{"id":45195,"date":"2017-03-31T03:13:07","date_gmt":"2017-03-31T10:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=45195"},"modified":"2017-03-31T03:44:05","modified_gmt":"2017-03-31T10:44:05","slug":"mark-cuban","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/mark-cuban\/","title":{"rendered":"37 Lessons Mark Cuban Can Teach You About Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"mark<\/p>\n

Some practical life and business lessons from Mark Cuban, the serial entrepreneur and owner of the Mavericks:<\/p>\n

1. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re just getting started<\/h2>\n

You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not done yet; you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re young, and fun.<\/p>\n

You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re beginning to get good.<\/p>\n

2. Write blogs<\/h2>\n

Take blog posts and turn into book \/\/ don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t try to write a book.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be subtle<\/h2>\n

Avoid false humility. Say it how it is.<\/p>\n

Revel in your own grandeur and magnanimity.<\/p>\n

4. Get paid to learn<\/h2>\n

Get a job where you get \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpaid to learn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d aka a full-time job. Learn as much as you can out of college, when learning from a company.<\/p>\n

5. RTFM<\/h2>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcRead the fucking manual\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Manuals are boring; but often very practical.<\/p>\n

6. Close the sale<\/h2>\n

Better to have a sure dollar, than uncertain (future) dollars.<\/p>\n

7. Start a business with zero capital<\/h2>\n

The best capital to start your business: not with money, but with your sweat, your hustle.<\/p>\n

You can control the amount of effort you put into business; not the final impact.<\/p>\n

8. Practical tips<\/h2>\n

Have a 100% money back guarantee when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re starting off.<\/p>\n

9. Stay hungry for new ideas<\/h2>\n

Constantly search for new ideas, to improve yourself. Gain a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcknowledge advantage\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to your competitors.<\/p>\n

With the internet, ideas are infinite.<\/p>\n

10. Package products<\/h2>\n

Software used to cost $495.00 (for word processor). Bill Gates \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcdisrupted\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 this by offering all the programs as a suite, for low price of $99. Killed everyone else.<\/p>\n

11. Think big<\/h2>\n

Always run my business like I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m competing against the biggest technology companies in industry. Like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re competing against Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc.<\/p>\n

For example, Apple doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t use other platforms. They build their own platform.<\/p>\n

12. Never stop hustling<\/h2>\n

When you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re starting off, you need to hustle 7x24x365<\/strong>. 7 days a week; 24 hours a day; 365 days a year.<\/p>\n

But when you gain some success, only work 18 hours a day \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rest of time for family.<\/p>\n

13. Play the real game<\/h2>\n

\n Other guys play fantasy sports; I play the real game. – Mark Cuban\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t play video games, or fantasy sports. Play the real game of business, for real dollars.<\/p>\n

14. Fire your brain<\/h2>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI fire the synapses to get an edge.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 – Mark Cuban\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do anything you cannot learn from.<\/p>\n

15. Remove friction, remove drag from life<\/h2>\n

People follow the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpath of the least possible resistance.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

16. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy new<\/h2>\n

Mark Cuban started off buying used; not new. Why can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t I?<\/p>\n

17. Avoid debt<\/h2>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe greatest obstacle to destiny is debt; both financial and personal\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 – Mark Cuban\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Avoid debt at all costs; and also personal debt from accepting \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfavors.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel obligated to others.<\/p>\n

Financial debt: ultimate dream killer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

18. Increase your batting average<\/h2>\n

A baseball player in the MLB hits 30%. Even an extra 10% \u00e2\u20ac\u201d they are all-star.<\/p>\n

Basketball players need to hit 50% of their shots. Extra 10%\u00e2\u20ac\u201d they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re an all-star.<\/p>\n

How can I increase my hitting average? Take extra swings, and practice more. Take more risks.<\/p>\n

19. Live<\/h2>\n

People love LIVE experiences.<\/strong> This is why people still pay for live concerts, events, and sports.<\/p>\n

20. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t drown in opportunity.<\/h2>\n

Innovation: saying NO to 99 really good ideas (Steve Jobs).<\/p>\n

Focus on your core business.<\/p>\n

21. High-margin customers<\/h2>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek lots of low-margin customers; seek few high-margin customers.<\/p>\n

22. What will i remember at age 90?<\/h2>\n

Imagine myself at age 90, on my death bed (like Jeff Bezos) to make decisions in life.<\/p>\n

I will appreciate unique opportunities and experiences in my life. Prefer time with family and loved ones over all the money in the world.<\/p>\n

Also to appreciate dedicating my life to creating and sharing.<\/p>\n

23. Put myself in shoes of my customer<\/h2>\n

Mark Cuban stands in line for tickets to the game, and sits in general public seats. Lives like a normal person; to get in the mind of customer.<\/p>\n

24. Change what annoys me<\/h2>\n

Whatever annoys me\u00e2\u20ac\u201d find a solution. Be the change in which I wish to see in the world.<\/p>\n

If I am hungry for good content, be the creator.<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t whine; improve, and create.<\/p>\n

25. People will pay for less resistance<\/h2>\n

Amazon prime; easier to order stuff.<\/p>\n

Give people the path of least resistance.<\/p>\n

How to remove resistance and friction in life?<\/p>\n

Easier to pay for premium access, to make life easier.<\/p>\n

Path of least-resistance to people who can afford it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Google: least resistance \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we choose the top 1-2 entries.<\/p>\n

26. Not unlimited options<\/h2>\n

Too many options; too much stress. Fewer choices. Less \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcparalysis by analysis.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

27. Sales is lifeblood of company<\/h2>\n

No company survives without selling stuff.<\/p>\n

28. Be the best<\/h2>\n

Seek to become the best in my field; to achieve my personal maximum.<\/p>\n

29. The best way to predict the future is invent it<\/h1>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ask customer for their opinion or ideas; create it for them. Or else, we would all be still with horses.<\/p>\n

Henry Ford: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If you asked me what the customer wanted, they would say a faster horse!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Another quote from Henry Ford: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The customer can buy any color Ford T they want, as long as it is black.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Create your own unique vision, and share it with others.<\/p>\n

30. Compete with yourself<\/h2>\n

Disregard competition; just kick your own ass, to make yourself better.<\/p>\n

31. Only work on what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m obsessed with; what I love<\/h2>\n

The only way to put in real hustle.<\/p>\n

32. Time is more valuable than money<\/h2>\n

What use is a billion dollars, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re 90 years old, unable to enjoy it?<\/p>\n

33. No balls; no babies<\/h2>\n

Take more risks; to gain more rewards.<\/p>\n

34. Work hard; play hard<\/h2>\n

Hustle hard; but know how to enjoy the fruit of your labor.<\/p>\n

35. Pour the water<\/h2>\n

Create your own opportunities. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wait for opportunities to come to you.<\/p>\n

36. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t dream; do<\/h2>\n

There are dreamers and doers. Be a doer. Create your own version of yourself; your own future. Write your own future history.<\/p>\n

37. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get too greedy.<\/h2>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t squeeze every last penny out of a deal. Take a sure profit.<\/p>\n

How to win at the sport of business<\/h2>\n

For more inspiration, pick up a copy of Mark Cuban’s “How to win at the sport of business<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

Learn from the titans ><\/a><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

For inspiration, learn from these contemporary titans:<\/p>\n