Those Who Do vs. Those Who Don't

At one time or another, most entrepreneurs and most businesses experience poor to no cash flow and find their balance sheets running on empty. I've been there -- three times with three businesses. At the end of the day, however, most of us pay the bills and we fill the tank for another run.

Some don't, though, and that got me thinking about what makes the difference. All I have is some insight, some personal experiences, and some knowledge of those who close shop and those who stay open. I made up these lists to represent some character traits of those who "keep on keepin' on" and those who don't. Nothing scientific, as I said, about this.

Those Who "Keep On Keepin' On"

1. Possess great confidence
2. Have high self-esteem
3. Produce quality products and services
4. Believe Sales and Marketing drive success
5. Look for the fair deal
6. Believe in people
7. Surround themselves with smart people
8. Worry less about money and more about customers
9. Guarantee their products and services
10. Create great customer experiences
11. Practice trust, respect and dignity
12. Think Positively
13. Eagerly face challenges
14. Love life

Those Who Don’t

1. Possess great confidence
2. Have high self-esteem
3. Produce quality products and services or maybe not
4. Believe Products and Services drive success
5. Look for the winning deal
6. Believe only in themselves
7. Believe they are the smartest people in the room
8. Worry more about money and less about customers
9. Over-promise, under-deliver
10. Never think about customers experiences
11. Think trust, respect and dignity represent business fluff
12. Think Negatively
13. Wish challenges would go away
14. Love money and what it can buy