We all operate in two contrasting modes...

“We all operate in two contrasting modes, which might be called open and closed. The open mode is more relaxed, more receptive, more exploratory, more democratic, more playful and more humorous. The closed mode is the tighter, more rigid, more hierarchical, more tunnel-visioned. Most people, unfortunately spend most of their time in the closed mode. Not that the closed mode cannot be helpful. If you are leaping a ravine, the moment of takeoff is a bad time for considering alternative strategies. When you charge the enemy machine-gun post, don’t waste energy trying to see the funny side of it. Do it in the “closed” mode. But the moment the action is over, try to return to the “open” mode—to open your mind again to all the feedback from our action that enables us to tell whether the action has been successful, or whether further action is need to improve on what we have done. In other words, we must return to the open mode, because in that mode we are the most aware, most receptive, most creative, and therefore at our most intelligent.” -John Cleese

Have faith...

Sometimes in life, all we have is FAITH. The inner strength and will, to know that even under the worst circumstances, things will always work out...

"Hard work is the key to success, so work diligently on any project you undertake. If you truly want to be successful, be prepared to give up your leisure time and work past 5 PM and on weekends. Also, have faith in yourself. If you come up with a new idea that you believe in, don't allow other people to discourage you from pursuing it." -Charles Lazarus

Lessons From a Young CEO: If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now...

 An excerpt from Danii Olivers' interview with Under 30 CEO... (Source)

When the time came for me to open the doors to my own office I was thrilled, positive and confident because that was what was expected of me. I was by no means “sure” nor well versed in the endeavor I was about to take on, but the time had come to expand if my business was to thrive. My partner and I did massive amounts of research, sought advice and mentorship and even talked to family members who dealt with commercial real estate for guidance.

Family members cautioned us not to take the step, but friends patted us on the back. We didn’t back down. If we were to be successful we needed to take risks, so we opened the doors and prepared for growth. One year later, and many networking events passed, I have learned that all we had gone through may have had been unnecessary.
 
While becoming established is any CEO’s driving force, I have come to learn that, what was once considered established is no longer the case. Out of the hundreds of CEO I met over that past year I was the only one under 30 with an office of their own. Everyone else was virtual. Was I behind or were they not established?  One thing that bugged me was that all these CEOs were getting business and contracts yet my company’s seemed to be slipping.
 
In retrospect being inside the office was counter productive to business. Instead of going to meetings I invited people to meet at my office. While this was not only convenient for me it also helped to convey the fact that my company was established and doing well. I was trying to make the space support my reputation.
 
Despite the fact that people were impressed by our capability to afford the overhead of maintenance and rent, the office space did absolutely no sales let alone up selling for us. The space costed more than its monthly monetary bill. There was time that went into up keeping the space, manning it five-to-six days a week. The space also cost me one or two meetings that did not take place because the requestor refused to come to my office. While that much wasn’t significant, maybe I can’t help but wonder, “would they have wasted my time or could that have been a great opportunity?”
 
The fact remains I may not have needed the office space, even if my clients kept thinking I was a fly by night freelancer. The fact is I lost time that should have been spent on the company. That time and effort lost went into making sure their was revenue constantly coming in for the bills and not into creating something awesome or sales worthy. I regret diverting my attention from work to manage an office space.
 
If I only knew then what I know now, I would have planned for a few other opportunities that weren’t at the top of my mind. Since I wouldn’t go back and not get the office space, which I obtained to be taken seriously as a company, I would have had at least not banked all my chips in one revenue stream. I would have tried to make the space work for me and not I for it. I felt the day to day month to month operations of the office made me a slave to it. Everyday my concern was how do I keep up the office rather than what next venture the firm would bid for.

Economics is a theoretical science...

“Economics is a theoretical science and as such abstains from any judgment of value. It is not its task to tell people what ends they should aim at. It is a science of the means to be applied for attainment of ends chosen, not, to be sure, a science of the choosing of ends. Ultimate decisions, the valuations and the choosing of ends, are beyond the scope of any science. Science never tells a man how he should act; it merely shows how a man must act if he wants to attain definite ends.” - Ludwig von Mises Quotes

Look me in the eyes...

"Look me in the eyes. Its okay if you're scared. So am I, but we're scared for different reasons.I'm scared of what I wont become, you're scared of what I could become. Look at me. I won't let myself end where I started. I won't let myself finish where I began. I know what is within me...even if you cant see it yet. Look me in the eyes.I have something more important than courage. I have patience. I will become what I know I am". - Michael Jordan

Achievement is not always success...

 "Achievement is not always success while reputed failure often is. It is honest endeavor, persistent effort to do the best possible under any and all circumstances."- Orison Swett Marden

The act of putting pen to paper...

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium."- Norbet Platt

Through the years I have been blessed to have had the privilege to work in congruence with some great business moguls and I can honestly say that there is one characteristic trait that has transcended into my personal daily habitual practices. This ingrained art, would have to be the practice of writing ones daily goals, tasks, and initiatives, down on paper.

From a tactical level; this is the art of viewing the intense realism of life at the short and near term. To the strategic view; this is best known as the Generals mindset and way of thinking via calculating the future with intermediate enter and exit strategies. Writing down ones goals on paper, acts as a stepping tool towards the direction of the achievement of ones future dreams. In relation, one must be able to plan their work and work there plan. Hence, writing ones goals and tasks on paper helps compound the Law of Attraction, as your dreams are achieved via the daily application of viewing and accomplishing ones set tasks.

http://oaklinenotes.com/

On a side note, I once heard of a great quote, by none other than Bob Marley, he stated;

"I'm not trying to reach people. I am who I am. And I believe that there a lot of people out there just like me." – Bob Marley

Furthermore, as most of you know that I tend to have an abstract and hardcore style of philosophical writing. As my blogs are intended to pass down my own conceptual knowledge through the application of daily postings, I wish nothing but the best from my enemies, friends, and dear colleagues. Therefore, take these postings for what you will, as I wish and expect nothing but the best from all of you. The world is yours. Vereour Nasquam

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”--Theodore Roosevelt