Today, I answer a question that was sent to me — ( you can also send me questions by clicking on the AskMe button on the upper right of the blog).

WHO IS YOUR MENTOR AND WHAT DID HE/SHE TEACH YOU ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

My father was my mentor, and although he passed away early , he
instilled in me the values and rewards of being your own captain, and
managing your own destiny.

When I was in high school, he narrated to me a story that almost 30
years later today, is still something I remembered, and practice.

He told me of a story of a person he once knew who became a topnotcher
in the bar exams.  He used to live in the high school dormitory, and
what was remarkable of him was his regularity in his habits.  At the
start of the school year, he would study for 2 hours from 7:30 to 9:30
p.m. and he would go to sleep at 10:00 p.m.  He would rise early in the
morning, and do his exercises.  He studied whether there were exams or
not.

This is in contrast with his other classmates who don’t lift the book
until it was on mid term or final exams.  Then they would cram, and
would boast on their ability to study until the wee hours in the
morning. 

The person would have much better retain what he learned because he
studied to learn, not just the exams, and having pace himself, he was
well to remember the things he learned well even after taking the
test.  He still slept at 10:00 p.m. even during the eve of the finals,
and thus was in better spirit and concentration upon taking the test,
unlike his classmates who probably suffered from lack of sleep, and may
have answered some questions during the test, but most likely forgot
the lesson a few days after.

During college, the regularity of studying whether there were exams or
not, the studying to learn instead of answering test questions,  and
not cramming when tests come served me well, and this habit has been my
regular stead when I go to business. 

Every day in the business, I worked 12 to 14 hours a day.  When there
were important events, or milestones, I still worked that much.  When
there were lulls in the business, I took the time to study and prepare
/strategize for the coming months.  I believe such rhythm enabled me to
have better results year in and year out.

It is always infinitely better to prepare for battle at peace time, rather than at the eve of war.