In Business and Life, People Are Almost Always Working For Their Own Selfish Motives

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In my experience and observation, there are very few people that are operating on a purely benevolent or philanthropic basis, particularly in the business world, and particularly when they are still building their ventures/careers.  While this may be upsetting to some, don’t let it bother you, rather factor it into your decisions and your approach to situations.  Use it to your advantage.  Make sure that when you are trying to persuade someone to do something, you don’t appeal to them based on the fact that you are a good person and therefore they should help you or work with you.  Rather, you must paint your proposal in terms that make it clear to them that helping you will (ultimately perhaps) be very much to their advantage.  This is a cardinal rule – you must always paint your “pitches” in terms that the recipient can understand and will be motivated by – in terms that highlight the benefits to them – don’t expect it to happen automatically because you have pretty graphics, or because you’re a “nice person”.  Appeal to peoples’ selfish motives.  You will obtain much better results that way..

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Paul is a serial entrepreneur, strategic and risk management advisor, marketer, speaker and coach who has dedicated the majority of his career to entrepreneurship, leadership and peak performance. Paul has worked with various entrepreneurial companies in senior management roles and has led the development, review, and selective implementation of several hundred start-up and corporate venture business plans, financial models, and feasibility analyses. He has performed due diligence on and valuation of many potential investment and acquisition candidates. Paul was also the Director of a consulting operation in Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Paul has lived, worked, learned and traveled extensively in Latin America, Europe, and Asia and speaks and writes English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

1 Comment

  1. It’s almost sad to an extent that you have to look for the selfish side of people but you gotta do what you gotta do. People are a want it now kind and If you can show how your product gives them something sooner then the competition they will be all over it. Patience is a virtue they say but its fast disappearing. The sooner you realize that and compared with finding their motives I believe you will be at a good start. Any good sales pitch will be fast and to the point so the consumer doesn’t have to wait and can get their hands on the product asap.

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