When I started my first company, I had no idea what I was doing. I winged it every step of the way, every day. Finally, I got smart and started reading. I learned a lot about building a successful business from the likes of Jim Collins, John C. Maxwell, and Seth Godin. That, combined with the knowledge and experience I picked up along the way,…
Have you ever had to deliver bad news to your employees? I have, and it’s not fun. Not at all. There’s a reason why many business executives run from this task, preferring instead to delegate it to someone else if possible. While delegating might temporarily get you off the hook, the bottom line is that you’re the boss. You’re at the top. And that means…
In February, I had the opportunity to talk to 7,000 conference attendees at Win the Storm, the nation’s largest roofing, restoration, and solar conference in Dallas, TX. Since I’d also just been recognized as a Comeback Kid (an award that goes to roofing contractors who have rebuilt their businesses after experiencing extreme setbacks or hardships), I decided to tell the audience a little about my…
What a month this has been! My (new) heart is full of gratitude for the many blessings I’ve received in my life, especially in the past couple of weeks. For those who don’t know my story, you’ll find it documented in my blog post entitled, The Beat of Faith. I finally worked my way to the top of the heart transplant list, so I spent…
Self-discipline is a key component of personal development skills that enhances emotional awareness mental strength. It is defined as one’s ability to find methods for conquering their flaws and to regulate their emotions in healthfully. It’s a notion that one embarks on even if he or she has a desire to just stay the same. Here are 4 steps on how to develop self discipline….
With Halloween fast approaching and ghouls and goblins popping up everywhere, it seems like a good time to talk about what scares you. If you’re an entrepreneur, there’s a good chance that you have a whole list of items that strike fear at your very core – regardless of how long you’ve been in business. And this year has been an exceptionally scary one for…
Practice As with any skill, positive thinking is something that takes time and effort to develop. Human beings are undeniably creatures of habit, so nothing feels natural until we’ve done it several times in a row consistently. If you’re having trouble keeping your thoughts on the positive side at first, there’s no need to beat yourself up; your brain is still rewiring itself and it’s…
Some business leaders seem to have the Midas touch. Everything they touch turns to gold. Or diamonds. Is it luck? Or is it hard work and perseverance? Barnett C. Helzberg, Jr., the former CEO of Kansas City-based Helzberg Diamonds, has a few things to say on this topic. In his book What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett, he covers many of the…
It takes a lot of determination, will power, and positive energy to complete any big project. Many people tend to only want to take a break after completing a project as a means of celebrating their success. Others may have a tendency to dive deep into projects, one after the other, without taking any time to relax, ultimately burning down their storehouse of energy and…
When you were a kid, did you ever have friends your parents didn’t approve of? Most of us did. It never seemed fair because our parents didn’t really know them like we did, right? And we thought they were fun kids to hang out with. So why were Mom and Dad so worked up about us being friends with them? It’s probably because our parents…
Who is that Man in the Mirror? Let’s talk about honesty and integrity. These are two words that people often associate with successful leaders. And they’re two words that are nearly always tied together when talking about leadership traits. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because it’s hard to be honest in all your dealings without treating people fairly and with integrity in the process….
Leadership style and philosophy help drive successful organizations. It occurred to me the other day that I’m in the very fortunate position of having had the opportunity to create and run my own businesses. I’ve done it not just once, but several times over the course of my career thus far. I’ve built a mortgage bank from the ground up, starting as a financial advisor,…
Rebuilding after Crisis There’s nothing more devastating than putting your life into an entrepreneurial endeavor only to have it go belly up. All those hours – sometimes years – of blood, sweat, tears, sleepless nights, money issues, and personal sacrifice suffered through only to discover that upon birth, your brainchild is stillborn. Or more heart-wrenching…it shows promise in the early years, only to slowly wither…
In this country in the 19th century, trade unionists proposed a holiday to celebrate the impact that workers across the country had on “the strength, prosperity, laws, and well-being of the country.”1 The day become known as Labor Day, celebrated the first Monday in September. For most people, Labor Day is just another three-day weekend, a weekend to make one last trip to the lake…