Free Advice (Always worth what you paid for it)
-A wise old saying:
“The intelligent man learns from his own experience; the wise man learns from the experience of others.”
I’ve spent the last week rereading this post and rethinking this old adage. It is one that I’ve tried to keep close to my heart as a business guy and entrepreneur. I think that the marginal success that I have enjoyed has been because I have always assumed that I possess intelligence (though my wife may often beg to differ). As I reflect on the good choices that I’ve made, they were most often not attempts to “re-invent” anything. Good stuff for me has happened when I tried hard to follow the wisdom and experience of others. (I don’t seem to be able to do this enough though, God gave me a sense of “do-it-yourselfism” that runs deep and needs to be constantly kept in check).
I guess I continue to look for balance in my life. It seems appropriate for an entrepreneur to have the guts to make things happen, but it also seems important to be able to step back and evaluate opportunities through the lens of wisdom.
The BEST TIME to work hard and lay the foundations for future success is when times are tough. While everyone else is crying and complaining, I hope we can take the lead from others who have gone before us and seize the opportunity to do great things in life. Now is the time to charge forward with your passions and take a risk. DO YOUR HOMEWORK…THEN TRY SOMETHING NEW, DO SOMETHING BIG!
YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!
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May 6th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Man, at 43 I think I’m just beginning to find balance in my life! Took a while, but it’s worth it!
love the quote!
Jakes last blog post..How to Change phpBay Pro Background Colors
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May 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
“DO YOUR HOMEWORK…THEN TRY SOMETHING NEW, DO SOMETHING BIG!”
B,
You sound like someone who is highly motivated and excited right now.
I’m glad I took the leap that I did recently. I was extremely hesitant and almost talked myself out of it; boy would I have regretted that!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Twain
Blakes last blog post..Some Aspects of My Lifestyle Design:
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The Almost Millionaire Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
@Jake It is never too late brother!
@Blake You got it! I’ve never been more fired up in my life. We are ripe with opportunities here in Michigan and all over the Midwest for that matter. Thanks for the great Twain quote!
The Almost Millionaires last blog post..Free Advice (Always worth what you paid for it)
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May 6th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Hi
What a great quote! I think is important to remember when times are tough that they are not tough for everyone, or at least that some people are making a great success of their lives. It’s easy otherwise to get pulled down by the general sense of gloom.
Neils last blog post..Making a Budget Is Not the Hard Part
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The Almost Millionaire Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Thanks for stopping by and for the comment Neil! Every day we get a choice on what to focus on…the positive or the negative…it is completely up to us.
The Almost Millionaires last blog post..Free Advice (Always worth what you paid for it)
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May 7th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Sometimes there is always money to be made when you look at the way someone is running the business and think, I can do that better. It may lead to another new business opportunity, or if that business is for sale you could buy it, build it up and sell at a profit.
Whatever you do, you have to make sure that you explore every avenue to ensure you know what you’re getting into.
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The Almost Millionaire Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
@Sire
As always, you offer sage advice. I’ve seen alot of folks roll into business situations thinking that they know it all. This aften leads to a falling on the face. I believe you have to build any business plan based on what you believe is the “Worst Case” and hope for the best.
The Almost Millionaires last blog post..Free Advice (Always worth what you paid for it)
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Sire Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Yep, that and you have to be prepared it give it 110% for several years, which means sacrificing a lot of time. I’ve seen people lose it all because as soon as they start making money they change their lifestyle, and sit back expecting it all to be rosy from here on end. They then lose touch as they have not prepared a proper foundation and it all comes down around their ears.
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May 7th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Great post B, very inspiring!
Matts last blog post..Another Coffee Chug - UH OH
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May 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
This is right on target… we often simply have to learn and experience things for ourselves… it’s part of our DNA. But if we could skip that long and sometimes painful process by learning from the experience of others… now we’re onto something.
Being able to combine experience from others with our own confidence and intuition is the magic elixer and though to do to… but starting the process and being concious of all the elements is critical to our early and sustained success.
Great stuff TAM!
Dave
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May 8th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I have to admit that I haven’t been as good at learning the lessons of others as I need to be. And I’m someone who reads a lot of history and biographies, so I should know better.
But that’s okay; you learn from me and I’ll try to learn from you, and we’ll both end up being very successful.
Mitchs last blog post..Consumer Confidence Up; Really?
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Sire Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
So, that’s why you never listen to me, it’s because you don’t know any better
I suppose now that I’ve been letting you beat me in chess your going to listen to me even less than before.
Sires last blog post..A Twitter Service You’d Be Crazy To Miss Out On
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May 10th, 2009 at 3:59 am
Interesting point, one that I could do well to heed myself. Learning how to learn from others is quite important. I’m also a strong do-it-yourself-er and learn by being able to do something myself. But you’re right, if you can avoid mistakes that others have made by listening to them, that’s the best scenario.
MoneyEnergys last blog post..Peter Schiff on the Rally and Why You Still Need to Buy Gold
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The Almost Millionaire Reply:
May 12th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@Dave - Love how you combine the elements into a majic Elixer
@Mitch - I’m with you my friend. It is there same online. I try to learn as much from you all as I can.
@MoneyEnergy - I think most of us who put it out there with a blog or a business have the “do it yourself” gene. This is a great thing that God has blessed us with, but it has to be worked out and kept in check to avoid mistakes along the way!
The Almost Millionaires last blog post..Free Advice (Always worth what you paid for it)
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May 17th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
[...] answer it in a post, or we can dialog via e-mail. I’m hoping I can offer some free advice (becuase it is always worth what you pay for it) that will make a difference if someones life! And I’m hoping to fuel the entrepreneurial [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 am
It’s hard to learn from other people’s experience. You always have your own assumptions about the way the world works and someone else’s mistakes won’t really matter to you once you set your mind on something.
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February 11th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Thank you. I have this bookmarked now.
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