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Money, money, money
Money problems are not money problems, even when they are money problems. Dire Straits’ famous song has some very politically incorrect lyrics but the refrain, ‘Money for nothing and the chicks for free’ sums up the situation of black marketeers and owners before the demonetization and the name of the songsters – Dire Straits…
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Building a Winning Team
Extract from ‘An Entrepreneur’s Diary’ Finally a word about people skills; the ability to build and run high performance teams. This is what spells the difference between commercial success and failure. No matter how skilled and talented an entrepreneur may be, no matter whether he has the funding or not, in the end what decides…
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On being ‘Trumped’
Whew! Finally, the charade is over. Donald Trump is now the President of the United States of America. What does that mean? It means that Simpsons prediction came true: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2146815/the-simpsons-correctly-predicted-a-donald-trump-presidency-16-years-ago-in-episode-set-in-the-near-future/ So now you know who to refer to for accurate predictions about the future. Goodbye Tarot cards, et al. In 1995 I recall reading a…
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Take tough decisions
Problems need solutions, not complaints or endless analyses. We need solutions, not tedious explanations. In all the years that I have been advising companies about achieving remarkable results, especially family businesses, one thing is very clear. Top management’s unwillingness or inability to take tough calls is the single, most destructive factor that blocks their success.…
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Close Encounters of the Terminal Kind
Ralph Chaplin said: “Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie, but rather mourn the apathetic throng, the coward and the meek who see the world’s great anguish and its wrong but dare not speak.” A friend asked me for my opinion about the Bhopal ‘encounter’ which is in the news at present…
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Tomorrow also has only 24 hours
Good intentions are not a substitute for systematic action. Neither is enthusiasm a substitute for discipline. Noise is different from music We all have the same 24 hours and no, tomorrow won’t have more. All tomorrows have only 24 hours. ‘Tomorrow I’ll have more time,’ is the biggest self- deception line of all time. The…
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Focus on contribution – not entitlement
Add value first. Entitlement will follow. Entitlement goes with the territory. Contribution defines the territory Because entitlement is directly proportional to contribution. Entitlement is the result of contribution. If you want more ‘entitlement’, contribute more. Only those who contribute greatly are entitled to great rewards. What do I mean? We live in a world of…
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Use things, not people; Value people, not things
Invest in people, not things Right people add value. Possessions add cost, not value and always depreciate Surround yourself with great people and value them. Tell them, show them, and do it often. Valuing is not simply patting backs or giving blue ribbons or bonus cheques. Valuing is to push them to do their best,…
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Invest, invest, invest
Forget sacrifice, think investment All sacrifice ends, but investment yields forever Invest in yourself, in your learning. Knowledge is the key to success. But only if applied. Knowledge applied thoughtfully yields wisdom. The two are not the same. So focus on your investment; track it, measure the yield, and do it often. Write your own…
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Forget about money
Money measures nothing except greed. When money becomes the objective, misery is the return. Service is the goal, the result of which is prosperity. Money is an effect, a result. What do I mean? Well, you see, we live in a world of cause and effect. The fundamental rule here is, ‘If you want an…