Keith Cunningham: The Best in the World are Measuring Freaks

A few insights from business and finance author and coach Keith Cunningham who I had an opportunity to learn from recently.

He is known for Keys to the Vault, which focuses on investment strategies based on lessons he's learned along the way from his wins and his failures.

He says, "most business owners try to get rich from profits rather than thinking about how to sustain their business." Sustainability is the result of measuring the what and the how (skills and tools). He notes that the best in the world are "Measuring Freaks." 

What gets measured, gets done. What gets measured is what gets managed. He says, "if you want to improve your business, start measuring it and you will be stunned. Measure it and then report it." He asserts that there is no better way to grow and sustain your business.

Ask yourself these two questions:

1. How effective am I at converting assets into sales?

2. How effective am I at converting sales into expenses?

He also has a very direct but down to earth way of explaining balance sheets, income statements and cash flow.

What I like most about Keith is his authenticity, his bluntness and his humor. A  native Texan himself, he has no problem making fun of Texan so called culture with jokes and digs. And, audiences seem to love them.

A l'il humor and bluntness all rapped into one and he's right - 'if you're not willing to say what needs to be said to fix a problem or an issue in the business that's not working, then go get a job." In other words, you get what you tolerate, which applies to our personal lives as well, doesn't it?

A few other great insights and reminders that you can apply effectively in your business as well as your lives:

• If you put up with mediocrity, you will get mediocre results in your business. (and your life)
• Good is the enemy of great.
• Great is the enemy of mastery.
• Doing the best that you can is the path to good.
• Doing whatever it takes is the path to mastery.

And, I love this one for those not living out their purpose. "Hell on earth would be to meet the man or woman you could have become." Powerful my friends.......powerful.