Quotes from E. Joseph Cossman

Making $30,000 on my first business deal was exciting, but not as exciting as the sudden knowledge that I did not have to work for anyone again.

'Salaryitis' is when you become so accustomed to that salary that you no longer have the gumption to pull out of the rut and strike out on your own. It destroys the nerve of ambitious, imaginative men, and bowing to it has meant sure defeat for more people than any other sickness, mental or physical.

Your goals should be to have the system work for you instead of your working for the system! Be the hammer - not the nail!

The greatest power is often simple patience.

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves.

You can have the best product in the world, you can have the best motivation in the world, you can have best education in the world, you can have all the money in the world - but if you don't have direction, you'll never go anywhere.

Expose yourself to the products and promotions of other manufacturers, and your own field of new ideas will greatly increase.

If you are ready to put a product or service on the market, look at that product or service and see how you can test it inexpensively. Keep in mind, you'll only need one; you don't need 1,000 to get the answer.

If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.

The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep.

Middle age is when your broad mind and narrow waist begin to change places.

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves.

The greatest power is often simple patience.

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.

Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners.

I believe the classified section of a newspaper - especially the 'Business Opportunities' column - can tell you more about your city 'business-wise' than any other publication.

Many past products advertised in old publications can be profitably promoted all over again. Sometimes, just by giving them a new twist or modern application, you'll hit a real winner.

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.

If you try to make money doing something you're not enjoying, it's a hard way to make money.

Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners.

A lot of magic happens when you put out a publicity release. I have launched many products with the money I got back from my publicity release.

When I returned to the United States after three years of World War II service, my total assets consisted of one wife, one small daughter, $276 in the bank, and an idea. The idea was for an export business to supply items badly needed everywhere in Europe.

Do not quit! Hundreds of times I have watched people throw in the towel at the one-yard line while someone else comes along and makes a fortune by just going that extra yard.

If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.