Summary : Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive – Harvey Mackay

The first thing to do when given an assignment by your boss is to say: “I’ll take care of it.” It gives your boss peace of mind. Then go like anything to follow through. You’ll soon develop a reputation as someone who delivers.

Optimism, including the favorable re-interpretation of past victories, is the belief that our abilities are superior to the obstacles that logically should overcome us. This is exactly what we need to achieve anything worthwhile. It’s a heck of a lot more productive than humility.

The Acid Test For Hiring

Main Idea
Ask yourself, How would you feel having this same person working for your competition instead of for you?

Whatever you do, you can do it better if you just keep on learning. The moment you relax is the moment your competition overtakes you.

Nobody is going to believe anything in the business is important unless you find a way to show it is by example.

capable manager walks around his plant and gets the good news before anyone else. An outstanding manager gets the bad news first.

To build a successful business, you need four things;
Find the capital.
Find a favorable environment to employ it.
Hire the key people.
Get out of the way.

The player with the highest level of information, planning and skill will always win out in the long run.

The Single Most Powerful Tool For Winning A Negotiation Is The Ability To Walk Away From The Table Without A Deal

Skilled negotiators operate by two key principles:
No one ever went broke because they said no too often.
The most powerful tool in any negotiation is information. In the long run, instincts are no match for information.