My Dad, the late Professor OJ Firestone, and I tried to determine which three things were the most important skills for an entrepreneur to master:
- SALES SALES SALES (moi)
- CHECK CHECK CHECK (my Dad).
As I have grown older, I have come to realize they are equally critical: without sales, all organizations will eventually disappear and, without attention to detail, they will fail to execute and just wither away.
Here is a Venn Diagram for Dad:
If it’s important, make sure you remember it: CHECK CHECK CHECK everything.
Prof Bruce
Postscript: Parents have been passing on this advice to children for generations if you can rely on the film ‘The Godfather (Part 1)’ as a guide. Near the end of the film, Vito Corleone goes over and over again possible scenarios with his son, Michael, on how he (Michael) will be able to recognize the traitor in the family and avoid the trap his enemies are preparing to spring on him. The Don gives Michael a lecture on being careful and checking everything, advice that will soon save his life. When I saw that, it had the ring of truth, at least to me.