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Articles from John AOV | Selfgrowth.com
- ***Positive Persistence - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVhere have been so many books and examples about the power of positive thinking that it seems unnecessary to even mention it. Yet, I still see examples every single day of the power that negative thinking has over people. So, either people haven't gotten the message or they're just plain not ...
Views: 1784(1 vote) - ***Book Smart vs. Street Smart - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVWe all know people who are "book smart" but clueless in the real world, and those who are "street smart" but unable to handle any environment other than the one they're used to. Last season The Apprentice was based on this dichotomy, pitting a team of people with higher education against a team ...
Views: 10021(118 votes) - ***Power and Persuasion: the Elements of Negotiation - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVNegotiation is something I refer to often because it is an important aspect of business and life. It's a form of accommodation, adjustment, and diplomacy. It can be a complex procedure, but it doesn't have to be daunting if you take the time to think and apply a little finesse to your ...
Views: 1955(111 votes) - *** You Can Do Well by Doing Good - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2009 from John AOVArizona's housing crisis was deepening. Homeowners were losing their houses. But that got Kevin Andrews thinking. Andrews, a Trump University real estate student, started to wonder whether he could help homeowners and help himself at the same time. And then he hit on a way. Kevin heard about a ...
Views: 1159(85 votes) - ***Failure is the Mother of Success - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVMention the word "failure" to almost any group of up-the-corporate-ladder types and you may detect some nervous twitches. For these cube-dwellers, a mistake or setback is often a career-stopper, or, at least, a blot on the record. Playing it safe is seen as the best way to avoid a misstep that ...
Views: 5367(16 votes) - *** Ten Simple Strategies for Building a Great Team - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2009 from John AOVDonald J. Trump is the greatest real estate developer in history. But he is the first person to admit that he needed a great team behind him - great advisors, great attorneys, great accountants, and more. Yes, Mr. Trump is a man of formidable abilities. But even he couldn't go it alone. If you ...
Views: 824(1 vote) - ***Build Your Benefit Advantage - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2009 from John AOVEven though the term Benefit Advantage may not sound too exciting, it is what you absolutely need to have to beat your competitors in the marketplace. It is the heart of your marketing strategy. Your benefit advantage is . . . The reason your customers should buy from you instead of from your ...
Views: 866(1 vote) - ***E-Learning Is the Future and the Future Is Now - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2009 from John AOVIf you ask 10 people to name the greatest business thinker of the last century, I am willing to bet that at least eight of them, and maybe all 10, will pick Peter Drucker. There's a very good reason. Drucker invented the modern science of management in 1954 when he wrote The Practice of ...
Views: 1004(1 vote) - ***Team-Building Secrets for Successful Startups - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2009 from John AOVWhen people start businesses, they often hire staff when needed, where needed, with no strategic plan in place. Sometimes they are lucky and it works. But more often than not, it wastes money and hobbles the startup, as these typical scenarios show: Ready, aim . . . wait! A software developer ...
Views: 1222(1 vote) - ***A Key to Success - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVThere is an ingredient for success that is often overlooked, maybe because it sounds out of place in business lingo. But I know for a fact that it is absolutely necessary to achieve any kind of long lasting success, and I know this from experience. That ingredient is passion. Enthusiasm on a ...
Views: 1151(1 vote) - ***Be Tough and Tenacious and Never Give Up - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVSometimes people think I was born with a Midas touch, that everything I think about or touch just somehow turns to gold. I'll admit, I've been very lucky, and I've also had the good fortune to get a great education from the schools I went to and from my parents. But there might be some things ...
Views: 1247(1 vote) - ***Learn What You Love and Love What You Do - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVLoving what you do is a principle indication of happiness and general fulfillment in life. Many people, though, have no clear idea about what it is they love. Others, who know what they love, often do not consider their passions to be relevant to a job or a career. These people have a tendency ...
Views: 895(1 vote) - ***Unleashing the Power of Self-Directed Learning for a Happier and More Successful Career - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVIn years past, continuing your education past high school meant applying for admission and taking classes to learn skills that other people said you would need in your career. Today, thanks to self-directed learning, all that has changed. In self-directed learning, you design your own ...
Views: 1034(1 vote) - ***Use Knowledge to Your Advantage - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVEver hear the saying, "I am not young enough to know everything"? That's a good one, and something to think about. Fortunately, I had a father who knew a lot about what he was doing, so I could never fall into the know-it-all category. Being humbled by superior knowledge and inspired by it can ...
Views: 1676(1 vote) - *** Charitable Giving: It's More than a Tax Deduction - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVSince September 11, 2001, the Trump Organization has always had an annual memorial of some sort. The first year, we forfeited our annual Trump Organization Christmas party in order to give the funds that would normally be used for that event to charity. All of us felt it was the right thing to ...
Views: 1141 - *** Defend Yourself from Scams and Flimflams - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOV"I went to a foreclosure auction the other day," said a woman who called our offices last week. "And do you know what? There was no point in bidding on any of the houses, because they were the same ones that I had already seen on realtors’ Websites and in newspapers. Other people didn't seem to ...
Views: 1023 - *** How to Have the Government Pay Your Rent - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVThe Power of Section 8 Housing How would you like to own rental property where all or most of the monthly rent comes to you by check from the government? If that idea appeals to you, welcome to Section 8 housing! Section 8 is a program setup by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban ...
Views: 2546 - *** In Real Estate, the Wisest Negotiators Always Win - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVWhen most people hear the word negotiation, they usually picture stone-faced adversaries who glare at each other across a conference table and argue over every little point. That's not how I work. A better example is how I went about buying 40 Wall Street. I was interested in acquiring 40 ...
Views: 829 - *** Investing Tactics to Navigate Wisely in All Types of Real Estate Markets - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVLast week Levitt & Sons, the homebuilder whose Levittown developments were the emblems of America's postwar economic boom, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy for reorganization - and its fate as a continuing business remains in limbo. Here's how David Streifeld in the International Herald Tribune ...
Views: 864 - *** My Top Ten Rules of Success - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVIf you've heard me speak, you may have noticed I emphasize several things repeatedly - never give up is one, being passionate is another, keeping focused is up there, and keeping your momentum runs a close fourth. I've learned those things from experience. Here's the complete top 10 list I give ...
Views: 638 - *** Real Estate Investing: Beware of Red Flags - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOV“On this April Fool’s day, vow never to become the fool.” - Gary Eldred, PhD Although I love real estate and believe it offers most people their best opportunity to become wealthy, no one should assume that every great-sounding offer actually represents a great deal. In fact, investors are ...
Views: 985 - *** Starting a Business? Why Not a Real Estate Business? - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVWant success on your own terms? Consider this unique path to success. When prospective students call Trump University to inquire about our classes in entrepreneurship, our admissions counselors always ask, “What kind of business do you have in mind?” Most often, the replies are like these: ...
Views: 823 - *** Tax-Slashing Secrets for Real Estate Wealth - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVThere are very few business opportunities that allow you to build wealth without paying taxes - and then subsequently pay reduced rates when the time comes to settle up with Uncle Sam. Real estate, however, is a prime exception. Today I will focus on two strategies that can slash the taxes you ...
Views: 889 - *** Valuing Commercial Real Estate - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVIt’s Based on Cash Flow, not Comps If you’ve ever bought a house, you know how it works. The value of the house is almost always based on comparable sales. Comparable sales--or “comps,” as they are called--are homes similar in location, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot ...
Views: 1146 - *** Yes! You Can Use Your Retirement Funds to Buy Real Estate - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVMany people are surprised to learn that a retirement plan such as an IRA or 401(k) has the flexibility to own real estate. If you're one of those people, don't feel bad. You're certainly not alone! Currently, more than 90 percent of all retirement plans hold nothing but “traditional” assets ...
Views: 876 - ***A Word to Entrepreneurs . . . Formalize Your Business Entity Now! - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVRobin is a cosmetologist and massage therapist who recently began investing in real estate in hopes of supplementing her income. Robin is enjoying a comfortable lifestyle from her full-time job, but is basically a sole proprietor who leases space from a salon owner. Additionally, as a sole ...
Views: 667 - ***Avoid the Mistakes that Kill First-Time Property Investors - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2009 from John AOVIs it a great time to invest in real estate? Or is it a terrible time? Today and every day, those are difficult questions to answer. Some things are bad about the current market ... we’ve all read that housing starts are down and that there are many houses sitting unsold on the market. But we ...
Views: 868 - ***Avoid the Mistakes that Sink Start-Ups - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2009 from John AOVA student in our Entrepreneurship Mastery Program is a smart and courageous woman. Ten years ago she started a business that failed after four years. Now she is with us, acquiring the knowledge she needs to be successful the second time around. Just a few hours into the course, she learned an ...
Views: 619 - ***Be a Chameleon: Today's Top Achievers Redefine their Goals and Themselves Every Day - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVDuring the last century, many people were able to achieve great success by chasing just one goal. Henry Ford got a lot of mileage out of his dream to sell an affordable car to every average American. H. L. Hunt, at one time the richest man in the world, drilled for oil. When you look at today’s ...
Views: 939 - ***Be Fast, Get Ahead - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVWe live, work, and compete in markets where you must be more like a laser than a floodlight, more like a gazelle than an elephant. In today’s complex and competitive business environment, three critical factors form a mantra for success: “Make it short, fast, and direct!” Our customers, ...
Views: 1046 - ***Beyond Location: A Potent Way to Boost the Value of Investment Properties - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2009 from John AOVWhen you investigate properties to buy, look ahead. What will their neighborhoods look like in the years and decades to come? Take a close look at what needs improving, because the problems you see are opportunities. The more of them you can correct, the faster your property values will soar. ...
Views: 678 - ***Bootstrap Your Way to Startup Success - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2009 from John AOVBootstrapping is the process of conserving financial resources to the extreme during a business’s startup phase. It means pulling yourself up by your bootstraps by doing most of the work yourself. Because you want to go into any new business enterprise with your eyes wide open, let’s take a ...
Views: 591 - ***Build Something of Value Every Day - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVOne day, when I was about 12, I went down to my carpenter grandfather’s basement workshop. “You should start earning your own money,” he said. “If you clean up this workshop, I will pay you what it’s worth.” So I spent the next three hours making that place shine. I swept up all the wood ...
Views: 572 - ***Buy a Business and Become Rich - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2009 from John AOVWealth-generating secrets from our free special report, The 10 Golden Rules for Buying a Business Owning a business is, without question, your best path to riches. And buying an established and thriving business can be the quickest way to achieve that success. In today's business climate, ...
Views: 694 - ***Can't You Do Any Better Than That? Yes You Can...And You Better Start Today - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVAfter he graduated from college, Aylwin B. Lewis took a job as manager of eight Jack in the Box restaurants in the Houston area. He was not too happy with the job. Then one day a customer approached Lewis and asked if he was the boss of the place. Lewis said he was the person in charge. The ...
Views: 924 - ***Change Your Life in Three Days - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2009 from John AOVTrump University Takes Live Learning a Level Higher Since the day Trump University opened its doors, students have been asking us to add more live instruction. We are starting now, with a new program of three-day seminars that we are calling Immersive Retreats. These live retreats have been ...
Views: 545 - ***Character: The Blueprint for Success - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVMeeting the challenges problems present head on is a personality trait formed through habit. Some people develop the habit early in life, often through repetition to the point where the reaction is not even a conscious choice. Successful approaches to problem solving, though learned behaviors, ...
Views: 936 - ***Classifying Your Income: tax-minimizing advice from the new book, Trump University Asset Protection 101 - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2009 from John AOVThe good news is, you made money in 2007. Hopefully, a lot of it. But do you understand that not all the dollars you earned are the same in the eyes of the IRS? Until you define the kind of income each of those dollars represents to the tax collector, you stand little chance of minimizing the ...
Views: 573 - ***Conquer Your Fear - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVHistory knows no resting places and no plateaus. -- Henry Kissinger History is relentless because it happens every second. In other words, no resting places and no plateaus. The same applies to business--you can’t rest on your laurels, you can’t become complacent, and you have to be ...
Views: 803 - ***Conventional Wisdom: An Oxymoron? - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVIn marketing circles, there’s a problem called the “majority fallacy.” What it means is that corporations and business owners often “go with the tide,” seeking the gold that’s in them ‘thar hills, along with everyone else. The problem is the “along with everyone else” part. To be successful ...
Views: 1444 - ***Different Paths, One Destination - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVMany are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal. --Friedrich Nietzsche There are many paths to a single goal. There are those, however, who confuse a path with the goal. A goal is a destination, while a path is the means to get there. The water in a raging ...
Views: 1103 - ***Different Varieties of Success - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2009 from John AOVGenerally there are two types of people who claim they “don’t do it for the money”: those who already have plenty of money and those engaged in fundamentally non-lucrative creative or service-oriented fields like the arts or social work. In both cases, passion or some other deeply held personal ...
Views: 775 - ***Dig Big Profits from Properties that Other Investors Ignore - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2009 from John AOV“I have been doing great during the recent slump,” a Michigan-based developer named Jonathan told me recently. “I buy, renovate and resell one and two-family residential houses in inner cities. Other developers ignore these properties and prefer to work in more upscale locales. But there are ...
Views: 1008 - ***Do You Need a Professional Valuation Before Buying a Business? - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2009 from John AOVFor most small businesses, hiring a professional to perform a valuation is not necessary. First of all it is expensive, and more often than not, it simply does not reflect reality. For example, I recently read a valuation on a local company handling specialized telecom components in a very ...
Views: 553 - ***Does Your Business Need Glasses? - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVNearsightedness (a.k.a. myopia) affects about one-third of the population. The nearsighted eye is not able to focus on distant objects. People who are nearsighted can see things up-close just fine, but have difficulty performing tasks like driving and reading street signs. As an entrepreneur, ...
Views: 677 - ***Don't Be Satisfied - Do more! - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVNo person who is enthusiastic about his work has anything to fear from life. --Samuel Goldwyn If you see each day as an important day for your future and a special day just because you have it, you will be amazed at how productive and energetic you can be. It’s the best way to be at your best ...
Views: 826 - ***Don't Be the Missing Link - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2009 from John AOVI had a conversation last month with the programming director of a radio station in Boston. He was complaining about how difficult it is to convince companies to advertise on his station. “Why is it so tough?” I asked. “Because we have no way to document how many people actually hear the ads ...
Views: 744 - ***Don't Get Burned by Bad Advice - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2009 from John AOVThe world is full of well-intentioned people who are eager to offer you advice about investing in real estate. But do they know what they are talking about? Do they possess the experience, expertise and current information needed to advise you intelligently? If not, their advice can do a lot of ...
Views: 755 - ***Don't Invest in an Insolvent Community - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2009 from John AOVHow solvent is the community where you are planning to invest in real estate? Some cities, counties, and states throughout the United States are incurring revenue shortfall. The results are usually the same: higher taxes and cutbacks in schools, libraries, street repairs, fire and police, and ...
Views: 895 - ***Don't Just Work, Create! - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2009 from John AOVWhat does it mean when someone claims his or her work is art? Some people actually do make their work into an art form. In addition to competence and real talent, their accomplishments stem from their strong belief that what they do is art. Raising one’s every day work to the level of art is, as ...
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