005: The 5 Principles To Succeed In Business – Real World Lessons With Donnie P

Hello everyone. Neil Ball here, I appreciate you joining me today on the entrepeneur way. The entrepeneur way is about the entrepreneur’s vision. The mindset, the journey. The comittment, the sacrifice. The failures and the successes. I am so excited to bring to you our special guest today, Donnie P. Before I do, I just want to give you a quote to think about. Peter Drukker said, ‘my greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.’ The Entrepreneur Way asks the questions, so we all get the insight, inspiration and ideas to apply in our businesses. Donnie welcome to the show, are you ready to share your version of the entrepreneur way with us?

Yes I am Neil and it is a pleasure being on your show and talking to your listeners today and other entrepreneurs on how I am doing in business in helping others.

Thank you very much for joining us. Donny P is an entrepreneur, an author of ‘How to catch a mouse with no cheese’ real world lessons and experiences from an enrepreneur. Donny has also had the drive and determination that has enabled him to start a business from the ground up. Without any money. But I am going to let him tell you more about that in a minute. So, Donny can you provide us with some more insight into your business, your book, your personal life to allow the listeners get to know more about what you do and who you are.

Well Neil I, my journey in business started when I was in college. And I was born with an entrepreneurship spirit. Everybody is born with different talents from god. And my talent is starting up businesses. And in college, how I started I never forget this. My third year in college, before I am close to graduating, my dad told me he was not paying my bills any more. And I am like, ‘wow’ I had no money, I mean he was giving me money from his business that he was doing at the time, in the late 90’s. And I was like, ‘wow I can’t believe, it is like ton of bricks just landing on my head.’

Yeh

And I did not know where to get the next dollar from so immediately man, in my apartment, I had no money to pay my rent the next month or nothing. No car, absolutely nothing. So that night man, I just cried, cried, cried, and I fell on my knees. I remember it like it was yesterday. And I fell on my knees and I prayed to god. That I would do anything possible to just get out of this situation and help me along the way and think about the journey. And he helped me get my mind going into the entrepreneurship spirit, that he gave me when I was born. And immediately the next day my mind started clicking. And I started off and my dad six months later down the road he went out of business and I used the office equipment he had. Because I did not have any money, and I just used the necessary tools that I had at my disposal. Mind you back in the late 90’s early 90’s we did not have the internet, we did not have YouTube, we did not have anything other than word of mouth in business.

Here in the states and once my mind started going and I researched a lot of different businesses for me to get into with no money. And it is slim to none. The chances of succeeding in businesses with no money is exactly zero almost. But you have got to have faith in god and that is the only way I tell people. Faith can overcome everything, every obstacle in life because I am a firm believer of that of what I have been through in my experiences.

Absolutely

and what I did was I researched it and then the state had started a programme out here in Louisiana in the States. Had done substance abuse counselling for troubled kids. And these were kids that were having problems in the school systems. Because my parents are educators ok? So we knew everybody in the community. And I started up, got my licence and what I did was my suppliers at the time I just honoured my word back then, I like to work by handshake. I don’t like contracts, my sisters an attorney, I hate contracts, I am old school where I am from. I like to give handshakes. Your word is your bond. And once I started making money, I paid back my suppliers because 9 times out of 10 they started out just like you as an entrepreneur.

Mmm hmmm

And I never forget man they helped me out a whole lot and I started growing clients, started growing contacts. I made a lot of money. I mean a lot of money. At the end in 2000 but I won’t go that long in the conversation, I will tell you a little bit more about what I am doing up to now has been a franchiseur.

ok

and it was very good back then.

mmm hmmm excellent. So how did it develop beyond there to where you are now?

It developed beyond that and to make a long story short, and in 2000 we had a business recession out here. And I started up my own candy company. Entrepreneurs have got to have a mindset of plan A, B, C and sometimes D. Because in that kind of time frame, you have always got to have multiple options open to you. Start up different businesses. After you get one solidified, and you have a good team on your side. Start up different businesses where you have multiple avenues, don’t ever be a one-trick pony. One-trick pony is eventually going to die. A pole cat have one hole to go to my friend and that hole he been through, he is going to get poisoned or either you are going to be out of business. ok?

Thats very true.

So have multiple holes. And what I did was during my candy company time. The state had a recession out here in the states. I could not produce any money and I had contracts with Walmart. Walmart was going to put me nationwide here in the states. and at the time I had no money because the states had stopped the services programme where they had started out. Because of budget cuts. ok? That is a very political animal there, thats another conversation. But from there I went on doing a candy company, and nine times out of ten I had my base and I had to pay my workers. And man it was either all or fall back in 2000. And after that man, my own cousin sued me. Don’t ever go into business with your own family members. Pay them to stay away from you.

Ha ha ha ha.

Because they think they own the place. Trust me man.

I believe you I have done it. Ha ha ha.

So you know what I am talking about Neil. 2000 and I took some off man because I was not a very nice person when I had money. I did not come from money Neil. And once you get money that is a very different ball game. And I had to learn on the job training is the best experience ever. So I learned alot and in 2000 god was working with me. And I was not a fairly nice guy to I started being more humble.

And as with age and as in time, you learn to be more humble and understanding of your surrounding and understanding of the people. So in 2007 I started up my next business, dealing with just elderly, home care right. Inside their home, done medical taking care daily living activity such as bathing, eating, dressing. Their daily 8-5 routine. These are elderly people that was paid by the state, another programme had just started up here in Louisiana. I am in Texas now but back when I used to live in Louisiana. And all seven. Basically I started out with no money again, called my brother while he gave a lot of money to in college I don’t why I done that but it was a good thing, I love him to this day. He said ‘Donnie are you ready to start up again?’ I am like ‘dude I ain’t got no money, I am ready to start up’ but my name was like gold in the community. And I went to older lady and she said ‘Donnie I am going to give you a chance’ and I said ‘well that is all I want is a chance’ and she had dementia.

she dead to this day, god rest her soul. And started up doing that man and to this day in South Louisiana we got close to 400 and something clients man. And I got it to franchising, and I looked at this commercial that another franchiser who I won’t name was doing the exact same thing I am doing but I say, ‘man I can beat them’ but again the entrepreneur is your spirit. Had my bug going man, there is not rest for the weary so man I knew nothing about franchising. I am like ‘dude I am going to do this.’ I am a very competitive person, I used to play sports. And sports give me a competitive drive.

And its a very calculated risk I make. I used to dive on in, but I am more cautious now. And I started doing franchising man. And franchise my company at the time and I sold my first franchise in 2013 and I am off to selling more franchises and I have just been ranked as top 100. As up and coming franchisers, opportunity in the states so I am blessed man, so I am here to spread my knowledge for people like you and your listeners. And what I learned, my experiences in my lifetime, my short lifetime here. And I am here to tell everybody about my work I have done. So far.

Sounds awesome. Superb journey there so,you have also written a book recently as well. Would you like to tell us a little bit about that?

I always knew I wanted to write a book, because I think my experience is very unique.

Yeh.

and most people that I tell who wants to write a book, I am like, ‘well what makes your story different from other people?’ and that is the only way to sell your book or get your point across. But I started off my book with ‘How to catch a mouse with no cheese.’ In my book, I lay out five principles that an entrepreneur must have when they start off with no money. Absolutely nothing. And it can’t be done and I hope nobody tell them that it can’t be done because it could be done because I done it. And I outlined five principles and my first principle I use is Faith. People starting off with no money has to have faith. Now let me tell you, from a money standpoint – money is just a form of exchange to acquired goods, that is all money is. And faith is the only principle that you must have to start off with, when you have no money.

Faith and god is essential in that. Number two is Truth. Be always truthful to your people that you have dealings with in business. Rather yet instill in life. Because as a man, all you have is your word. So always fulfil and be truthful to your suppliers, your customers because they are helping you achieve your goals.
yeh

Be truthful to your workers. And let them know, say ‘look dude, I can’t pay this at a certain time frame but if you work with me, I am going to take care of you.’ They are going to respect you more.

Yeh.

Ok that is no. 2. Truth. No 3. is Self-Awareness – know your limitations. Know yourself. Know what you can and cannot do in business or in life. Always know your limitations. Now in business, you are going to push your limitations. But as you know Neil,business can change daily.
Ok you can make projections, you can make hypotheses or what you want to do, what you want to accomplish. But that change daily, but if you know yourself, you know where you are weak at, where you are strong at, where you need to improve. So that is number three, self-awareness.

No.4 The greatest of them all is discipline. Self-discipline is greater than love to me. Because if you have discipline, about your plan in business, and stick by your business plan, then you will be successful in achieving your goals. So I work by discipline, in my principle virtue. Discipline is no.1 because if you have discipline, love will come next. And all the rest of the ones will come, your virtues. But always stick to your business plans, always stick to the franchise system, if any of your listeners own a franchise, always stick to their system because their system has been proven, tried and tested, and you will be successful in the franchise system.

And no. 5 outline is service. After you acquire your goals in life whatever that might be in business also, always give service to others. Because you have been easily in their same predicament. So always give service to others. And then after those five principles are completed. Then your life has been accomplished. So thats how I look at business and in life and that is what my book outlines, ‘How to catch a mouse with no cheese.’

Sounds very interesting, some great principles there. So can you just tell us a little bit about your personal life as well.

Well my personal life man, is very I would say, dealing with entrepreneurship spirit also. I am very faith-conscience. I am a very giving person as you can tell from my conversation. I have never met you before Neil, but I can tell good people. I love talking to you. I would say I am very open minded. Obviously when it comes to business, I am more lenient now. I never was before because like I say, it was on-the-job-training. What I went through. I never experienced it before. Some things, I look back in the past and if there was anything I would have changed, I would not have changed a thing. Because I learned so much, experience is the best teacher in life.

Mmm

Thank god I came from educators. My Grandmother was a bootlegger out here, when alcohol was illegal. And you know, she done a lot of good things in my life, she, thats the way I was raised up. In the speakeasies back then, thats what they was called the saloons, where you can go. Pubs like you say in England. And I was raised in that type of environment. So I grew up real fast. And it was experience that I will never forget in life, but it made me all a better person in my personal life right now. So thats my personal life

Ok well thanks

and my next book, my autobiography, I plan on going more deeper and hopefully you will have another conversation with me Neil.

I most likely will. Its great chatting with you. So what do you enjoy most about what you do Donnie?

I enjoy most helping other people. Helping elderly clients of mine, and helping other business people. Other entrepreneurs want to get into franchising, want to own their own franchise. Thats what I like doing and helping the elderly. What I learn as the body, because the body system breaks down. It was designed that way. And older people have lots of knowledge when I sit down and talk with them. Various diseases and my heart goes out to them because every person have different experiences, growing up what I have learned. And you always give help to them, so that is what I like doing most in helping other people achieve their goals. That makes me successful, that makes me complete. That makes me get up in the morning thank god to help other people, that are less fortunate than me.

Yeh

In helping them achieve their goals.

What is it that drives you? What makes you get out of bed each morning and do what you do, because you sound like you are a really busy guy and you have got a lot going on at once here. So what is it that makes you do this? The motivation behind it?

What drives me, I have goals in life, that I want to achieve before I check out of here, before it is my time, my mission is complete. I won’t go into my mission, that is going to be in my next book. ‘Mission-in-life’

ok

But what makes me get up in the morning is my attitude to make it and accomplish my mission. Some days is hard. And some days I don’t feel like waking up. And everybody have a cross to bear in life. Other people’s cross is different from your cross. But what makes me want to get up is just to see other people happy. Everybody is not going to be happy in life. But if I give some form of happiness, to make them feel a little bit better, even if I speak to them a little while, or I just say, ‘how is your day going?’ that makes me complete, that makes me happy. That makes me want to get up in the morning. And if I say to my workers, like today I made their dream come true some of them, and I was glad to hear that from them.

Yeh

And that is what makes me happy. Somewhat in this hell hole of which we live in. So that is what makes me happy Neil. Just get up in the morning and helping others my friend.

That is a great philosophy. So when obviously you do all this for other people, how do you relax? What do you do when you are not working and you are not writing books? What makes you totally chill out?

What makes me, entrepreneurship spirit, you never really relax. You may take some time off, your mind is always going Neil, as you know. That entrepreneurship spirit. But what makes me relax man, I read books, I love history. And you have got to know where you came from to understand the position of which you are in right now. So I read books and I don’t play sports no more because my body, you know, I don’t want to have no ligaments. I work out. Keep the body in motion, I am more health conscience now. And that is what makes me chill out and relax because entrepreneurs have got to find time to relax. And starting off, it was hard just for me to relax, among extra curriculum activities I was doing. Was sometimes detrimental to my health, Neil.

Yeh

But right now I just read books, work out, and sometimes I just sit down by myself and just detox. Turn the phone off, turn the tv off. The idiot box is what I call it.

I call it that ha ha ha

and you know I just sit down and have me a glass of wine and just relax. Detox man so, that is my form of relaxation. And taking some time off for myself. Vacation, go on the beach for a little while. Be by myself, that is the only time I relax to be honest.

Ok thanks for sharing that. So do you have any entrepreneurial role models? Is there anybody you look to and think, you know that sort of drives you and motivates you?

The first book I read on an entrepreneurship model, was there is guy called Reginald Lewis. He was the first black billionaire here in the States. And back in the early 80’s – that was the first book I read as a matter of fact, and it gave me a sense of entrepreneurship spirit. Besides that man, that is really the only book I read that interests me dealing with business because I am like Michael Jordan man, like in basketball. It just comes natural to be honest with you Neil, it just a gift from god that I have acquired and I love what I do. That was the first book I ever read about business. My brother have an MBA – he reads lots of business books but it does not motivate me or even interest my concerns. What I want to read. But that was the first book man, that really inspired me to achieve

ok

more. In business. First book.

Sounds interesting, I am not aware of that but I might check that out afterwards, so Donnie what I would like to do now is, I would like to take you back to the time before you were an entrepreneur or before you set up your first business. You touched on it when you introduced yourself before but what sort of difficulties did you have to overcome when you started your business?

The main difficulties were getting the word out in the community, and getting clients and getting customers in my business man. That was the hardest part, so what I had to do, is go out to each client’s house and introduce myself. Because you are dealing with their kids, to get into the programme at the time and that was the hardest thing ever man. I have seen a lot of prime example of myself man. You are dealing with poor people man and I came up with meagre needs. Meagre Means I am sorry. And this one instant, I will never forget, I will share with you and your listeners. Is I went and sat down in this ladies house, with me and my sister and at the time and I gave my brochure out and told them all about my company, and next thing I know now this was not a lifestyle of a rich and famous house. Of course not, they had a lot of insects and the next thing you know, a rat ran across my foot. You know, so you know but I had to stay there and number one I felt for the kids. And they needed our services.

Yeh

And starting up a business as you go through life. You are going to do everything by yourself. You are not a multi-billion dollar corporation starting off. Everybody started somewhere. And I never forget that minute she gave me to try with her kid and the kid came out, to be successful and I will never forget that so I had to go to every client’s house and introduce myself. That was the hardest part ever man but I loved it looking back on it, I loved doing that.

Yeh

and myself because I am a very outgoing type of person.

Yeh

You know so that was the hardest part. Just getting my name out there.

Ok and so did you have any doubts that delayed you starting your business when you first started?

Yeh I had doubts man. Dealing with the state and getting my licence to operate, as a provider to provide these services. I had to make sure my manual and everything they wanted was up in there. I had to make sure, we are dealing with state regulations. Because there are a lot of stipulations and regulations first when I had to start off, in busines, my sister was an attorney so she helped me out on that. So you have got to use the resources you have with no money involved. You have got with no money involved. You have got to use whatever means you have already at your disposal, and work on them.

Ok

Put that all together and I had doubts I was even going to get licences. Licence to operate but dealing with kids you got to be operated by the state. And licence and that was the hardest part ever man, I did not know, that was my doubt.

Yeh you overcame it. So what mistakes did you make that slowed your journey? Was there any mistakes you made just before you set up in business that if you had known better later you could have changed and done it differently do you think?

Looking back on it Neil, the mistakes I made was trying to wear too many hats. I micro-managed people that was hard. I should not have done that, I should have just let them use their talents. I micro-manage too much. And thirdly, I was not polite, I was more of a strict boss, more lenient back wing. I did not put up with nothing. Because when you are young and dumb man, you make stupid mistakes. And I was on-the-job training, I tried my best. I made alot of money. And the fourth thing I could have cut back on was my extra-curricular activities.

Ha

A whole lot Neil if you know what I am talking about. My friend, it was crazy. Looking back on it man, I should have cut back on that a whole lot and when you are young and dumb like I was saying, you make a lot of mistakes. I had no playbook, I had no handbook to go by. I just was going off at talent and just going off what I know man. That is what I was doing.

Sounds like you have been humbled by the journey.

Yes yes. I have been really humbled man and my philosophy is the only way a man changes in life on his course before destruction comes. God’s hand got to come into his life.

Ok.

And I am a firm believer of that, that is the only way in my humble opinion man changes his ways.

Thanks, so what are some of the things that you did before you started your business? That would be helpful to some of the listeners who have not yet taken that first step on The Entrepreneur’s Way?

Well try to get into, I would say and Internship, with the company team and see if you like this type of lifestyle. Its not for everyone Neil, as you know.

Yeh

Entrepreneurship spirit is a very go-getter type of spirit, it is not for everyone. But I would tell them, try and Internship Programme with a company. Or try to get involved with a political system. See because that is a business, that is another form of business. Politics is a business. Look at that and go there, read some books. Do some research. As the invention of the internet, there is so much knowledge out there. There are no excuses any more.

No

Read books and do your research and see if you even want to do this. And also see what you like doing, and entrepreneurs are doing. See what venture you want to get into to help others. And thats the strategies I would think your listeners need to do first. If they want to be an entrepreneur. Because it is not for everyone.

No absolutely. Its hard isn’t it sometimes and

Yeh man its very hard. Because you don’t have a steady income. You have to create it. You have to make it happen. And there is a lot of competition out there, and with my franchiser system. What makes you different? What makes you going to attract customers or clients? What do you bring different in this wheel? Because the wheel is already created and it can be done. And you have got to be optimistic. Optimisitic type of person. To even get up in the morning to say, ‘look I am ready to do this.’ But once this is done. Once the wheel is there for you. Its going to be very easy.

Yeh so Donnie, what I would like to do now is, if we could just move forward into the entrepreneurial journey itself, so once you have started a business, I just would like to ask you a few questions about that. One thing is you have talked about the fact that you have got, that you sell franchises. The people that don’t know. The beauty of a franchise is you get all your systems all set up for you. I assume you do some kind of manual or something, that tells people how to do stuff and how to keep the standards and things in the business and things like that whereas someone who sets up a business that is not a franchise.

You have got to figure all that stuff out yourself and then sometimes people do that when they start and then sometimes people don’t do that ever and they have trouble maintaining a certain level of standard don’t they? so the concept of a franchise is obviously, a good way of getting a system that works from the beginning and can you just talk about that little bit more. Because I think that is something alot of people don’t really realise that is the difference between the two directions you can take of business.

Yes, yes Neil, a franchise system is really good for people that who have money. Wants to start off. Dealing with myself in my franchise system, I wish I could have started one when I had money but I did not. I thought everything I touched turned to gold. But a franchise system, their system is tried and true and delivered and it is guaranteed to make you successful, in your territory because every franchise has a certain territory, to operate. And as you learn the system. Dealing with my system, I put them through a training programme. Three-day training. Another franchise or a system is totally different. Every one is not the same. But basically, all of them work off the same principle. And their system has been tried through and tested and delivered like I said. And making that franchise successful because you are a representative of their brand. Because they are very protective of their brand. Any franchise system is protective. And you represent their brand to your customers and your clients. In that territory.

Yeh

So a franchise system is the way to go for people with money. Now there are a lot of franchises out there. As you know. See whats best, do your research. See what best fits your budget. Number one in your talents. And whatever one fits your budget and talent, thats what you go with. Now make sure that you don’t have too much competition of that franchise brand in your territory or in your community, that you are trying to get. Make sure that system, do your research, make sure their system is very helpful in achieving your goals because eventually you want to add with that brand, you want to add different territories to the system. In expanding your business model. So that is what I would suggest to your listeners,

Yeh ok

Who are thinking about a franchise to do it exactly like that.

Yeh I just thought it was great to have it from somebody who actually organises franchises. Because obviously there are lots of people who buy into franchises, but not many franchisors. Who are out there, who can tell us this sort of stuff. So it is very sort of useful information. So, it is very useful information. So is culture important from the beginning in a business? What is you opinion on that?

Yes culture is very important being an outgoing type of person which I am, I love People. To me that is one principle a person has got to have. Not an introvert, but an extrovert. And getting out and meeting people, because in business, you have to let people know about your business, what your services is. And everybody need the same services or clients that want your type of business. So culture plays a whole lot and getting being successful in your territory. So always, like I tell people, always, see what your clients or customer wants from a business standpoint. Always be open-minded. And different cultures have different things they do and they need in order for you to reach out to them.

Yeh

Ok so always see what kind of culture, everybody is different. See what makes them different, and see how you can help them achieving whatever they want or services that they need, you can help them. That brings business and good name recognition to your brand. Or company, so I would say get out and meet people. That what I say.

Ok. excellent. So knowing what you know now, is there anything if you had known it when you started out would have helped you shortcut the learning curve?

Knowing what I know now? we shortcut it, I would say, knowing how to deal with money. Thats the biggest issue I have. I did not come from money, and when I acquired some form of success which is in money, I did not know how to handle it. And that was my biggest downfall, I would say, looking back on it Neil.

Yeh I think that applies to most businesses doesn’t it. I think cash, being able to handle your money in the business is obviously one of the core things you have got to be able to do. And make sure you don’t spend too much.

Yeh thats yes yes Neil, and I did not know how to handle money and budgets and I am not a very budgeting type of person but I had to learn, I had to be honest. And money was my, didn’t know how to handle money, everybody could handle money. So that was my biggest downfall.

Ok, so how much does gut feeling influence your decisions in your business? My gut feeling plays a whole lot. And I usually take five minutes just to think before I make a decision. I always take 30 seconds before you make a decision. And go with your gut feeling. A gut feeling plays a whole lot in what I do now. If I don’t like it, if my gut tells me say ‘oh this business venture is not right or this decision is not right.’ Or ‘this experience is not right.’ Then I will say, ‘no I think I am not going to do that right now.’ So I would say to your listeners, always go with your gut feeling, or your instinct, or your mind. If something tell you it is not right, please do not go in there thinking it is going to be right. Because nine times out of ten, it will go wrong.

Yeh we’ve all be there. Ha ha ha ha. You ignore your gut feeling and you go and do it and you think, ‘I knew I should not have done that.’

I have made a lot of mistakes man, I have listened to my gut and I am like ‘damn why did I do that man?’ you know?

Yeh absolutely. Donnie, so life is made of constant change whether we all like it or not. So for me the only constant is change. How do you try to keep up with change?

I keep up with change knowing the trends of society. I keep my primary virtues, I am a very moral person. I was brought up in a moral type of environment but I always keep up with change dealing with technology. Because technology has changed so much since I started in business, Its unbelievable. And if you don’t keep up with technology, is going to pass you by in your business would not be successful dealing with social media, the internet, YouTube and everything. And you have got to keep up with technology, I say that is the main portion I would tell people to always keep up with. And keep up with society trends and culture because that is always changing. So as a business standpoint, in order to be successful, you have to change. You always have to change your mindset. Always change your services, or matter-of-fact your goods, talk to your customers. See how your goods match up to other goods or services.

So I would say always keep up with those points, and you should be ok in business.

Yeh ok because if you don’t, obviously you lose track of where you are don’t you? And your competition will overtake you and everything, so it is very important that you do constantly keep a check on where you are and what is going on around you.

Yes it is unbelievable how that can change daily.

Donnie, what is your favourite book on entrepreneurialism, business, personal development? Leadership or motivation? Whichever you like. Can you tell us why you have chosen it?

My favourite book that I read, I would say, was because I read a lot of books, I am trying to pick one. That really stands out. The book I read was by these four entrepreneurs. It was ‘The Titans of Wall Street’ that was the book I read that self-motivated because my goal is to have a publicly traded company on wall street. So that was the book I read on dealing with wall street and its centres because that is my primary goal. Because every entrepreneurship should have goals and an end-goal to their business. And my business was on wall street and see what I can do to achieve my goals on wall street. And getting a publicly traded company and list it on there, so there was this book I read. Dealing with that.

Ok thanks for sharing that. Everyone, when you have a busy life, listening to audio books is a great way to expand your knowledge in the time you may be doing other things such as driving, or when you are at the gym or working out. We have a special offer for you of a free audio book of your choosing. To choose your free audio book, go to www.free audio book offer.com. As long as you have not already signed up, you will qualify and you can get a free book. So that is www.freeaudiobookoffer.com. Right Donnie, what I would like to do now is can we fast forward to the future so that the immediate future now, we are going to zoom right out. So, what one thing would you do with your business, if you knew that you could not fail?

Ok one thing that I would do with my business, I would say, get more clients. Get more clients, get more franchises. In my pipeline system. Which I know I cannot fail at because I know what I am strong at. In doing, so that is one thing I would do. What I know I cannot fail at. Providing services to customers.

Yeh absolutely. So what skill if you were excellent at it, would help you most to double your business?

What skill? I would a skill is meeting people. Everybody don’t like meeting people.

You sound like you are good at meeting people.

Yeh yeh I am really good at it man

So what skill are you not that good at, that if you were good at it would help you to double your business?

I am not good at budgeting. I am not good at that. I had to learn that but if I was a better budgeting person that would give me four stars.

Ok so in five years from now if a well known business publication was publishing a business article on your business after talking to your customers, your suppliers maybe your franchises what would you like it to say about your business?

A business that started with nothing. That is what I would like my article to say in Forbes magazine or Business Weekly. Business that started with nothing, and look what they got now. That is what I would like the article to read.

Where do you think you will be at that point? where would you like to be at that point?

In five years. from our gods .. life nothing happens to me, In five years I would say I would probably be a publicly traded company. Offering stocks to the public. And creating other businesses is what I love doing. And helping people that is my five year plan in getting that accomplished and talking to people like you Neil.

Yeh well its great to share. I think it is good to share people’s philosophies like this. Because you get a good perspective on different things don’t you when you do that?

Of course. Of course and I love doing it.

Yeh well thank you so we are now at the part of the show where I am going to ask you for three golden nuggets. Which is basically three resources which you have. So the first thing that I am going to ask you for is what is your favourite quote and how have you applied it in your life or your business? Do you have one?

Yes I I have a favourite quote, as a matter of fact my favourite quote is in my book. Dealing with faith and dealing with a person that started with no money. And my quote is in my book which I start off in chapter one. Is true faith in your Father in heaven is the only to make your business dreams come true. When you are starting with nothing in a hell hole. So that is my favourite quote I have not done. In my book and in my lifetime, I have a few others that comes secondary, but that is my favourite quote which my life experience have been.

How have you applied that?

I applied that through my daily life, my business starting off, if I did not have faith, you would not be talking to me right now. I would probably be in a bad place. Because to me, that helps me wake up in the morning. Of helping other people. Right now I applied it to my business principles. And I applied now to my workers, I put myself in issues. And I build a good team. Once you have a good team, your business is going to be successful. And I had to learn that Neil. So all that comes from experience. In life. So, thats how I apply that quote.

Ok very good, thanks for that. So do you have any favourite online resources you can share that will useful to our listeners? Is there anything that you use online?

Online is Forbes Magazine. Look at Bloomberg.com. Look at any entrepreneurship websites. That can be very helpful. Look at accounting websites. That can help in business because you have to keep up with your accounting, budgeting. Those type of softwares. Yes. So I would say those are the main websites of a person looking to start up in business. I think they should go because always think further than where you are at today. Always have a plan. Always know how to achieve your goals in business. And it all starts with a plan. And with that plan, all you have to do is execute it, and the internet is excellent resources which we didn’t have back in the 90’s. Is an excellent source right now to start off with. So I would say that is the primary websites I think you listeners should go to.

Ok thanks for sharing those. So what is your best advice to other entrepreneurs? On anything you could think of. What would be the one thing that stands out as the thing that people should know?

The one thing about entrepreneurship people should know is ‘nothing comes easy without a struggle.’ And if anybody tell you it is easy, I think you need to tell them that they are lying to them. Because entrepreneurship, there is nothing easy about it. But you are going to love the experience, you are going to enjoy every bit of it like I do. And know your limitations. Know what you can and cannot do. Always hire people that are smarter than you. Always know what you are dumb at. Not in a bad way but in a good way. And always share your experiences with knowledge that you have gained. Which you have paid a price for. Tell them what they shouldn’t and should do and let them judge with how to proceed with their business. And always give some understanding and foundation to them. And point them in the right direction. And that is what advice I would give them.

Thank you for that. Everyone, if you did not manage to get a note of Donnie’s favourite resource, or his favourite book, you can find the links on Donnie’s shownote page. Just go to the entrepreneurway.com and search for Donnie or Donnie P. in the search box and you should find the links to his shownotes page. Donnie, is there anything else you would like to add about your business or your book?

You can find my book on ArthurDonnie.com so any listeners that want to order it, we are on Amazon.com also. And other numerous websites. My book is on. But I hope your listeners gained alot of knowledge, from this short conversation. And Neil it has been a pleasure talking to you my friend.

Likewise. We have been absolutely blessed by having you on this show. You have given us some great perspectives on the entrepreneur way. And you have provided us with inspiration and you have definately given us a lot to think about Donnie. So thank you very much for being on the show.

Thank you Neil, it is a pleasure talking to you Sir.

Thank you.