Harvey Mackay

“It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. You don't know who your top customers will be five years from now or where you will be in 10 years. You may have a fancy title, but you will always need help from the people around you.”

“Direct your energy toward achieving a goal, and tackle the problems with an emphasis on edging closer to a successful result.”

“Every morning brings new potential, but if you dwell on the misfortunes of the day before, you tend to overlook tremendous opportunities.”

“If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Your conscious mind can concentrate on only one thought at a time, and driving the negativity away will free you up to move forward again.”

“Too often, sales reps simply regurgitate their presentations and expect to land the sale. It doesn't work.”

“Employee loyalty begins with employer loyalty. Your employees should know that if they do the job they were hired to do with a reasonable amount of competence and efficiency, you will support them.”

“Most fears of rejection rest on the desire for approval from other people. Don't base your self-esteem on their opinions.”

“To me, job titles don't matter. Everyone is in sales. It's the only way we stay in business.”

“Fatigue makes fools of us all. It robs you of your skills and your judgment, and it blinds you to creative solutions. It's the best-conditioned athlete, not the most talented, who generally wins when the going gets tough.”

“As you schedule individual tasks, give yourself a cushion. Mark the due date a few days ahead of the actual deadline so you have time to deal with changes or last-minute emergencies.”

“The employees who share innovative ideas may also be the folks who have some hidden talents that would help incorporate their suggestions.”

“Ego stops you from getting things done and getting people to work with you. That's why I firmly believe that ego and success are not compatible.”

“When an employee asks why the company does things a certain way, and you can explain the logical reason, then the employee knows what she's doing is valid.”

“You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth. People who feel like they're being listened to feel accepted and appreciated. They feel like they're being taken seriously and what they say really matters.”

“When you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist. I choose to be an optimist. It's all a matter of perspective.”

“A smart manager will establish a culture of gratitude. Expand the appreciative attitude to suppliers, vendors, delivery people, and of course, customers.”

“Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually translate into leadership ability.”

“You do not get what you want. You get what you negotiate.”

“The cost of praising someone is nil - but every psychological study shows the payoff is huge.”

“Just because an employee does things differently doesn't mean he or she won't do the job right or as well. If you establish expectations of the goal and the standards to follow, then methodology shouldn't be an issue.”