• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Barbara Weltman

Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc.

Whitepaper download

Subscribe and download our eBook, "150+ Tax Deductions for Small Business A to Z."

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Get the:

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Big Ideas For Your Business
    • Idea Of The Day ®
    • SMB Legal
    • SMB Taxes
    • SMB Financial
    • Small Business
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Services
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Radio Shows/Podcasts
  • Be a Guest Blogger

Using Early Life Lessons to Run a Successful Business

July 28, 2020 / By Barbara Weltman

You may have read, or at least heard of Robert Fulghum’s book from the 1980s entitled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: Uncommon Thoughts on Common Things. The book contained 16 life lessons. I’ve selected 5 of them that are essential for running a successful business.

Children Learning Early Life Lessons

1. “Share everything.”

There are many ways in which business owners can share with employees, customers, and their community. Here are some ideas:

  • Profit-sharing with employees through qualified retirement plans, bonuses, or pay raises.
  • Mentoring employees to help them develop job skills.
  • Posting videos to help customers learn (e.g., how to use products, understand services)
  • Donating goods or services to charitable organizations in the community.

2. “Play fair.”

Businesses should observe all legal requirements to avoid trouble. In addition, they should use ethical practices. According to an article from Washington State University, ethical businesses lead to more profits because ethical leaders have more productive workers, ethical practices can reduce costs, and consumers want to spend money with ethical organizations. For example, there are apps that consumers can use to learn which companies are socially conscious and eco-friendly.

3. “Clean up your own mess.”

When there is a problem, it’s important for an owner to take responsibility and figure out how to fix it. As discussed in an earlier blog on developing leadership qualities by taking responsibility, it’s important to find the cause of the problem so it can be remedied. The good thing about cleaning up your own mess is that it’s a learning experience…finding a problem and devising a solution.

4. “Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.”

Today it’s all too easy to cause bad feelings, whether intentionally in the heat of the moment or unintentionally. Just as a thank you for a job well done is appreciated, so too is an apology for a mistake. Consider reviewing company policy now to be sure that your business practices are fair and don’t inadvertently cause harm to employees, customers, vendors, or others.

5. “Live a balanced life—learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”

The concept of work-life balance began in the U.S. some time in the 1970s or 1980s. Today it is a mantra for employees who want quality time away from work to spend with family and other personal interests. Small businesses can help employees in this regard with various strategies, such as flexible work schedules and remote work options.

Final thought

Closing with a quote from Robert Fulghum:

“We are the only creatures that both laugh and cry. I think it’s because we are the only creatures that see the difference between the way things are and the way they might be.”

Tags early life lessons running a successful business

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • General Business (498)
  • Guest Blog (109)
  • Homepage (21)
  • Small Business (990)
  • SMB Financial (322)
  • SMB Legal (66)
  • SMB Taxes (324)

Barbara’s Recent Posts

  • Scale Your Business by Stepping Up IP Protection May 29, 2025
  • Disasters Happen: It’s Important to Be Prepared Now May 27, 2025
  • How Work Order Software Transforms Small Business Operations May 26, 2025
  • The Numbers Are Up for Sole Proprietorships May 22, 2025
  • New Business or Project Crowdfunding: What To Know May 20, 2025
  • Old-School Estimating vs. Smart Solutions: What’s Really Holding You Back? May 19, 2025
  • Employees Getting Called to Public Service: What to Know May 15, 2025
  • Not Too Late to Prep for Summer Now May 13, 2025
  • How Will the Next Generation of Learners Affect the Workplace May 12, 2025
  • Moms Know Best: Lessons for Entrepreneurs May 8, 2025
  • Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace May 6, 2025
  • Let’s Celebrate Small Business! May 1, 2025
Awarded Top 100 Small Business Blog medal (link will open in a new window or tab)
Marquis Who's Who 2023 Badge
Top Small Business Blogs (Link will open in a new window or tab.)
8 Financial blogs small business Owners Need to Read. Invoice home.  (link will open in a new window or tab)
Best Small Business Blog, Expertido.org
Top 50 Small Business Blogs 2018
Best Small Business Blogs
BizHumm Top 100 Business Blog Award to Barbara Weltman
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2017 (link will open in a new window or tab)
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2016 (link will open in a new window or tab)

Footer

Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Small business ideas, business tax news and small business consulting from Barbara Weltman to provide business owners with the information they need to succeed. Visit our small business blog, Idea of The Day®, small business books and articles on small business taxes, small business finance and small business legal advice.

Contact Us

[email protected]

(772) 492-9593

gacor maxwin situs slot thailand terpercaya situs slot gacor situs gacor akun pro thailand slot bandar togel terpercaya

Latest Tweets

bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 31

Starbucks Rediscovers Its Human Side - Branding Strategy Insider https://bit.ly/3H9KwHP #smallbusiness #branding #marketing

Reply on Twitter 1928884285445931367 Retweet on Twitter 1928884285445931367 Like on Twitter 1928884285445931367 2 Twitter 1928884285445931367
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 31

New Business or Project Crowdfunding: What To Know - https://bit.ly/43nclnL #startups #loans #crowdfunding #smallbusiness

Reply on Twitter 1928862798886441182 Retweet on Twitter 1928862798886441182 Like on Twitter 1928862798886441182 1 Twitter 1928862798886441182
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 31

10 Simple Ways to Get Employees to Quit — Improve Your HR https://bit.ly/44KRu01 #smallbusiness #workplace #hiring #employees

Reply on Twitter 1928844506998136977 Retweet on Twitter 1928844506998136977 1 Like on Twitter 1928844506998136977 1 Twitter 1928844506998136977
Load More

Copyright © 2008–2025 Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc  |  Designed by Hudson Fusion

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap