Never invest in anything that needs paint
This rule came from my Grandpa Huber. Actually, it was part of a trio of warnings he gave me, including, “Never eat at a restaurant named ‘Mom’s,’ ” and “Never play ...
Treat your best employees like you can’t live without them — because you can’t
This column is one in a series that will explore the thoughts, ideas and unadorned advice of an entrepreneur who made it, Edward Lowe. When he “brought the cat indoors” with ...
The window of opportunity begins with a peephole
Entrepreneurs are usually seen as “big idea” people. But as they used to say in the Michigan towns where I grew up, a great idea and a dime will get you ...
Start with your head, leave with your heart
This may be the last thing on your mind right now, but unless you’re carried out in a box, all entrepreneurs eventually must leave what they started. That’s what I did ...
Pondering: going one-on-one with yourself
Think back to when you launched your business. I doubt whether you dashed out and did it on a whim. You probably considered and reconsidered a million different areas: your product ...
Hire the best, then let it rest
When I invented Kitty Litter in 1947, being an overbearing boss was the last thing on my mind. Quite simply, there was nobody to boss around. Employees weren’t even a pipe ...
Don’t forget where you came from
When I was growing up, there was this old man who lived just outside town. When strangers asked directions, he unfailingly replied, "Mister, all roads lead to Cassopolis."
Shore up your tunnel of opportunity — or it may cave in on you
My Grandpa Huber used to tell a story about an entrepreneurial miner. After a few years of futile picking at his claim, he came up with a "big idea."
Weigh the mail before you make decisions
I have a suggestion for entrepreneurs who are daunted by the cost of sophisticated, yet expensive, marketing research: Weigh your mail.