Some people love you when you are struggling…

Some people love you when you are struggling. 

But when you start doing well, they don’t like it.  They turn on you.  They talk you down when you aren’t around.  

This has everything to do with them, not you.  Your success is making them look bad and they don’t like it.

You can’t fix this in someone else.  Just get them out of your life.  They’ll talk…ignore them.  

Keep getting better.

You can't make a good deal with a bad guy.

If someone has poor character and can’t be trusted, do not do business with them, and do not have them on your team.

I can tell you lots of stories…

If someone is not with you and for you, then you can be with them and for them all you want – but you will regret it. 

Do not deal with people who are not trustworthy.  

Numbers as a percentage of income

When you look at your Income Statement each month, be sure that your accountant puts the % of income for each expense.  Take a look.

Pick three major expenses and see if you can dig in and figure out if you can lower them as a percentage of income.  When I say “dig in”, you can look at invoices, ask questions, look at all the expenses in the category, see where the product went or how effective the employees are that represent that expense, etc.

Of course, if your income goes up and down month to month and the expense stays the same, then the expense as a percentage will go up and down.

Make friends with the numbers.  They are waiting for you to notice them!

Numbers are a primary feedback loop

Do you know your numbers?

Do you study your financials and know what each number represents?

Do you even get accurate Income Statements (aka P&L statements) and Balance Sheets on a timely basis each month?

Can you make a connection between actions and behaviors and the numbers?

Can you then adjust those actions and behaviors to produce better numbers?

Are your salespeople competent and confident?

Customers like to buy from competent and confident salespeople.

Are your salespeople competent and confident?

When was the last time you had them do a presentation for/to you?