In my 50 plus years in banking, business and consulting, I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with scores of families and mentors who have taught me a lot about getting along in the personal and business world. While I have not always practiced the sage advice given, it has served me well over the years. I would like to share some of those gems with you and ask that you share any that you have found particularly helpful in furthering your successes.

1. Build your foundation on trust.
2. Be able to shift gears.
3. When considering the hold or fold strategy for your family business beware the FUDG Factor. (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt and Greed)
4. When you are up to your elbows in alligators, remember that your objective is to drain the swamp.
5. Don’t try to push a string uphill.
6. Don’t fight people who buy ink by the barrel.
7. Fix the process and not the blame.
8. How you say it often means more than what you say.
9. Learn to love details. The devil will often appear in them.
10. Know your bottom line before entering into a negotiation.
11. Keep it simple.
12. Never leave anything, always go to something better.

Thank you for indulging me in a bit of nostalgia. I look forward to hearing from you on your life’s lessons learned.