I found this tale of a “tough question” both interesting and challenging. It’s from an interview President Jimmy Carter had with Admiral Hyman Rickover when Carter was just a young man applying for the nuclear submarine program.  Here's the story as described by Carter himself: --------- It was the first time I [...]

Long before Yoda uttered the famous words, “Do or do not. There is no try” a similar sentiment on business and life was expressed by famed showman P.T. Barnum, known in his day as a pretty savvy businessman and marketer. It’s dead-on to the concept of what it takes for you [...]

One of the enduring mysteries of the age has been the Loch Ness Monster. According to the Washington Post, the Scottish beastie has been sighted over 3000 times since the year 565 AD. The so-called “surgeon’s photograph” of 1934 is the most well-known and iconic. It shows what appears to be [...]

There’s a lot of people out there saying it’s “CRAZY” to think the average person can succeed these days with all the odds stacked against them. It’s crazy to think you could have a successful business… create wealth… plan for and live out a happy and healthy retirement… Well, crazy is [...]

Another magic month treat you should check out is the film classic “Harvey.” Based on a Pulitzer prize winning play by Mary Chase, "Harvey" tells the tale of Elwood P. Dowd and his friend - a six foot tall invisible rabbit. Even though Harvey's powerful presence remained a key focus of [...]

I’ll admit there’s a touch of irony in me sending you an email on the dangers of electronic media… But I think this will be worth your time. According to a recent article in Harvard Business Review, the average person spends over 12 hours per day engaging with digital media – [...]

Since October is officially, “Magic Month,” I thought I'd give you a little "magic word" trivia quiz as we head into Fall.  Answers are at the end of the email: 1. When young Billy Batson uttered the magic word "Shazam," he was transformed into what superhero? Underdog Captain Marvel Mr. Fantastic [...]

Ever hear of "Kekich's Credos - 100 Rules to Live By"?  I don't recall exactly where I first learned of them, but they’re well worth looking at when you get the chance. In 1978, Dave Kekich was a man at the top of his game – entrepreneur, weight-lifter, runner – but [...]

When it comes to starting your own company, you shouldn’t automatically believe conventional wisdom. Case in point: How many times have you heard the statistic: “90% of all startup companies fail.” It’s a chilling number. In fact, it’s more than likely made more than a few would-be entrepreneurs rethink their dreams. [...]

“Now hiring” signs are a pretty common sight these days, which is definitely a good thing. But – Getting that job is one thing. Keeping it’s another. I thought of this the other day when I ran across an article on sales techniques for closing the deal on high end, very [...]