The Secret’s Out…! ix

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes 1

Secret #1: Try to learn from your mistakes-better yet, learn from the mistakes of others!

Don’t Borrow Money 9

Secret #2: Think twice before you either borrow money or loan money to someone-especially a friend.

Love What You Do 15

Secret #3: Following your passion is the key to success.

Make Time for Both Work and Play 19

Secret #4: It is important to make the right trade-offs between work and play so we live a balanced lifestyle.

Listen to What Others Can Teach You 25

Secret #5: The experience of others is the best classroom you will ever find!

Always Think of New Ideas 31

Secret #6: Try to come up with alternate ways of doing things.

Always Have a Plan 37

Secret #7: When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

If You Fail, Try Again 43

Secret #8: Failure is not falling down; it is staying down.

Protect Your Reputation 49

Secret #9: It takes years to build a reputation but only minutes to ruin it.

The Customer Comes First 55

Secret #10: Take care of your customer and your customer will take care of you.

Open Minds Let In Better Ideas! 61

Secret #11: Opening your mind can open the door of success.

Always Promote Yourself 65

Secret #12: Successful businesses successfully promote and advertise themselves.

Location is Very Important 71

Secret #13: Location is a vital part of most businesses.

Don’t Be Fooled 77

Secret #14: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Don’t Judge Others 83

Secret #15: With businesses, like with people, you should get to know them before you judge them.

Be Willing to Change Your Ideas 89

Secret #16: Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.

Your Image is Important 95

Secret #17: Price is on the price tag; value is in the eye of the beholder.

Be Thoughtful of Others 99

Secret #18: If your service is outstanding, you’ll always stand out.

Pay Attention to Details 103

Secret #19: A good business is disciplined to do the little things right every day.

How to Present Yourself 109

Secret #20: It’s not just the outside that counts. It’s the whole package.

Your Decisions Affect Your Future 115

Secret #21: Make sure you stay in school. Failing to complete your education can lead to not achieving your dreams in the future.

Save for the Future 119

Secret #22: Save money for things you need instead of spending it all on things you want!

Be Someone in Demand 123

Secret #23: Prices are determined by supply and demand.

Confi dence Comes with Understanding 127

Secret #24: Don’t get involved in a business you don’t understand.

A Lifetime of Learning 133

Secret #25: Be smarter at the end of the day than you were at the beginning.

Partners Make it Easier 139

Secret #26: Great partnerships will make any job easier.

About a Squared Entertainment 145