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.
- Build your foundation on trust.
- Be able to shift gears.
- When considering the hold or fold strategy for your family business beware the FUDG Factor. (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt and Greed)
- When you are up to your elbows in alligators, remember that your objective is to drain the swamp.
- Don’t try to push a string uphill.
- Don’t fight people who buy ink by the barrel.
- Fix the process and not the blame.
- How you say it often means more than what you say.
- Learn to love details. The devil will often appear in them.
- Know your bottom line before entering into a negotiation.
- Keep it simple.
- 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.
