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Writer's pictureTom Bronson

Advice from our Founding Fathers

10 Things you can do RIGHT NOW to Improve Business Value



I hope you enjoyed the 245th Fourth of July celebration this week. The story of how the United States of America went from being a group of English colonies to an independent nation is filled with hardship, perseverance, freedom, and triumph - very similar to what it takes to own a business. From nothing came something.


As I reflect this week on this great country, I want to share 10 quotes from our founding fathers that apply to maximizing business value. I was planning to comment on each, but I think they stand alone!


"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done." - Thomas Jefferson

"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin

"To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions." - Benjamin Franklin

"Action will delineate and define you." - Thomas Jefferson

"Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." - Benjamin Franklin

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." - Thomas Jefferson

"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." - Benjamin Franklin

"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." - Benjamin Franklin

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." - Benjamin Franklin


"The people are the only legitimate fountain of power." - James Madison

If you missed our podcast this week, it’s worth listening to, especially if you have never read the Declaration of Independence. Here are 10 fun and interesting facts that inspired how we celebrate the 4th today.

  1. July 2nd is when the governing body of 13 colonies voted for independence from Britain. The document wasn't finalized until July 4th - that's the date on the document as the official date.

  2. President Adams refused to attend July 4th celebrations as a matter of principle because he thought the date was July 2nd. He died 50 years later on July 4th.

  3. The clause "Pursuit of happiness" was originally "pursuit of property," but Ben Franklin convinced Thomas Jefferson that "property" was too "narrow" a notion.

  4. Even though Thomas Jefferson is known as the author of the Declaration - It was written by a five-man committee - three of whom you already know Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and two other founding fathers you may not know: Roger Sherman (who was the only person to have signed all four great state papers of the United States: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution) and Robert Livingston (who administered the oath of office to George Washington).

  5. The average age of the signers was 45. Thomas Lynch, Jr and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina were only 26. Ben Franklin was the oldest signer at 70 years old.

  6. After the reading of the Declaration by George Washington on July 9th in New York City in front of city hall - a riot broke out. A statue of King George III was torn down and used to make 42K musket balls for the revolutionary army.

  7. July 4, 1777, was the first official celebration in Philadelphia. At this first celebration, 13 cannons were fired, (one for each of the colonies) bells were rung, and fireworks set off.

  8. 2.5 million people lived in the US on the first 4th of July. 325.7 million live here today.

  9. Americans spend over $1B on fireworks every year.

  10. Americans eat approximately 150 million hot dogs on the 4th of July. That’s enough to stretch from D.C. to Los Angeles more than five times.

Bonus #11. And, this one is a shame in my opinion… China makes the majority of American flags — approximately $3.3 million worth each year.


Which quote from our founding fathers do you need to apply to your business right now? Set a goal to implement it today! What are you going to do today - to Maximize Business Value?


And remember, we’re here to help. If we can help you in any way don’t hesitate to reach out!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Bronson is the founder and President of Mastery Partners, a company that helps business owners maximize business value, design exit strategy, and transition their business on their terms. Mastery utilizes proven techniques and strategies that dramatically improve business value that was developed during Tom’s career 100 business transactions as either a business buyer or seller. As a business owner himself, he has been in your situation a hundred times, and he knows what it takes to craft the right strategy. Bronson is passionate about helping business owners and has the experience to do it. Want to chat more or think Tom can help you? Reach out at tom@masterypartners.com or check out his book, Maximize Business Value, Begin with The Exit in Mind (2020).


Mastery Partners, where our mission is to equip business owners to Maximize Business Value so they can transition their business on their terms. Our mission was born from the lessons we’ve learned from over 100 business transactions, which fuels our desire to share our experiences and wisdom so you can succeed.



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