Keith Long of Thunderheart Flooring LLC in Greeley, Colo., grew up listening to his father talk about business.
I am fortunate to have my dad as one of the greatest mentors in my life. He's an entrepreneur who has been involved in everything from the livestock industry to bank acquisition. I still hear his words and use them today to guide my own business decisions in wood flooring, real estate and more. Some of his wisdom that I still think about frequently includes:
• No one cares about your business more than you do.
• I take calculated risks. I do my research, and when I find what I believe is a great opportunity to be of service and be profitable, I put my money down on that calculated risk. I put my heart and soul into the venture, and keep my mind, my hands and my feet moving.
• If you have to borrow money to get something started, borrow as little as possible, and pay it off as soon as you can.
• When you have a vested interest (your own time and money) put into a venture, that gives the best chance of success. If you're involved in a venture with none of your own skin (time and hard-earned money) in the game, when things get tough, it's too easy to walk away.
• When you don't owe money to anyone, you can make your own calls so much easier.
