Personal management

Be on time for all your appointments:
If you schedule a meeting, set a time to visit with a client, or tell a friend you will meet them for a working breakfast you have to be there at the time you set or you will lose their respect. If your dispatcher tells a client the serviceman will be there at 1 pm, make sure he is. It is just common courtesy; but will really help your business.
Stop and smell the roses:
Believe it or not, you will do a better job with your business if you let your mind wander once in a while. Take a break. Recharge, your internal battery. When you go back to work you will be more creative as well as less stressed.
Be careful who you step on your way up, They will be there in your way down too.

You are not smarter than everybody:
You may be smarter than anyone, nut you are not smarter than everyone. Seek input from the group, and listen to it, you will be surprised at what you can learn.
Get involved:
If you think you are too busy to get involved in civic and charitable activities, you don't know that you are missing. The greatest reward is the personal satisfaction, but you will also make a lot of valuable contacts.

Do your homework:
Whether it is a proposal to a major client or a meeting with the Shop Steward of a union, you will do better if you are prepared. Collect the facts, think the problem through, talk to the others involved. Take the time to do the" up front" work and the "downstream" work will be easier and more rewarding.
It's not how hard you work, it’s what you get done:
Anybody can work hard, and most people do. The really successful people focus on accomplishing result not on effort expended.
Learn form the mistakes of others:
You can not live long enough to make them all yourself.
Focus your energies:
There are a lot of demands on your time, but your time and energy are limited. Focus on what is important to you and of that first. It is better to do a few key things well than to do lots of things, but none of them well.
Work on your weaknesses first:
In any position or job you find yourself, there will be things you do well, some you do okay, and some you don not do so well. To improve yourself, and increase your value, work first to improve in those areas that are your weakest.

Dare to Dream:
You can't move forward if you are always looking back. You can't find new solutions if you believe it can't be done. Have the courage of your convictions and go after it.
Do no limit yourself:
The difference between leaders and managers is that leaders do not set limits on themselves. There are enough people trying to limit what you can do. Do not be one of them.
Anyone can steer the ship in calm waters:
What will set you apart in your career is how you perform during the tough times. Do not become complacent and relax just because things are gong well. Plan ahead for the downturn.