Harvey Mackay

“The service leaders hire one out of 50 applicants, sometimes one out of 100, but they're very, very careful. You can't afford not to be extremely choosy when you hire.”

“A student of life considers the world a classroom.”

“By getting your customers to agree with you in small steps along the way, you have a better chance of reaching agreement when it's time to do business.”

“You learn how to be book smart in school, but you better not forget that you also need to be street smart.”

“Amateurs wait for inspiration. The real pros get up and go to work.”

“I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.”

“You don't need a big close, as many sales reps believe. You risk losing your customer when you save all the good stuff for the end. Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.”

“Worrying about the past or the future isn't productive. When you start chastising yourself for past mistakes, or seeing disaster around every corner, stop and take a breath and ask yourself what you can do right now to succeed.”

“Give your subconscious a chance to work by turning your brain off from time to time. Don't focus on work or solving problems constantly.”

“Learn from the past, but don't live there. Build on what you know so that you don't repeat mistakes. Resolve to learn something new every day. Because every 24 hours, you have the opportunity to have the best day of your company's life.”

“To be a champion, you have to learn to handle stress and pressure. But if you've prepared mentally and physically, you don't have to worry.”

“By my count, more business leaders have failed and derailed because of arrogance than any other character flaw.”

“The sooner you accept the fact that you will have both successes and failures, the easier it will be to get your business and personal life headed in the right direction.”

“Delegating doesn't mean passing off work you don't enjoy, but letting your employees stretch their skills and judgment.”

“I believe that visualization is one of the most powerful means of achieving personal goals.”

“There is no shame in taking pride in achievements or position. But nobody gets to the top alone.”

“The annals of business are filled with stories of companies that thought they had it made and could milk their enterprises without having to bother about improving their products or services. It's amazing how fast they found their markets disappearing.”

“Customers are the reason we open our doors every day, and keep the machines humming all night long. Customers determine what we eat, where we live, whether we stay in business.”

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it also makes those around me better.”

“It doesn't matter whether you are pursuing success in business, sports, the arts, or life in general: The bridge between wishing and accomplishing is discipline.”