Harvey Mackay

“In a litigation-happy society, clear agreements often prevent small disagreements from becoming big ones.”

“I've known entrepreneurs who were not great salespeople, or didn't know how to code, or were not particularly charismatic leaders. But I don't know of any entrepreneurs who have achieved any level of success without persistence and determination.”

“Ethical decisions ensure that everyone's best interests are protected. When in doubt, don't.”

“No one ever wants to see his or her name linked to anything bad. Conscience is like a baby. It has to go to sleep before you can.”

“Expect to make some mistakes when you try new and different approaches. Sometimes colossal failures lead to spectacular successes.”

“Humility is becoming a lost art, but it's not difficult to practice. It means that you realize that others have been involved in your success.”

“Pessimism doesn't grow your business or even maintain the status quo. The pessimists on your staff make the job harder for everyone around them. They make difficulties out of opportunities.”

“Never forget, the real secret of giving advice is this: Once you've given it, don't concern yourself with whether it is followed or not, and refrain from saying 'I told you so.'”

“It's only lonely at the top if you forget all the people you met along the way and fail to acknowledge their contributions to your success.”

“If you believe, as I do, that your employees truly are your most valuable asset, you will do whatever you can to help them do their jobs as well as possible.”

“A great accomplishment shouldn't be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.”

“Good intentions aren't enough. People have good intentions when they set a goal to do something, but then they miss a deadline or other milestone.”

“Southwest Airlines is successful because the company understands it's a customer service company. It also happens to be an airline.”

“Life isn't fair. It's true, and you still have to deal with it. Whining about it rarely levels the playing field, but learning to rise above it is the ultimate reward.”

“Don't fall in love with your wit. Your cleverly turned phrase may not, as you hope, show off how much gray matter you have, especially if the phrase is at someone else's expense.”

“My Golden Rule of Networking is simple: Don't keep score.”

“The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships. The quality of your business is no different.”

“The life of a startup is full of ups and downs, an emotional roller coaster ride that you can't quite imagine if you've spent your whole career in a corporation.”

“Remember you're not entitled to anything. You have to earn your success every day, and you will make mistakes like everyone else.”

“In a climate of tight budgets, reduced workforces and stiff competition, internal training can be a great substitute for costly offsite workshops and conferences.”