All in Quotes

“In the movie La La Land, Mia has to put on a brave face at auditions, then put on her best clothes and go out on the town with the little money she could scrounge up, trying to find a way to meet the difference-makers in Hollywood. Even when she was about ready to give up, she ultimately came back for one more reading, the one that made her a big star. Almost every Hollywood actor who is successful today has a real-life story like that. Their goal was the same as everyone in the business world: to land a big fish. People noticed Natalie Portman and John Wayne the way they eventually noticed Mia. No one would have bought what she was selling if she hadn’t presented herself like a winner, even when she was on the verge of moving back into her parents’ place in Boulder City. My mom will tell you I wanted to be a millionaire by seven years old. It was always on my mind. So from day one of my business career I acted the part. I had no money but I dressed like a professional. I wore a suit, which was the thing to do back then. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was pressed and clean. Bottom line is, if you’re shooting for the moon, you better act like an astronaut.”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“What’s behind you is not important. No one will remember where you started. They’ll only remember where you finish.”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“KEY TAKEAWAYS •Always keep your eyes on the prize. •Keep putting money in your business—it’s crucial to continued growth. •Think big, act big, but never forget your roots. •Never settle—keep setting new goals as you reach old ones. •Create a niche for your business, and don’t try to be the low-cost king; it doesn’t pay off. •Keep adapting and reinvesting in your business. •Embrace technology—it’s the way of the future, and understanding how it works will help your business succeed.”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“KEY TAKEAWAYS •You may be born to sell, but a will to succeed is even better. •What goes around, comes around—you never know when the wheel of fortune is going to turn for or against you. Be prepared for either outcome. •Don’t let adversity keep you down—harness that energy to fuel your passion. •Be willing to do whatever it takes to optimize your potential. •Recognize a great idea when it appears. •If you have an idea, act on it; there’s no time like the present. •Don’t burn bridges—you never know who or what may come back to help you in the future.”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“KEY TAKEAWAYS •Believe in yourself—make it your daily mantra. •Find a mentor—you can always learn something new. •Always be on time. The early bird catches the worm. •Treat everyone with kindness and respect, especially the “gatekeepers” to success. •Return calls and texts in 24 hours or less—response builds customer loyalty. •Sweat every detail. •Dress for success, even if you’re down on your luck. •Know your target market and whether your product can succeed. •Selling a necessary product is easier than selling a luxury. •Don’t reinvent the wheel—let someone else do that. •Leave nothing to chance.”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“Don’t worry, it’ll work out.” Really? How do you know? It’s unbelievable. When your business partners tell you not to worry because “It’ll work out”—it’s not going to work out. You can’t just sit back and wait for life to happen because when you do, unexpected stuff usually happens. You have to be smart. You have to be prepared. You have to go in with your guns loaded and a well-devised plan of attack. I can’t stress this enough. When starting your own business, “winging it” is not an option. Repeat after me: knowledge is power. Why do you think it’s one of the most overused aphorisms out there? Because it’s true! If you are about to make a sales pitch to a customer and you ask your salesperson, “What’s the plan?” and he or she says, “Oh, we’ll wing it,” you’re in trouble. Anytime one of my guys said that, my stomach turned. It drove me nuts. I’d say, “We’ve got to know everything about this prospect. We’ve got to know everything about this company. Do your homework!” The more you know about a customer, a product, a market, or even an employee, the greater advantage you have. And I’m not just talking about business and sales; I’m talking about everything you do in this world. You can’t just wing it through life. You’ll never end up where you want to be if you don’t know where you’re going.”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“But when the cosmo-in-a-glass came out, it was red, not pink. And our apple martinis were dark green when they should have been pale green. That may seem like no big deal, but it killed the product. No one knew what they were. They didn’t look like cosmos or apple martinis, so no one bothered. You see, I didn’t sweat the small stuff and it bit me in the ass. My partners convinced me that the color didn’t matter. Well guess what? It mattered! The business tanked and I lost money. Bottom line: if it doesn’t work perfectly, throw it out and get it right. Because if you don’t, one of your competitors will!”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“And when you make it big, find a mentor for dealing with success. I had Lewis Katz, a lawyer who went into business and got so wealthy he and a few of his partners owned part of the New Jersey Nets, the New Jersey Devils, and the New York Yankees. I mention Lew because he passed away two years ago in a plane crash and I miss him. I remember I went to Lew in 1995, after I first sold half of Wilmar, and asked him, “Lew, you’ve been wealthy for a long time. Will you help me understand how you deal with money and family?” Lew gave me some great advice. And he won’t be the last mentor I have. You think I’m done learning new things? It never ends! So go find some mentors!”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs

“Shakespeare said that promptness is the courtesy of kings. It’s the courtesy we owe everyone in our lives. And if you aren’t planning on showing up on time for client calls, meetings, or other essential moments on your calendar, there’s really no point in reading the rest of the book!”
― Bill Green, All in: 101 Real Life Business Lessons For Emerging Entrepreneurs