American Independence By, Of, & For the People

 

“Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence.
Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and foreign policies that put our citizens first.
They will have the chance to reject today’s rule by the global elite, and to embrace real change
that delivers a government of, by and for the people.”

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Television Personality, Author,
Real Estate Developer, Founder – Trump Entertainment Resorts &
45th President of the United States (1/20/2017 – )

 

Who Drives the Business Model?

 “The customer has always driven the business model.”

~ Amancio Ortega Gaona,
Businessman, Co-Founder Inditex, Co-Founder – Zara Clothing

Rich & Poorer, Poor & Poorer

“Yes, in socialism the rich will be poorer – but the poor will also be poorer.
People will lose interest in really working hard and creating jobs.”

~ Thomas Peterffy,
Architectural Draftsman, Computer Programmer, Businessman & Founder, Chairman & CEO – Interactive Brokers.

Work That You Love, Work That Fulfills You

“What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Grow or Die

  “Complacency is the worst. I never allow myself to be content with what I have done,
and I have always tried to instill this in everyone around me. Grow or die.
If you want to innovate, don’t focus on the results.”

~ Amancio Ortega Gaona,
Businessman, Co-Founder Inditex, Co-Founder – Zara Clothing

All the Things I Love

“All the things I love is what my business is all about.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

For Our Americans

 

“Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens,
especially for African-American and Latino workers.
We are going to have an immigration system that works,
but one that works for the American people.”

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Television Personality, Author,
Real Estate Developer, Founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts &
45th President of the United States (1/20/2017 – )

 

Further & Further Into the Direction in Which You Start

“If you’re kind of a phony to start with, you’re going to be a bigger phony
when you make a lot of money.
And if you’re kind of mean, you can get meaner as you make money.
But if you’re generous, you get more generous.
I think money and age both tend to push you further and further
into the direction in which you start. There are exceptions to that,
but I think that’s generally true.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Sometimes Life Hits You

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick.
Don’t lose faith.”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of  NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)

Effective Philanthropy

“Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity –
the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.”

~ Bill Gates,
a.k.a. William Henry Gates III
Business Magnate, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author,
Co-Founder of Microsoft & Philanthropist

The Best Opportunities

“For the most part, the best opportunities now lie
where your competitors have yet to establish themselves,
not where they’re already entrenched.”

~ Paul Allen,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist. Co-Founder – Microsoft,
Founder:
Vulcan Inc., Allen Institute for Brain Science, Institute for Artificial Intelligence,
Institute for Cell Science, and Stratolaunch Systems.Contents

The Seeds of Your Next Success

“In my experience, each failure contains the seeds
of your next success — if you are willing to learn from it.”

~ Paul Allen,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist. Co-Founder – Microsoft,
Founder:
Vulcan Inc., Allen Institute for Brain Science, Institute for Artificial Intelligence,
Institute for Cell Science, and Stratolaunch Systems.Contents

Your Employees, Advisors & Partners

“Seek out and hire employees who are
brimming with talent, energy, integrity, optimism and generosity.
Search for advisors and partners who
compliment your skills and understand your ideals.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

Look Back at Life with No What-Ifs

“We should all aim to look back at life with no what-ifs
and be proud of what we’ve achieved.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson,
Business Magnate & Investor

If …, You’ll End Up Having More

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

Oprah Gail Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Extreme Wealth & Responsibility

“For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth.
But, with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility.
And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people,
and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson,
Business Magnate & Investor, Philanthropist, & Founder of Virgin Group

Creative Entrepreneurs

“Everywhere I go, I always look for creative entrepreneurs,
whether it’s artisans and craftsmen, small farmers and gardeners, or restaurateurs
who use fresh, locally sourced ingredients. I admire the courage and self-reliance
it takes to start your own business and make it succeed.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

The Lessons of ‘Failure’

“It’s fine to celebrate success,
yet it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”

~ Bill Gates,
a.k.a. William Henry Gates III
Business Magnate, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author,
Co-Founder of Microsoft & Philanthropist

Even If Everything is Lost, You’ll Survive

“Happiness, to me, is knowing that if I lose everything I will still be O.K.”

~ Tony Hsieh,
Internet Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist,
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2007)
Co-Founder of Venture Frogs & Author

A Million Dollars’ Worth of Love

“The only way to get love is to be lovable.
It’s very irritating if you have a lot of money.
You’d like to think you could write a check:
‘I’ll buy a million dollars’ worth of love.’
But it doesn’t work that way.
The more you give love away, the more you get.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder – Buffett Foundation

Nearly Every Moment

“Nearly every moment of every day,
we have the opportunity to give something to someone else
– our time, our love, our resources.”

~ S. Truett Cathy,
Entrepreneur, Founder – Chick-fil-A, Founder – WinShape Foundation,
Foster Parent (30 years), Horatio Alger Award,
Omicron Delta Kappa Laurel Crowned Circle Award (2009),
William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership (2008),
Norman Vincent & Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award,
Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award,
William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership,
Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame (2003)

Business: Risks & Chances

“In business, there’s a difference between a risk and a chance.
A well-calculated risk may very well end up
as an investment in your business.
A careless chance can cause it to crumble.
And when an opportunity presents itself,
never assume it will be your last.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

Automation Applied

“The first rule of any technology used in a business is
that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency.
The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation
will magnify the inefficiency.”

~ Bill Gates,
a.k.a. William Henry Gates III
Business Magnate, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author,
Co-Founder of Microsoft & Philanthropist

Integrity: The Real

“Real integrity is doing the right thing,
knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”

Oprah G. Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Love: A Million Dollars Worth

“The only way to get love is to be lovable.
It’s very irritating if you have a lot of money. You’d like to think you could write a check:
‘I’ll buy a million dollars’ worth of love.’ But it doesn’t work that way.
The more you give love away, the more you get.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Two Primary Choices

“There are two primary choices in life:
to accept conditions as they exist
or accept the responsibility for changing them.

~ Denis Waitley,
Motivational Speaker,
Consultant & Author

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Once You Learn

“Once you learn how to start and build a business,
you can do it over and over again.
The principles are the same.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson,
Business Magnate & Investor, Philanthropist, & Founder of Virgin Group

A Yardstick of Quality

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)
‘Most Powerful Person in Business’ by Fortune Magazine (2007)
Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by Inc. Magazine (1989)
Jefferson Award for Public Service (1987) & National Medal of Technology (1985)

Negativity Banished

“The old saying that “success breeds success” has something to it.
It’s that feeling of confidence that can banish negativity
and procrastination and get you going the right way.”

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Politician, Television Personality, Author,
Chairman & President of The Trump Organization,
Founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts

Persistent, Unshakeable Gratitude

“Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned
to be grateful, no matter what happened in my life..”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Acumen’s Discernment

“Leaders are people who can discern the inevitable and act accordingly.
When people talk about business acumen, discernment is a big part of it.
It’s a bit like gut instinct, but a little more developed.”

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Politician, Television Personality, Author,
Chairman & President of The Trump Organization,
Founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts

A Daily Discipline

“Take the pains required to become what you want to become, or
you might end up becoming something you’d rather not be.
That is, also, a daily discipline and worth considering.”

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Politician, Television Personality, Author,
Chairman & President of The Trump Organization,
Founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts

Only One?

“Never depend on single income; make an investment to create a second source.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Passion: A Most Obvious Guide

“I feel like in a world where we all try to
figure out our place and our purpose here,
your passions are one of your most obvious guides.”

~ Nick Woodman,
Founder of GoPro

You Will Make It!

“If you are hardworking and determined,
you will make it and that’s the bottom line’’.

~ Isabel dos Santos,
Investor

Passion: The Driving Fire

“Whether you’ve found your calling,
or if you’re still searching,
passion should be the fire
that drives your life’s work.”

~ Michael Dell,
Founder of Dell Computers

Motivate & Inspire

“I’ve never chased money.
It’s always been about what I can do
to motivate and inspire people.”

~ Tyler Perry
a.k.a Emmitt Perry Jr.,
Actor, Author, Playwright, Producer, Director & Songwriter

Just for Validation

“Don’t solicit feedback on
your product, idea or your business
just for validation purposes.
You want to tell the people
who can help move your idea forward,
but if you’re just looking
to your friend, co-worker, husband or wife
for validation, be careful.
It can stop a lot of multi-million-dollar ideas
in their tracks in the beginning.”

~ Sara Blakely,
Founder of Spanx

Getting It at the Right Time

“I think in business, you have to learn to be patient.
Maybe I’m not very patient myself.
But I think what I’ve learned the most is
to be able to wait for something
and get it when it’s the right time.”

~ Bernard Arnault,
Founder of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Hennessy

Do It, Spectacularly!

“If I’m going to do something,
I do it spectacularly
or I don’t do it at all.”

~ Al-Waleed bin Talal,
Businessman & Investor

The Feeling of Achievement

“The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement.
The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.”

~ Ingvar Kamprad,
Founder of IKEA

A New Direction

“What other people label or might try to call failure,
I have learned is just God’s way
of pointing you in a new direction.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Have Business-Fun!

“Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable
when you’re trying to do more than just make money.”

~ Tony Hsieh,
Internet Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist,
Co-Founder of Venture Frogs & Author

Involving, Fun & Creative

“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun,
and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson,
Business Magnate & Investor

Laughable, Uproarious Goals

“If people are not laughing at your goals,
your goals are too small.”

~ Azim Premji,
Businessman & Philanthropist

Our Greatest Strength

“Vision is perhaps our greatest strength …
it has kept us alive to the power and continuity of thought
through the centuries,
it makes us peer into the future
and lends shape to the unknown.”

~ Li Ka-Shing
Business Magnate & Philanthropist

Journeying to Your Entrepreneurial Passion

“If you want to begin the journey to discover your entrepreneurial passion
you, first, must analyze your own interests, strengths, weaknesses, and desires.
You must consider carefully how hard you want to work.
And, then, you must research in a serious way
the job or field in which you believe you might want to work.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

Throwing in The Towel?

“The biggest mistake that people make is
they give up too soon, and they throw in the towel.
Becoming a successful leader has a lot to do with
realizing how strong you are.
The human body, the human mind and
the human heart can take a lot.
Fight through bad times in business,
and you’ll be surprised you can
work through it usually.
But people give up too soon,
and they don’t realize how much more
they can put into it without giving up.”

~ Tilman J. Fertitta,
Owner, Chairman & CEO of Fertitta Entertainment
(Landry’s & Golden Nugget)

Friendships of the Genuine Kind

“My advice is to stop trying to “network” in the traditional business sense,
and instead just try to build up the number and depth of your friendships,
where the friendship itself is its own reward.
The more diverse your set of friendships are,
the more likely you’ll derive both personal and business benefits
from your friendship later down the road.
You won’t know exactly what those benefits will be,
but if your friendships are genuine,
those benefits will magically appear 2-3 years later down the road.”

~ Tony Hsieh,
Internet Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Co-Founder of Venture Frogs & Author

Rewriting The Rules of Business

“There’s a transformative shift in business, and what worked before is no longer an option.
It’s time for evolved entrepreneurs, visionary creators, and change-makers
to rewrite the rules of business for the 21st century.”

~ Tony Hsieh,
Internet Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Co-Founder of Venture Frogs & Author

Better Life for All

“Through free enterprise, one can benefit people all over the world …
by contributing to a better way of life for all. Peace, love & happiness.”

~ John Paul DeJoria,
Entrepreneur, Co-Founder – Paul Mitchell Hair Care & Philanthropist

Inherently & Endlessly Interesting

“Build your business success around something that you love—
something that is inherently and endlessly interesting to you.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

An Idea, Problems or Wrongs!

“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right.
If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)
‘Most Powerful Person in Business’ by Fortune Magazine (2007)
Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by Inc. Magazine (1989)
Jefferson Award for Public Service (1987) & National Medal of Technology (1985)

A Good Neighborhood

“If you live in a ghetto
and really want not to just change your life and your family’s life
yet change your ghetto’s life,
make your ghetto a good neighbor-hood, learn science;
try to be like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’d like to see Apple and Dell factories
be brought to the inner cities; in every project in America,
there’s some factory there, and it’s abandoned,
and I’d like to see those factories open
and bring jobs to America.

~ will.i.am
a.k.a William James Adams,
Founder of i.am Angel,
Director of Creative Innovation for Intel (2011)
Founder of The Back-Eyed Peas
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur,
Actor, DJ, Record Producer, Philanthropist
Grammy Awards (7), American Music Awards(8), Billboard Music Award,
Teen Choice Award, MTV Video Music Awards (2) and World Music Awards (3).

I, E, I – The Last I

“Look for three things in a person:
Intelligence, Energy and Integrity.
If they don’t have the last one,
don’t even bother with the first two.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Keep Looking. Don’t Settle

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life,
and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.
If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.
As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)
‘Most Powerful Person in Business’ by Fortune Magazine (2007)
Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by Inc. Magazine (1989)
Jefferson Award for Public Service (1987) & National Medal of Technology (1985)

~

Spending After Saving

Image courtesy of Pixabay’s Jarmoluk

“Do not save what is left after spending
spend what is left after saving.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Have More Than One Income

“Never depend on single income.
Make investments to create a second source.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

A Better Guide

“When you are making a decision
about how best to serve your customers,
your own experience is often a better guide
than a more sophisticated analysis of the market.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson,
Business Magnate & Investor

It’s Not a Good Deal, With a Bad Person

“You can’t make a good deal with a bad person.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist & Founder of the Buffett Foundation

A Billionaire’s Key: Sitting, Reading & Thinking

“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think. So, I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business. I do it because I like this kind of life.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor,
Philanthropist & Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Friends: Interesting, Diverse & Long-standing

“Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner. The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist & Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Harness Power to Passion

“Forget about the fast lane.
If you really want to fly,
just harness your power to your passion.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

A Label, A Lifestyle

“Entrepreneurship isn’t just a label, it is a lifestyle.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, Business Magnate & Investor

Our Passion for Making

“American Made is not just an event; it’s a movement
to spotlight and support the next generation of creative entrepreneurs
who are turning their passion for making into thriving small businesses.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and former Fashion Model

Ever-Resilient America

“It’s never paid to bet against America.
We come through things,
… its not always a smooth ride.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

The Smarter the Journalists …

“The smarter the journalists are,
the better off society is. For to a degree,
people read the press to inform themselves —
and the better the teacher,
the better the student body.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Others’ Noisy Opinions

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions
drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have the courage
to follow your heart and intuition”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)
‘Most Powerful Person in Business’ by Fortune Magazine (2007)
Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by Inc. Magazine (1989)
Jefferson Award for Public Service (1987) & National Medal of Technology (1985)

Be Not a Jerk

“Of the billionaires I have known,
money just brings out
the basic traits in them.
If they were jerks before they had money,
they are simply jerks
with a billion dollars.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Beyond the Mistakes

“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes.
It is best to admit them quickly,
and get on with improving your other innovations.”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of  NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)
‘Most Powerful Person in Business’ by Fortune Magazine (2007)
Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by Inc. Magazine (1989)
Jefferson Award for Public Service (1987) & National Medal of Technology (1985)

Make Your Business Wonderful!

“Iime
is the friend
of the wonderful business,
the enemy of the mediocre.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Thinking Rich

“I always knew I was going to be rich.
I don’t think I ever doubted it for a minute.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

The Rhythm of Your Own Calling

“Listen to the rhythm of your own calling,
and follow that.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Have You Begun Your Biggest Adventure?

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

Will They Lift You Higher?

“Surround yourself, only with
people that are going to lift you higher.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist