The Profit Prophet

In these tough times, it is easy to get down on yourself and become demotivated by what others have told you or have intimated about your abilities, ideas or success. Just remember, that those who create (either businesses or ideas or art or designs or music or athletic performance) are closest to being god-like. It is during the creation process that we most mimic the Creator and pay it homage. Also, just because you might have outward success, does not necessarily mean you have concurred that monster from within. I came across the following some time ago, and feel it would be appropriate for all those who are experiencing a little self doubt. It might be called "The Man in the Glass" but is appropriate for both genders.. The Man in the Glass (author unknown - circa 1900) When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day, Just go to a mirror and look at yourself, And see what that man has to say. For it isn't your fat...

There is an excellent tale, by American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887),  that is based on a fable told in India many years ago. It is a good warning about how our sensory perceptions can lead to some serious misinterpretations; especially when we focus on one part in relationship to the whole.  It also deals with how people perceive things from where THEY stand not from were YOU stand. The tale in entirety follows this post. While this is an excellent tale about perception, it is also a cautionary tale for anyone trying to market a product to a general population.  While you are trying to "sell" an elephant, certain features of the elephant will be more important and more pronounced than others.  So, what you as a good marketer have to do is figure out what are the most profitable market segments to sell to and then highlight those features prominently, that includes determining if someone wants the "whole" elephant.  In some instances, and if possible, ...

We often ponder why we are here and what is our purpose.  What is it for and why certain people come and leave or lives while others become what I consider hold dear and I call “friend.” I think this story might help with how to see life as a train ride.  Life is like a journey on a train...with its stations...changes of routes...and accidents! At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone….but not quite. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Some will move to a another car for awhile and come back. Others will go so unnoticed we don't realize they left their seats! This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hurts, hellos, goodbyes...

If you have any started up a company or had to run a tightly knit group of go-getters there is really nothing more important that an excellent channel of communications, where each and every party understands what is being communicated. That is why to this day in the Navy a sailor still repeats the orders given by officers..so that both parties understand that it was received, correctly understood and will be executed.  To show how when someone is taken out of their element and put into a seemingly odd place communication becomes critically important, sometimes, important things get lost in translation.  Bubba, a handsome furniture dealer from High Point, North Carolina, decided to expand the line of furniture in his large store, so he decided to go to Paris to see what he could find. After arriving in Paris he met with some manufacturers and selected a line that he thought would sell well back home in North Carolina, and additionally become a US distributo...

Sometimes, you think something may seem one way, when in effect, the perfectly logical explanation is staring you straight in the face.  Here is an example..   If a woman sleeps with 3 men, everyone calls her a slut. But when a man sleeps with 10 girls, everyone calls him a real man. How come? It is very simple Confucius say..."When one lock can be opened by 3 different keys, it's a bad lock. But when on key can open 10 different locks, we call it a master key!" 

Some people do not understand why they become entrepreneurs and go blindly into an endeavor thinking that becoming rich is the only thing that is important. Here is a tale of perspective that all should read: ________________________________________________- An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while." The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs." The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wi...