Interviewer:
What strategies for time management do you use?
Bill:
First of all, you need to have your long and short term goals clearly defined. Otherwise you are just fooling yourself with your time management. It’s useful to review those goals periodically because they do change. I do that at least once every year, usually at the end of the year. Once you have your goals clearly defined, you look at the reasons why you want to achieve those goals. Then you put together a plan, work the plan, and incorporate a time table so that you have the ability to measure your progress. You break it down into the daily steps necessary to lead you to achieving that goal. You perform those activities on a consistent basis. It takes a combination of personal discipline and structure. The reason most people fail in business is that they don’t have the discipline, and they haven’t formed the habits that allow them to succeed.
I received a pamphlet when I got into the clothing business which I still keep with me today. It was a shortened version of a book which was written by a really successful insurance salesman named Albert Gray in the 1950s. It’s called The Common Denominator of Success. Everybody is always looking for the magic formula, the silver bullet; the single answer to “What does it take to be successful?” It is so simple, but yet a lot of people won’t buy into it. The secret of success is forming the habits of doing the things that failures don’t want to do.
Interviewer:
For my final question I’d like to ask, what advice would you give to a budding entrepreneur?
Bill:
My advice is for them to find a mentor or coach who can hold them accountable to their goals. New entrepreneurs must set some short-term goals that are realistic and achievable, so that they can gain some level of self-confidence—which is a huge factor in success.
That person needs to be passionate about what they are doing, and be honest with themself. They must not take shortcuts. They need to maintain integrity and be willing to let go of people who try to discourage them or steal their dreams.
I would advise them to read books, especially on the power of thought. The power of a person’s thoughts can’t be overstated. Some key books essential to a personal library include: Think and Grow Rich, As a Man Thinketh, and The Greatest Salesman In The World. These are a few examples of books any successful person already knows about.
I also think that developing affirmations to feed your mind with messages of positive encouragement on a daily basis is essential. Be grateful for what you have and never give up.
Interviewer:
That was a beautiful way to end. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Bill:
A lot of people ask me from time to time why I do what I do. I never had any idea that I would be in the clothing business before I got into this industry. Moreover, I never had any idea that I would have my own business, and have total control of my life. Because of fate or destiny, or perhaps just the natural process of choice, here I am today. I love the feeling that I get when I put a garment on someone for the first time and watch how it makes them feel like a million bucks.
The friendships and relationships that I have are the best part of what I do. I have a network of friends and clients who are there to help me in their area of expertise, if I need them. I work with a lot of attorneys, financial and real estate people, CEOs, health care providers, and architects. It’s a great feeling when they share with me the compliments that they get while wearing my product. I just talked with a client last week who’d had dinner with two of my other clients—these are people who were referrals from another client. They were all at the same table having dinner, and I was the topic of conversation because they were all wearing my suits, and my shirts. What a great referral network……
Interviewer:
Bill, I can’t thank you enough for being part of this book. There is no one else I would rather have build me a custom uniform, which is how I always think of it. In the military you have a uniform. In business you have a uniform. As a CEO you have a uniform, and when you put that on, you feel different. You know you are different because of it. I can’t thank you enough.