The real secret of success is not your Intelligence

The real secret of success is not your Intelligence

For 25 years, I worked for a major corporation in Toronto, Ontario. While I had a wonderful career working with some great people, for the last five years of that career I found myself wanting a change. However, my financial circumstances did not allow me to leave my job.
But, I had my goals - to own our own small business, to live in the country, basically to change our lifestyle. But, of course, I faced challenges in achieving these goals. I can't tell you how many times I felt frustrated. I felt like I was going further away from my goals rather than moving towards them.
Our original goal to change our lifestyle was based on a two-year plan. Without going into the detail of the setbacks, that two-year plan turned into a reality taking five years. So how did we survive those three years of setbacks?
- We never lost focus on our goals. Even though the time frame changed, we kept taking the actions shown in our plan.
- In my case, on my desk in my office, a place that I did not want to be, I kept a quote that I would read every day - "Enjoy where you are at, while you are waiting to get to where you want to be!"- That quote reminded me to stay positive, not to become depressed about my situation. My goals, even with the setbacks, gave me hope and determination.

- I would often visualize what it would be like if I was living my goals rather than working towards them. With every positive mental picture, it reinforced that my goals could be a reality.
Finally, five years later, our goal became a reality. We quit our jobs in Toronto, we bought a house in the country, and we moved to Clairville, NB. And, we started our small business. I no longer needed to keep looking at the saying, "Enjoy where you are at, while you are waiting to get to where you want to be!"
We were where we wanted to be - in the country, running our own small business. There was just one problem. Our small business was not generating enough income to support us. The first year in business, our small business cost us more money than it made. With our savings dwindling, we knew we had two choices:
1. go back to work for someone else, or,
2. make our small business profitable.
With 25 years of working for a large corporation, we did not want to go back to work for someone else. We were determined to make our small business profitable.
There was one day in particular, I will always remember, I was feeling a bit down, almost defeated. I was updating the website and came across a quote. As I read the quote, I realized I could do it. The quote, that pulled me out of my slump, goes like this:
We remember reflecting back on our previous two-year goal that ended up being a five-year goal. We were persistent then, we just need to be persistent now. So we took a step back, we reassessed what and how we were running our small business. We changed, we worked hard and long, but we are happy to say that our small business is now generating an income for us.
Our work is now displayed at many stores across Atlantic Canada, at the cruise ship booth located at the Port of Saint John.
My point in sharing our story with you is that no matter what your goals are, no matter what setbacks you face, never lose your focus on your goals. Your goals can become your reality. It may take some changes, and it will take some work, but if you stick with them, taking action, if you are persistent, you can achieve them. We are living proof.
"PERSISTENCE - "persistence prevails when all else fails."

small business success factors

small business success factors

In March 1969, the United Kingdom and Mr. B, Mr. Q City of Southampton in the UK building materials to create a monopoly company. Both companies take the first letter of name, to be called B & Q, which is today's Chinese name sounds more appropriate to describe the "B & Q." At that time, China and Britain have not yet established diplomatic relations, B and Q Mr. President simply did not expect is that B & Q has become Britain's largest retailers of home, but after 30 years in business also achieved distant China - Why China is the darling of the world economy and a one can not ignore the huge market?

B & Q business in the United Kingdom at the time, access to professional building materials and tools is time-consuming and laborious, so DIY (English acronym for Do it yourself, which means "do-it-yourself") are not popular, only a small number of enthusiasts will be dedicated to their own hands-assembly furniture. In order for DIY enthusiasts get the most convenient, B and Q Mr. President has been in a suspension of the old cinema, hired six employees, the establishment of the first B & Q stores.

38 years later, the B & Q has become China's largest and the world's leading large international supermarket chains decorative building materials. B & Q and its parent company, Kingfisher Group Holdings (Kingfisher) successfully the concept of DIY is sweeping through the world, and through acquisitions and opening new stores in the form of B & Q shop will be rapidly expanded the number of more than 700. B & Q to buy some of the favorite tools or materials, home decoration do it yourself, many people have become quite normal life.

B & Q a short span of 35 years get the top spot in Europe

70 era of the 20th century, with the introduction of B & Q products increased, the public gradually began to B & Q have more understanding. They found that many only in the decorative building materials wholesalers can buy things there, in the B & Q can easily bought. In 1976, B & Q have taken place in a major event: B left the company, Q Mr. stay, B & Q to continue to operate his company. By 1979, that is, China's chain industry still in its infancy, the B & Q opened its first retail outlet 26.

The 20th century is the 80's B & Q company's rapid expansion. First of all, the acquisition of B & Q DIY chain, Scotland Dodge City company, B & Q's rapid development has aroused strong concern of investors. In 1982, Paternoster, Inc. (the predecessor of Kingfisher Group) acquisition of B & Q, and one of the founders of B & Q Mr. Q is also at this time left. Kingfisher Group in a strong capital support, the number of B & Q chain stores in 1989 increased to 280, the types of goods have continued to increase, a lot of goods from other countries stationed in B & Q. At the same time, as people on the DIY concept of understanding and acceptance of, a growing number of Britons to DIY as a fashion.

A series of acquisitions to make B & Q in the 20th century, the British top 90's decorative building materials retailers top spot, and step the pace of international operations. In 1996, B & Q in China Taiwan to set up its first outside the UK B & Q chain; in 1998, the acquisition of B & Q DIY retail giant Poland NOMI company. That same year, the merger of France's largest DIY retailer Castorama tamara cascade company, B & Q's sales jumped to third in the world, Europe first.

B & Q took to the road with Chinese characteristics

To enter the mainland China market, B & Q did not copy their success in the European DIY model, but conform to national conditions, by virtue of "international quality, peace of mind living in peace" brand, together with the domestic first store building materials and decoration center combining model , in the Chinese market performed well. Before entering China in the B & Q, all building materials stores only sell the material, and never involved or to provide decorating services. Most services have been decorating the streets of the guerrillas and a few small decorating firms, let alone a brand. B & Q will set up their own decorating center, take the "Qing contracting" services provided in the form of decoration. The move by the industry recognized as "unprecedented" and "groundbreaking." It is no exaggeration to say that this a profound impact on China's building materials industry trends decoration, opened China's "brand" decorating services era. So far, there have been large-scale building materials also stores try to build their own decorating services, and as a topic of speculation by the media. As everyone knows, the B & Q as early as 8 years ago to lead this trend has been.

Since the year 1999 successful landing in mainland China, as of now, B & Q in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other domestic 26 cities opened 60 chain stores, has become China's building materials retail industry leader well-deserved. In August 2001, B & Q in Shanghai, China opened its first new concept stores worldwide - Shanghai Yangpu shop, which is B & Q's two-story model of the world's first shop, which inspired the greatest extent consumer home creative inspiration . With consumers increasingly concerned about China China home decoration safety, environmental protection, B & Q in March 2007 in China, launched a "comfortable home" programs that promote "the safety, health, energy saving," the new home, began to advocate from the design to the selection, construction, cross-cutting "health, environmental protection," consumer concept, known as Home by the media industry, "Green Storm." In B & Q, consumers can find a "comfort home" logo products, which is B & Q more than 50,000 kinds of products from carefully selected "pet": from the most basic glue to the highest technology in today's TV wall, everything.

Analysis of B & Q's success factors, safe and reliable quality, reasonable pricing, meticulous and thoughtful after-sales service, rigorous staff training and management, B & Q is no longer a secret secret. In China's development road, B & Q is also in accordance with the needs of Chinese consumers, variable DIY for CIY (Create It Yourself, to create their own), to have no professional experience in decorative building materials to consumers to provide professional guidance and services to help them achieve beautifying " home "dream. This seemingly small change, but in reality reflects the B & Q consumer trends in the Chinese market and leading the profound insight into the capacity of consciousness, which is the largest B & Q continued success secret.

small business success story

small business success story

Yesterday evening, dinner time, a friend asked me what to eat. I suddenly think of another friend had introduced last year gave me a small dishes Museum. The little restaurant at the time gave me a deep impression on him.

So we spent half an hour drive time to reach there. This small restaurant near the mosque is located in Jilin City, the shop name very loud: clear dishes.

From the last meal has been left to this day a year's time. That small window remains the same, Opened the door come into view and this scene is small in sharp contrast, full house guests, and it buzzes, I feel as if people are boiling with the air. There are two rows of benches in front of several men and women sat in the queue. Original upstairs downstairs sitting empty seats free. It seems we have to queue up the.

See this and similar scenes of last year, I was under a lot of infections, suddenly feel hungry, full of appetite and expectations.

Finally it is our turn to sit down at the table before the waiter very high work efficiency, cutlery and hot tea also fully completed in a few minutes a la carte. In dishes such as time, disk Attendants seeds, appears to be sent free of charge. Because the hard walls to sit, I have noticed that the table higher than the four walls around 500 centimeters wide with a background color of the background paper, the above is still a small crowded joke word paragraph to see the content and my last meal has been great not the same, and these small jokes or classic SMS, always reluctant to let me leave to see input.

Tap the side of the seeds I did not enjoy reading a little joke, the moment seemed to have the whole table of dishes. The flavor of dishes still very pure, great food code. Jilin, a few days back, and this is what I eat the most satisfying meal. Checkout time, the boss personally bowl three very fresh watermelon, eating a piece of his own, and the remaining two are to us. I forgot to tell you that each of the guests checkout time, the boss is always to send a symbolic point of fruit, each different, which is this one of the characteristics of a small hotel.

Eating watermelon, when the boss yelled to tell him after the cabinet can not be used after thecut watermelon, melon to separate knife. Watermelon incision is a little bit of the flavor of green light, . The 25-year-old owner of small hotel careful consideration of customers felt that, whether it is also a part of his success secret?

The details of such services and choose to rent a window only 3 million residential near a pay rent for six months, all investment 3 million small businesses in more than 200,000 net profit. This is what the concept of? Wine alley is not afraid of deep, and we drive to dinner guests is the result of word-of-mouth marketing.

30,000 yuan in business in no one can afford to take, including Lu himself and the old businessman and we are looking for new investment projects. But the success stories can arouse our thinking and attention. Ordinary life business opportunities everywhere, we are operating a business and we have to choose the projects, we can do in the ordinary tap more details need to improve it? Lasting we can do it?

The streets of the small restaurants everywhere, but crying out to do in ordinary flashlight. The same business because of different management and business philosophy, different people to do the result is different. Would like to start with the friends are not afraid of small business, today's story is the old Rubens give us the greatest encouragement and confidence.

small business success story

small business success story

Many people look down on small businesses that "minor" can not make a lot of money. However, life is too was "small", but also small businesses make the "big deal."

Three years ago, because of poor efficiency, she laid off. How should I do? Home there are old, there are small, so he thought of making money in small transactions. At first is to sell two boxes of 10 snake oil rheumatoid pain paste, profit per pack 2 yuan, a year has also sold 2 million boxes. Tasted the taste, she began to find Commodity professionals to "strike."

One day, he from the television to see a manual entitled peeling garlic's products, known as a few seconds we will be able to garlic skin stripped clean, without injured hand, prices of 28 yuan each. Wie would like to, garlic delicious skin peeling hard, time-consuming effort is also easy to stimulate the eyes and finger injuries. To this end, some hotels also specialized employed workers skin peeling garlic. If this product does have the effect, then there will certainly be the market, it may wish to try. So, she bought themselves through a remittance, the kitchen will get Several garlic peeling devices to plug in a return of a push, snap moment, it really was out of garlic stripped clean, the effect is indeed good .

Wie felt opportunities come, if the price set at 56 yuan or so, certainly more people to buy. So he was removed links to Changsha, a manufacturer and learned that they can peel garlic can also wholesale agents, more appropriate price. For sound reasons, she is only a small box into the peel garlic, and goods to give relatives and friends after the home and several small restaurants near the free trial, the results of 10 individuals have nine said yes.

Seeing good results, she decided to "hit" the. He put a table vegetable market, erecting a sign, write "two seconds garlic peeling skin, not to hurt the fingers, not to stimulate the eyes, each 6 yuan, 10 yuan 2." And then live demonstrations, onlookers read all feel very good, have money to buy. One morning, 100 peel garlic all sold out, which had a good head. Since then, small WEI large amount of stock can be sold every time it all.

Shortly thereafter, to expand sales, she chose several supermarkets, general merchandise stores, vegetable stalls as a distribution point, each point of 50 free trial, and produced an eye-catching signs, dealers can be sold after the payment. Although this profit, but points more than a wide range of rapidly rising sales. He then in the neighboring township of the establishment of a distribution point, to make our products cover every corner of villages and towns. In this way, she call from vendors, and ultimately become a peel garlic's "total regional distributors," small businesses make a big sale.

Little peel garlic's success shows that greedy big business do not have to abandon the small, as long as the product design and development in place, close to life, and reasonable price, consumers are willing to dig deeper into their pockets. In short, the same as small businesses can create great wealth, the key is you have no vision.

small business success code

small business success code

1. Most of small businesses is likely to be the first year of losses, you are no exception. So you should make full preparations of this situation, there are sufficient funds to maintain. The majority of business failures is due to lack of funds. If possible, small businesses will not resign from the early beginning of your work.

2. For the success of its business people want to provide a product or service. The world is changing, people's demand is changing, you should be with the changes in the business. Pay attention to your competitive opponent, if they can think of a unique way to grab customers, you can not do nothing.

3. A good idea if we do not implement as soon as possible to zero. If you say so, others may reach the market ahead of you.

4. Business success and your love for this line is directly related. Do not just do it for the money. Otherwise, you will very painful, there will be no passion, there will not be creative.

5. A good friend or family member is not necessarily a good business partner. Although people familiar with the work is also good, but the feelings just not sufficient to enable the companies to develop good. Partners must be in terms of skills, duties on each other, can play a few good things the greatest advantage.

6. Even the best of friends and relatives, a comprehensive shareholders agreement is indispensable. This is usually neglected, it was felt that one of us a good talk. But the real investment to occur, withdrawal, trading terms, the company expansion, the company losses or restructuring and other major stakeholders of the affairs, the differences might make the company a standstill. These important provisions must be at the beginning we say good-written signature.

7. The business plan is essential, but also to review on a regular basis, otherwise it is a pile of waste paper. Business plans can be modified with changes in business and at the same time the company constantly compare the difference between progress and plans, find out the reasons, and short-term and long-term future is expected.

8. As long as the business license for your own wages. Do not earned every penny is used in re-investment. Because your business is not necessarily always good, the event will have nothing, at least you are not won nothing. Furthermore, in order to encourage your own, you also should be given their own fat salaries.

9. The lack of expert advice, sooner or later cause problems. You may be legal, insurance, tax the wake of a decision prior to seeking advice.

10. You are more familiar with your bank, you have the opportunity to be more exceptional service. Do not switch to the new bank. When you do need help, be able to immediately call your bank to find familiar with the business manager, would be very useful.

11. Successful entrepreneur is difficult family business two Gu, you have to make choices and sacrifices. You may not have the warmth of family life, must be psychologically prepared.

12. There is no marketing, business is doomed to fail. Do not put all the time used to cope with a major customer. More than half of the energy to take in opening up the market.

13. You never know your customer who is next, so everyone as a potential customer.

14. Take the time to check a customer's credit is worth it to avoid future headaches.

15. Penny a cargo, employees is also true. Please you can afford the best employees. Is also a partner. Partner must be within the framework of his professional affairs expert than you. Your employees is to play their own potential, so you can not do a thing.

16.branch data can not be the province of kung fu. Perhaps when the need.

17. Bargaining. This will you save money. As a business owner, whether it is to get products, delivery, obtain services, few people were willing to discuss.

Famous quotes about success

Famous quotes about success

Author Unknown
God gave us two ends. One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use; heads you win -- tails, you lose.

Walt Disney
If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.

Thich Nhat Hanh
The present moment is the only moment available to us,and it is the door

Author Unknown

To achieve the impossible, one must think the absurd; to look where everyone else has looked, but to see what no else has seen.
David Ambrose

If you have the will to win, you have achieved half your success; if you don't, you have achieved half your failure.

to all moments.

Yogi Berra

If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up some place else.

Marie Currie

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

If you are to be, you must begin by assuming responsibility.You alone are responsible for every moment of your life, for every one of your acts.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Frank Lloyd Wright

The thing always happens that you really believe in;and the belief in a thing makes it happen.

Author Unknown

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Mark Twain

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.
Buddha

All that we are is the result of What we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.
Mary Kay Ash

If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right.
Goethe

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

Famous quotes about success

Famous quotes about success

Arthur Golden
A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory.
Norman Vincent Peale
Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure.

David Frost
Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.

Abraham Lincoln
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.

Theodore Roosevelt
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

Mahatma Gandhi
The future depends on what we do in the present.

William Jennings Bryan

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.
Helen Keller

I can not do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something that I can do.
Mary Kay Ash

Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as you mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.

Dale Carnegie
People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.

George Eliot
Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what you think is right and stick to it.

Author Unknown

Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it.

Ralph Bunche
To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity.We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up.

George Bernard Shaw
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable onepersists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

Willie Davis The road to success runs uphill.General George Patton Success is how
Henry David Thoreau

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of hisdreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with asuccess unexpected in common hours.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

high you bounce when you hit bottom.

Albert Einstein
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.