Single Best Piece of Business Advice You've Received?

[Vixpy1]

Take what you think it will cost .. and double it.

[becker-on-ph]

There are only 2 rules in business

1. Do not revel everything you know.

2.

[QuackHandle]

dudleybloke said:

turnover = vanity
profit = sanity

Cash = Reality

[AJS-]

From a Nike T-shirt, or anywhere else "Just do it."

I really wasted years of my life thinking that I just needed another 6 months experience, a few more pennies in the bank or that one really good deal to start things off.

At the end of last year, a happy mix of circumstance and bravado forced my hand and I went out on my own. I'm now ahead of what I hoped for 12 months ago in every possible way.

[Mastiff]

Education = Those that read the small print.

Experience = Those who did not....

[Dick Dastardly]

When hiring staff go for attitude over ability

[PhilLL]

Vixpy1 said:

Take what you think it will cost .. and double it.

Take how long you think implementing something will take... and triple it.

[dudleybloke]

money talks, bulls#it walks.

[bob-in-toon]

don't trust anyone

[DSLiverpool]

When you can afford it - buy your property.

Expect to be shafted

Add 50% insurance to any timescales your given.

Don't think your staff love you because they act like they do

Tell no- one nothing even if your so excited you could blow

[WillowPillow]

"a successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him."

+

"the minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost."

[singlecoil]

WillowPillow said:

"a successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him."

+

"the minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost."

I think the OP was looking for usable advice, rather than aphorisms.

[elster]

Always be willing to ask for money.

[khushy]

the 3 C's . . . .

client
CLIENT
CLIENT

if I am not talking, walking with, meeting, writing to, conversing with, trying to delight, working on, thinking about . . . my clients - WTF am I doing???

They pay my wages - EVERYTHING else can be outsourced and is a total waste of my time!

Wise words from my last boss (in 1992) LOL!

khushy

[rog007]

Similar to 'the customer is always right', although I am sure I have just read some research recently suggesting that the 'customer is always right' may no longer be valid. I'll see if I can find it again.

[Cogcog]

Look after the little people, in the real world they canm make your life very easy or very, very hard.

I am not sure if he was referring to dwarves or those further down the organisational hierarchy, so I do both.

[mikees]

dudleybloke said:

turnover = vanity
profit = sanity

And


Cash is king

[paul0843]

Never turn work down..
Just make sure it's priced right

[robsti]

Hope for the best!

Prepare for the worst!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

The job's not done until the money's in the bank.