I have been thinking a lot this past week and taking a step back from the day-to-day running of the company to think about some of the following topics. These small nuggets of entrepreneurial wisdom have been stewing in my mind. Enjoy them, I hope:

• Are the thoughts, actions, and plans you’re engaging in focused on leaving a lasting legacy and making a significant impact, or are they merely distracting urgencies?

• You should divide your 20-, 30-, 40-, and lifetime vision and ultimate goal into doable daily, weekly, and monthly action steps to get there.

• When a potential customer reaches out to your business for your product or service, it’s essentially an invitation to part with their money. Respond to them promptly—faster than any other task. Provide exceptional service, surpassing what you offer to anyone else. Consistently follow this principle, and you’ll not only make money but thrive financially. It’s that straightforward!

• Make customers want to buy from you by telling them all the great things about you. There is no need to throw competition under the bus in order to tell the truth about yourself. In fact, intelligent people know that if you knock your competitor, you have run out of great things to say about yourself. I just closed a big job today because my competitor knocked me big-time. Thanks for the money, buddy!!

• Your raise is effective when you are!