones that stick with it….The Journey is the Reward…and the Freedom is worth it.

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Cool strategy, great legacy

For those of us building businesses check this out and see how it might apply to your business;

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/03/smallbusiness/esop_plans/index.htm

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Why “Word of Mouth” is now more important than ever

Barry Schwartz, professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, has written a book called, ‘The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less”

The goal of choice has been to liberate us, to give us a degree of control over our lives, to give us autonomy and distinction.  However, as Mr. Schwartz suggests, ‘. . .as the number of choices keeps growing, negative aspects of having a multitude of options begin to appear. As the number of choices grows further, the negatives escalate until we become overloaded.’  Overloaded individuals tend to withdraw and make the choice of non-action because it is the path with the least negative consequences, at least in the moment.

The individuals’ decision process is simplified, shortened and made painless by asking someone they know and trust; “what did you do?” and occasionally they  will ask ..”and why?”

Bill’s note: This is an important perspective especially as it relates to our sales professionals.  How many of you are there out in the world?  Are you one in a million or one of a million?   Average or above average?  What makes YOU unique in a world of 6 billion people?  And remember everybody is “in sales”.  If you’re dating – you’re in sales.  Married – you’re in sales.   Have children – you’re in sales all day, everyday….bath time, bed time, homework time, chore time….it’s all sales.

So ask yourSelf – how can your existence simplify the life of your prospect?

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Univ of Michigan Entrepreneurial Study

early release news

University of Michigan – “Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics 2”

The study has followed 1,200 business start-ups since 2005.

1.    At the end of 2 years there was zero correlation between the amount of start-up capital and success.
2.    Greater than 80% of new businesses were started with; a.) owner savings  b.) Credit cards c.) personal loans from friends/family.
3.    The average start-up investment was about $48,000.
4.    Passion correlated with success more than education level.

The study will conclude in 2011.

Once again – most businesses are started with OPM = Other Peoples’ Money.
Once again – it’s not what you know – it’s what you DO that matters most.

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Hill and Emerson

“You know, it’s not more knowledge, it’s not more education, it’s not more facts that we need. It’s a better use of what we already have that we need to have. You have each and every one of you, within your potential power right now to do a wonderful job in your chosen field – if you would only embrace it and use it.”

                    –Napoleon Hill

What lies behind us and what lies before us – are tiny matters compared to what lies within us“.

                   –Ralph Waldo Emerson

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