INTRODUCTION
I chose the title Big Things Have Small Beginnings for this book because I know that I’m living proof of that very truth.

But I’ve found that I was never alone in that. In fact, just about every successful person I’ve met—and I’ve been privileged to have met quite a few—and every successful leader I’ve studied, has in some way or another borne out the same truth. That is, successful people seem to spend a lot more time and energy on small things that unsuccessful people so often seem to neglect.

Did you ever hear the story about the blacksmith who brought down a kingdom? Seems he was being a little careless one day, and so he missed one of the nails in a single horseshoe. Just a little thing, right?

Well, as the story goes, it seems that horseshoe soon worked itself loose on a single hard ride, and the poor horse stumbled and fell. He threw his rider, who was injured badly enough that he wasn’t able to complete his journey. Unfortunately, that meant that the message the rider was carrying never got through to the general for whom it was intended. Had the general received the message in time, he would have waited just that one more day to attack, that is, until the large band of reinforcements could arrive. He didn’t know. So he did attack, as well as he was able. He felt he had no choice And, sad to say, he was resoundingly defeated. But worse, he was the last and best defense of the king. And so the king, and of course the kingdom, was lost.

Man, if only that blacksmith had paid a little more attention
to that seemingly minor detail.

And that’s pretty much what this book is about.

I’m here to tell you that, when you take care of the little
stuff, the big stuff has a real nice way of taking care of itself. And
what I hope to accomplish in these few pages is to help you take
better care of all that little stuff.

I’ve enjoyed a wonderful measure of success, both in my
business and in my life, and I sincerely want the same for you. But
it certainly wasn’t always an easy road to travel. My hope is that, if
you too are starting out on that road, or maybe are already well
along the way and perhaps have hit a couple of ruts, then what I’m
about to tell you might be of assistance to you on your own
journey—in your business—and in your life.

Life is so doggone short. And it’s so doggone precious
when we’re able to live it at a high level, a life of success, a life
that’s full of the deep joy that comes with working toward and
accomplishing very worthwhile goals that make our lives, and the lives of those all around us, just a little bit better for our being here. It doesn’t get any better than that. As far as I can see, if you learn to play in the great game of business, you will also be learning how to play in the great game of life.

I can’t thank you enough for picking up this book. You’re
the kind of person who makes this country, and this world, a much
better place for the ambition you have already shown. I’m pullin’
for you. I really am. How I wish we had many more like you.

Soooo, how about we get started?