The Profit Prophet

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī (Persian: جلال‌الدین محمد بلخى ‎), also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (Persian: جلال‌الدین محمد رومی ‎), Mawlānā or Molānā (Persian: مولانا ‎, meaning Our Master ), Mawlawī or Molavi (Persian: مولوی ‎, meaning My Master ), and more popularly in the English-speaking world simply as Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Rumi's importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders. His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages and transposed into various formats. His best poems are listed below for your convenience. “It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.”...

We all talk about the value of having experience in our lives to be either more successful or happy. Throughout the ages, smart people have stated this fact in pithy quotes, and I have listed the top twenty here.   “When a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with the experience gets the money, and the man with the money gets the experience.” --William S. Knudsen “In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later.” --Harold Geneen “Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.” --Albert Einstein “Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing.” --Oscar Wilde “Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.” --Rita Mae Brown “You cannot create experience. You must undergo it.” --Albert Camus “Everyone in your life gives you something. The bad ones give you experience, the worst ones a lesson; the good ones give you memories, the best on...

Yes my friends, as we get to the final end of the 2016 Presidential Election, I am reminded of an old story dealing with politicians call "Post Turtles."  It pretty much describes perfectly what is a politician, no matter how good or bad. Enjoy... An old farmer was getting his hand stitched up after an accident at his cattle farm. He and the doctor start into conversation, which leads into politics. The old farmer explained, "Well, as I see it, most politicians are 'Post Turtles'." Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked what a 'post turtle' was. The old farmer explained as best he could, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle on top, that's a 'post turtle.' The doctor remained puzzled. The farmer continued further. "You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while up there, he's e...

During these uncertain times, I like to go back to some of the stories friends, colleagues, and mentors gave me. This particular one deals with how a person reacts when things get tough, or as some like to say, when we are in hot water. I hope you find it as insightful as I did. Adversity's Test A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one, he placed carrots; in the second, he placed eggs; and the last, he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word. The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes, he turned off ...

Considering what time of the year it is, and since I am a big fan of sports analogies, primarily due to fact that they are usually dead nuts on target in explaining what people should do to improve their companies, teams, or ourselves, I thought a post about football would be worthwhile here. In that light, here are some football quotations that I hope you find useful and enlightening... “Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble the football” John Heisman “I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game.” Bear Bryant / Alabama “It isn't necessary to see a good tackle, you can hear it! Knute Rockne / Notre Dame “At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat . That costs money, and we don't have any.” Erk Russell / Georgia Southern “The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.” Lou Holtz / Arkansas - Norte Dame “When...

Today's post is about a subject that is near and dear to me, and which frankly there is not debate on. When it comes to competing with the fairer sex on some matters, men are just not that well equipped, is as evidenced below…Hope it brings a smile to your face. To all those brilliant women out there and to the helpless men who oppose them.....and when you think about business, remember this. A WOMEN'S REVENGE 'Cash, cheque or charge,?' I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. 'So, do you always carry your TV remote, ?' I asked. 'No,' she replied, 'but my husband refused to come shopping with me, And I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.' UNDERSTANDING WOMEN ( A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE) I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax, Pour it onto ...

A good friend forward this list to me...that was given to a group of college students entering ECON 101.... most make a lot of sense and have some great advice. 1. There are plenty of ways to enter a pool. The stairs is not one of them. 2. Never cancel dinner plans by text message. 3. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. 4. If a street performer makes you stop walking, you owe him a buck. 5. Always use ‘we’ when referring to your home team or your government. 6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it. 7. Don’t underestimate free throws in a game of ‘horse’. 8. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. 9. Don’t dumb it down. 10. You only get one chance to notice a new haircut. 11. If you’re staying more than one night, unpack. 12. Never park in front of a bar. 13. Expect the seat in front of you to recline. Prepare accordingly. 14. Keep a picture of your first fish, first car, and first boy/girlfriend. 15. Hold your heroes to a high standard. 16. A suntan i...

This post goes to the heart of who I am… I went to school at a young age in what used to be the farmlands of Smokey Mountain Piedmont in Virginia about an hour’s drive west from D.C.. When out in the sticks, everything seems different…even our common language has totally different meanings…so when you speak, careful to know "where" you are...   A Missouri farmer in his pickup, drove to a neighbor's, and knocked at the door. A boy, about 9, opened the door. "Is your Dad home?" "No sir, he isn't; he went to town." "Well, is your Mother here?" "No sir, she went to town with Dad." "How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?" "No sir, He went with Mom and Dad." The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other, and mumbling to himself. "Is there anything I can do for you? I know where all the tools are, if you want to borrow one, or I can give dad a message." "We...

Sometimes we have to thank old people and the wisdom they possess. Some of this wisdom comes from the “old country,” but is still is priceless. You may want to think about this type of wisdom when running your own business as well. ________________________________________ The Jewish Elbow A Jewish grandmother is giving directions to her grown grandson who is coming to visit with his wife. "You come to the front door of the apartment. I am in apartment 301. There is a big panel at the front door. With your elbow, push button 301. I will buzz you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with your elbow, push 3. When you get out, I'm on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell." "Grandma, that sounds easy, but, why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?......... "What . . . .. .. You coming empty handed?" Wise Italian Grandfather Why Italian Fathers and Grandfathers pass their handguns down through the family. An o...

By Charlie Chaplin As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is " AUTHENTICITY ." As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it " RESPECT ." As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it " MATURITY ." As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm. Today I call it " SELF-CONFIDENCE ." As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge project...

A friend of mine was forwarded the follow "eulogy" concerning a colleague and friend who wrote about the colleague's recently deceased, developmentally-disabled sister-in-law. Her colleague (Gail) comes from a high-achieving family (she's a Ph.D. and MBA) that values intellect and education. When Gail told my friend about her sister-in-law's passing and about her sister-in-law, my friend asked her to send her this letter. I was fortunate to have it sent to me. I found it well worth reading as it shows how wisdom does NOT always come with intelligence and sometimes the graces of life are bestowed to the humblest of individuals..to Anne Ruth! Thoughts about Anne Ruth Gail Golden We have come together today to mourn our loss of Anne Ruth Golden, and to remember and celebrate her life. Our task is a complicated one, because Anne was an unusual person. The Goldens are a family of extraordinary intellectual and professional achievement. We are lawyers, docto...

These very expressive insults are from an era, before the English language boiled down to four-letter and crude words. The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison." He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it." A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease." "That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress." "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."  - Winston Churchill "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."  - Clarence Darrow "He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."  - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway). "Thank you for sending me a copy of your ...

1. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way... So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness. 2. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. 3. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather... Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car. 5. The last thing I want to do is hurt someone. But it's still on the list. 6. Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake a whole relationship. 7. We live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police. 8. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. 9. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. 10. If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong. 11. Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich. 12. War does not determine who is right - only who is left. 13. Be happy a thorn bush has roses...

This is a sad tale of technology that I hope you will enjoy? An unemployed man is desperate to support his family of a wife and three kids. He applies for a janitor's job at a large firm and easily passes an aptitude test. The human resources manager tells him, "You will be hired at minimum wage of $5.35 an hour. Let me have your e-mail address so that we can get you in the loop. Our system will automatically e-mail you all the forms and advise you when to start and where to report on your first day." Taken aback, the man protests that he is poor and has neither a computer nor an e-mail address. To this the manager replies, "You must understand that to a company like ours, that means that you virtually do not exist.. Without an e-mail address you can hardly expect to be employed by a high-tech firm. Good day." Stunned, the man leaves. Not knowing where to turn and having $10 in his wallet, he walks past a farmers' market and sees a stand selling 25 lb. ...

Part and parcel of being an entrepreneur is the ability to extend your wisdom and experience to other people. In this vein, Regina Brett, a 53 year old writer of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland Ohio put pen to paper and wrote an article of the 45 Lessons that life taught her. It has been the most requested article she has ever wrote, and I have transcribed it below for your enjoyment. Thank you Regina! 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile....

George Carlin, yes the admittedly gross and mouthy comedian of the 70's and 80's wrote something so very eloquent below. Love him or hate him, he is a genius at writing about the ironies and contradictions in our society. Here it is: "The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to ma...

I am often asked how do you come back from a major setback, or how can you keep pursuing your dream of success. It is not always easy, but there is a Chinese story I like to reference when I tell people to keep going. I have listed it below. My advice, " Just be bigger. " " Become a Lake " - a Taoist-Chinese story An aging master grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so, one morning, he sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a cup of water and then to drink it.   "How does it taste?" the master asked. "Bitter," spit the apprentice. The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake." As the water dripped down the young ...

List of quotations that are insightful, thoughtful, and timeless. This web site has a listing of quotations I have found inspiring, intriguing, intuitive, and thought provoking. Hopefully, you will find them the same.  Search for Author in search bar at the top of the page, or by categories below.

Wow, this is a question we all ask, but are not sure why we do it. I am starting this blog for two reasons: 1) Is to impart some (albeit small) amount of wisdom that I learned during my 20 odd years as an engineer, marketeer, salesman, in operations, and business development; 2) To attract other liked-minded individuals to this blog to ask questions on how to improve their business by eliminating the friction most companies have in selling their products or services. This friction is caused mostly by a total lack of strategy. As the saying goes, "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." Hopefully, my one eye can help some people out there. OK, why the profit prophet? Back when I first stared out at Texas Instruments some 25 years ago, I got the reputation of only looking at deals that involved profit margins, not gross revenues. This was so contrary to the prevailing mindset at TI, that people soon thought I would be terminated. But my boss (Jim Watson...