I used to think that I could achieve success simply by working harder than the next guy -- not necessarily smarter, mind you, but harder. I would wake up earlier and go to bed late. I would work on the weekends. This belief stemmed from my success as a high school...
These 4 Feelings Could Hold You Back From Greatness
Right now, I’m reading Tim O’Brien’s The Things We Carried and really enjoying it. I’ve never been to war, but it’s made me think about the feelings I’m holding on to too closely. We carry memories of our past experiences around with us like baggage. If we’re lucky,...
How to Make Better Decisions
When we’re just starting out, we’re thirsty for advice. How else can we be sure we’re making the right decisions? It’s in our best interest to seek out advice -- lots of it. But there comes a time when you have to start relying on yourself for guidance. The problem...
9 Traits That Will Lead You to Success
Much has been written about this topic. Every budding entrepreneur wants to know: Do I have what it takes to make it? Is success a matter of being in the right place at the right time? How big of a role does luck really play? What about connections? Do I need an Ivy...
6 Qualities That Will Set Your Business Apart From Its Competitors
Between the day-to-day tasks of running a business, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But your business is about so much more than the bottom line. If you want to create a product or service that lasts, you must think about what you can be doing to...
Inventors, Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back!
I am truly amazed by how afraid some inventors are. They fear that someone is going to steal their million-dollar idea. They assume that every company is eagerly lying in wait, ready to rip them off. This ugly point of view rears its head everywhere I look, from...
13 Things Successful Inventors Do and Don’t Do
To master any profession, determination is needed. There are no shortcuts. No one can bestow upon you all of the knowledge you need. You have to do the work yourself -- which is why achieving success is so gratifying! The best advice I can offer you is to learn how to...
The Fastest Way to the Top? Join a Startup
Working at a startup taught me more about business than any other endeavor has. In the mid ‘80s, long before startup culture was red hot, I joined a toy company that was rapidly growing in Fremont, California. Looking back, the two years I spent there were the...
Is That a Small Problem or a Big Problem?
My business is almost always on my mind. It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. That’s because I care about it deeply. I’m fine with that -- more than fine, actually. I love what I do. I...
15 Practices of Successful Entrepreneurs
Managing your team is a serious responsibility. Are your employees enthusiastic about coming to work? Do they trust and support your vision? To grow your business, you need to do more than supervise. You need to engage and inspire the people you work with to go above...