The Profit Prophet

While taking statistics during my quest to get an MBA and while earning my engineering degree, the professors always emphasized the importance of finding the statistical mean of any population by using the Central Mean Theorem (a.k.a the highest point of the Bell Curve). As an engineer, this was essential in order to maximize throughput, minimize cost and waste, and ultimately make a better, faster, cheaper widget. A funny thing happened on the way to the dark side of marketing. I discovered that the only thing in the middle of the road was quite literally dead road kill. I do not know if you remember stores like Bradlees, Ames and Service Merchandise (just to name a few), but they all folded because the environment changed and they were caught trying to service the mythological “average customer.” Part of that change came when Wal-Mart began its juggernaut with the discount department store. Wal-Mart did two things right: 1) Focused on “mobile” consumers, and 2) Fo

We all want a “good life” but that good life is different for everybody. Some believe it is success at work, or acknowledgement of achievement, or having wealth, or a multitude of friends and being able to travel. Whatever your definition of a good life, there are a few rules that will allow you to enjoy it when your get there. Each one of these can be a book in itself, but only the highlights are given below. 1. Be Nice Being nice triumphs all. Although no one can be nice all the time, and sometimes you have to push back, still if you have the option, be nice, people appreciate it. The ability to be nice means you give pleasure or joy, have an attractive or superior quality, and are kind, polite and friendly. Sounds pretty uplifting, does it not? So, when was the last time you heard someone complain about a little courtesy. Of course, sometimes being too nice has its downfalls, but practicing being nice also has a multitude of feel-good benefits for you. When we help others,

Fill your head with anger and hatred; Fill your heart with bitterness and rage; Your soul is consumed with vile feelings. The love you wanted was in your arms but escaped because you could not come half-way. And now, it is gone forever never to return into your life. You are lazy and selfish and stupid. You deserve neither affection nor comfort for your actions are neither noble nor honorable. You are destined to live a life of worry and doubt; unfulfilled and wanting; desperate and lacking; Because you cannot ever love or be loved. You bring this curse upon yourself for you stay huddled in the valley of a dreamless day to day existence whose only purpose is the preservation of an illusionary sense of security and safety. You fear the adventure of finding true, deep, passionate Love. You fear going into the unknown and the unexplored. You have given up the dream of what may lie ahead on the heights of tomorrow for a perpetual nightmare of endless days and nights f

While I did not formulate these 7 cardinal rule of life, I have to agree with the essence of their wisdom. This is a good first step to self-love and finding true happiness, and I hope offers some guidance to those looking for a better life. My only hope is that you find them helpful in your quest to a better, more fulfilling, and accomplished life. 1. Make peace with your past, so it doesn’t spoil your present. Your past does not define your future – your actions and beliefs do. 2. What others think of you is none of your business. It’s how much you value yourself and how important you think you are. 3. Time heals almost everything, give time, time. Pain will be less hurting. Scars make us who we are; they explain our life and why we are the way we are. They challenge us and force us to be stronger. 4. No one is the reason for your own happiness, except you yourself. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. 5. Don’t compare yo