The Ten Commandments of Street Smart

1. Never underestimate the importance of money. It's how business people keep score!
2. Never overestimate the importance of money, either. Cash is important, but never as important as respect, thanks, integrity, or the thrill of a job well done.
3. You can never have too many friends in business. Given a choice always do business with a friend. It's the best way to leverage your success.
4. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know". People will respect you much more and will always place more weight on what you do say -- Because they know you're right.
5. Speak less. No one ever put their foot in their mouth when they were not speaking. Worse, if you are speaking, you can't be listening, and we always learn much more from listening.
6. Keep your promises, the big ones and the little ones. Both the starting point and the staying point in any business relationship is trust, not suspicion. Someone who does what he says he will do will always succeed over a person who doesn't keep his word.
7. Every transaction has a life of its own. Some need tender loving care, some need to be hurried away.
8. Commit yourself to quality from day one. It's better to do nothing at all than to do something badly.
9. Be nice to people. Nice gets nice, and all other things being equal, courtesy can be very persuasive.
10. Don't hog the credit -- Share it. People will work with you and for you if they are recognized. They will also work against you if they are not.