Alexisms

Useful Life Lessons from a Recovering

Serial Entrepreneur

By Alex Mandossian
Afterword by Mitchell Levy

An Actionable Business Journal

For further inquiries, please email
[email protected]
Heritage House International, Inc.
c/o Alex Mandossian
530 Alameda del Prado, Suite 399
Novato, CA 94949

Copyright 2015 Alex Mandossian

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise
without written permission from the publisher.
Published by THiNKaha
20660 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 210, Cupertino, CA 95014
http://thinkaha.com
E-mail: [email protected]
First Printing: October 2015
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-61699-165-4 (1-61699-165-8)
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61699-164-7 (1-61699-164-X)
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61699-163-0 (1-61699-163-1)
Place of Publication: Silicon Valley, California, USA
Paperback Library of Congress Number: 2015951352
Trademarks
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be
trademarks or service marks have been appropriately
capitalized. Neither THiNKaha, nor any of its imprints, can
attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this
book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any
trademark or service mark.
Warning and Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and
as accurate as possible. The information provided is on an as
is basis. The author(s), publisher, and their agents assume
no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor do they assume
liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect
to any loss or damages arising from the use of information
contained herein.

Dedication
For the Serial Entrepreneur who wants to live
with more honor by becoming the
person they pretend to be.

What I Do
I wake up, brush my teeth, and meditate in bed for fifteen minutes.
I workout at my gym for an hour, and when I get back home, I shower and then
watch a TED talk while eating breakfast.
I put on some comfortable clothes, slide my indigo Carpe Vitae wristband
over my right wrist, and hop in my car. I drive to Peets Coffee, and during my
fifteen-minute commute, I listen to a self-help CD.
When I arrive at Peets, the barista, John, prepares whats arguably the best
double wet cappuccino in North America. I surround myself with people,
but I dont make any conversation. I dont check email or listen to voicemail
messages while sipping my cappuccino.
For over an hour, I work fanatically, pounding on my MacBook Air keyboard
with the intention to complete one of the three priorities Ive set for the day.
When my iPhone alarm rings, I power down my laptop and drive to my office,
where Ill spend the rest of my day.
Its 9:30 a.m. now. I feel an exhilarating sense of productivity. How much
have I produced? I dont care. Is the work Ive produced any good? I dont
spend energy thinking about it. Whats most important is that Ive moved the
needle and Ive focused on progress, not perfection, and that alone marks the
difference in entrepreneurship.
When I pass through the front door of my office, I smile and secretly celebrate
with a sense of cheerful expectancy for the rest of the day. I think to myself,
Wow, its just 10 a.m., and Ive already slayed the double-headed dragon of
procrastination and perfectionism!
As I sit at my desk ready to dive into my day, Im reminded of my favorite
Alexism: Sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity.

What I Know
Theres a secret that high-performing Entrepreneurs know that low-performing
entrepreneurs dont. Its a secret that can be expressed in two simple sentences.
Here they are, so please read carefully:
Passion doesnt produce commitment.
Its commitment that produces passion.
I read those words years go in a memo written by a mentor of mine, and Im
reminded of their meaning day after day. In nature and in business, first you
need the wood, and then you get the fire. Think of commitment as the wood
and passion as the fire.
In my 25+ years in business, Ive met plenty of passionate business people who
are miserable. I still know many who are passionate, but theyre broke. And
sadly, I even know a few who are passionately suicidal.
But to this day, I have yet to meet a committed entrepreneur who is any of
those things. Commitment sparks passion. Commitment fuels passion. Its
not the other way around. Its true that passion is critical for wild success, but
without commitment, its impotent.
If the passionate Abraham Lincoln lacked the commitment to deal with
the ridicule of millions of Americans, he never would have had the courage
to abolish slavery. If a passionate J.K. Rowling lacked the commitment
of publishing her very first Harry Potter, despite the rejection of dozens of
publishers, her six sequels would have never impacted hundreds of millions of
kids and adults around the world.
Its commitment that produces passion. Passion does not produce commitment.
Remember that as you read these Alexisms, especially when you face adversity
in your next business deal. Commitment is the mortar that cements the bricks
of your passions together. I hope youre committed to keep this handbook
close by as a companion to lean on as you transition from one passion to the
next.

What I Want
The book you hold in your hands is not original. I havent created the life
lessons youre about to read. But I have curated them into what I believe is
a witty, wise, and even wacky compilation of ideals you can lean on. I like to
review this Alexisms handbook before a speech, while writing an article, or
when conducting any of my virtual trainings.
The Alexisms found in this handbook make me sound smarter.
Its true that the occasional inability to get started (procrastination) and the
tendency to never finish (perfectionism) haunts and cripples the productivity
of every entrepreneur I know. Its called getting stuck. Whenever I feel stuck,
I grab this book. Its full of random, yet useful ideas to get my mind moving
again.
My hope is youll utilize the following Alexisms in even more clever ways
to get you unstuck with your business communications, and I hope youll
reach out to share those incidents with me on our private Facebook group:
www.MarketingOnline.com/MVPgroup Join us?
As I often think back to its origins, this handbook of Alexisms is a compendium
of life lessons from 25+ years of experience in the Serial Entrepreneur world.
Some Alexisms came from business breakthroughs, others from business
challenges, and still others were key turning points in my professional and
personal life.
I hope as you read these slice-of-life vignettes is that you read them again
and again. They are ideal to share with your friends and colleagues on Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, or your favorite blogs. My deepest wish in
sharing these Alexisms is that youll find them rich with insight and enough
flair to spark new social conversations and seeds of social influence.
Friend, I do hope our paths cross often!

How to Read a THiNKaha Book

A Note from the Publisher
The THiNKaha series is the CliffsNotes of the 21st century. The value of these
books is that they are contextual in nature. Although the actual words wont
change, their meaning will change every time you read one as your context will
change. Experience your own aha! moments (ahas) with a THiNKaha book;
ahas are looked at as actionable momentsthink of a specific project youre
working on, an event, a sales deal, a personal issue, etc. and see how the ahas
in this book can inspire your own ahas, something that you can specifically act
on. Heres how to read one of these books and have it work for you.
1.

Read a THiNKaha book (these slim and handy books should only take
about 1520 minutes of your time!) and write down one to three actionable
items you thought of while reading it. Each journal-style THiNKaha book
is equipped with space for you to write down your notes and thoughts
underneath each aha.

2.

Mark your calendar to re-read this book again in 30 days.

3.

Repeat step #1 and write down one to three more ahas that grab you this
time. I guarantee that they will be different than the first time. BTW: this
is also a great time to reflect on the actions taken from the last set of ahas
you wrote down.

After reading a THiNKaha book, writing down your ahas, re-reading it, and
writing down more ahas, youll begin to see how these books contextually apply
to you. THiNKaha books advocate for continuous, lifelong learning. They will
help you transform your ahas into actionable items with tangible results until
you no longer have to say aha! to these momentstheyll become part of your
daily practice as you continue to grow and learn.
As Thought Leader Architect & CEO of THiNKaha, I definitely practice what I
preach. I read this book (Alexisms) and Ted Rubin on How to Look People in the
Eye Digitally, and one new book once a month and take away two to three different
action items from each of them every time. Please e-mail me your ahas today!
Mitchell Levy
[email protected]

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

Contents
Section I
Be Your Own Boss

11

Section II
Take the First Step

37

Section III
Attract a Great Team

49

Section IV
Road to Success

61

Section V
Become a High-Achiever

83

Section VI
Points to Ponder

101

Afterword by Mitchell

119

Acknowledgement

121

About the Author

123

Section I

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

11

Section I
Be Your Own Boss

Do you have what it takes to be your own boss?

Alex Mandossian share his views,
pointers, and resources on how to be a
successful entrepreneur.

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

1
You dont have to be a business hero to act
like one. @AlexMandossian

2
Adrenaline is the breakfast of business
champions. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

13

3
High-achieving entrepreneurs know that
done is always better than perfect.
@AlexMandossian

4
What makes a good entrepreneur great is
their uncanny ability to manage uncertainty.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

5
Beware the evil twins of entrepreneurship:
1) Procrastination (not starting) &
2) Perfectionism (not finishing).
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

15

6
Serial Entrepreneurs know that action is
the doing part of thinking.
@AlexMandossian

7
Entrepreneurship is much like skydiving:
You dont need your parachute to skydive,
just to skydive more than once!
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

8
The most terrifying feeling an entrepreneur
can have is thinking about fulfilling their
default future. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

17

9
Theres no such thing as a self-made
entrepreneur. @AlexMandossian

10
The most important mindset a wildly
successful entrepreneur can have is relaxed
intensity. @AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

11
There are two types of problems
entrepreneurs face each day: 1) the ones
they now have & 2) the ones they will have.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

19

12
When entrepreneurs pray, they speak to
their Inner Power. When they meditate, they
listen to their Inner Power.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

13
Serial Entrepreneurs spend their
imagination, not just their money.
@AlexMandossian

14
Be a problem solver, not just a solution
finder. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

21

15
Great entrepreneurs teach their team
members and suppliers HOW to think, not
WHAT to think. @AlexMandossian

16
The 3 responsibilities of business leaders:
1) Define reality, 2) Protect confidences &
3) Communicate compassionately.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

17
What makes a good entrepreneur great is to
think BIG and act small. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

23

18
The secret to wildly successful
entrepreneurship is a blind willingness to
look bad in public more often.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

19
It doesnt pay to be the type of entrepreneur
who makes the same New Years resolutions
more than once. @AlexMandossian

20
Wildly successful business owners focus
more on progress instead of perfection.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

25

21
Social influence is voluntary. Commandand-control managers have been replaced
by engage-and-enroll leaders.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

22
Effective social influencers are like the
wind: you cant see them, but you notice
their presence. @AlexMandossian

23
Humility is the bedrock of serial
entrepreneurship. Aim to become the
greatest business leader the world has
NEVER known. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

27

24
Wildly successful entrepreneurs dont burst
through their comfort zones, they EXPAND
their comfort zones!

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

25
Savvy Social Influencers separate followers
who cant stand them from those who are
still undecided. @AlexMandossian

26
Business leaders who know, but dont do,
still dont know! @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

29

27
Because willpower has a limited battery
life, high achievers take time to recharge
themselves routinely. @AlexMandossian

28
Doubling down is the high-achieving
entrepreneurs marketing mantra.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

29
Truly committed entrepreneurs re-invent
their own economy. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

31

30
Serial Entrepreneurs have the unique ability
to be creative, which is nothing more than
the truth made fascinating.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

31
The two-word definition of the
entrepreneurial mindset is: delayed
gratification. @AlexMandossian

32
Serial Entrepreneurs succeed by working
in the trenches. Its easy to be brave from a
distance. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

33

33
Three things business owners cant take
back: 1) A broken promise, 2) A neglected
opportunity & 3) A day wasted.
@AlexMandossian

Section I: Be Your Own Boss

34
Wildly successful entrepreneurs dont wait
for their ship to come in. They swim out to
it. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

35

35
Dont just look for business heroes--become
one. @AlexMandossian

Section II: Take the First Step

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

37

Section II
Take the First Step

Your business intentions are more important

than your business strategies. First, What? then,
How? This section will help you transform your
idea into a revenue-generating venture.

Section II: Take the First Step

36
Actions are more influential than
conversations, because well-done is better
than well-said.

Alexisms

39

37
No business process can exist until its
given a name. @AlexMandossian

Section II: Take the First Step

38
During the start-up phase of any business,
theres no such thing as a little mistake.
@AlexMandossian

39
In any business start-up, remember that
pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

41

40
Premise must precede purpose in business.
The former asks, What do I believe? The
latter asks, Why do I believe it?
@AlexMandossian

41
The difference between an amateur and
a professional in any business venturemaking is the first dollar. @AlexMandossian

Section II: Take the First Step

42
The first step in growing any business is to
define reality. The second step is to accept
it! @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

43

43
Business growth opportunities can be
divided into two areas: 1) What matters
most & 2) Everything else.
@AlexMandossian

44
The mindset that separates you from others
in business is to treat your relationship
capital with unlimited liability.
@AlexMandossian

Section II: Take the First Step

45
When growing your business, its possible
to get anything you want, but not always
everything you want. @AlexMandossian

46
The only thing worse than going the wrong
direction in business is going the wrong
direction enthusiastically!
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

45

47
When growing a service business, the best
strategy is to sacrifice short-term profits in
exchange for long-term wealth.
@AlexMandossian

Section II: Take the First Step

48
Its better to create a company out of a great
Unique Selling Proposition (USP) than to
create a great USP out of a company.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

47

49
It is better to grow deep roots before
picking ripe fruits. Build your business like
a bamboo plant, not a eucalyptus tree.
@AlexMandossian

Section III: Attract a Great Team

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

49

Section III
Attract a Great Team

Together, Everyone Achieves More. A team

withan outstanding business culture, plus the
right skills, attitude, and commitment to
back you up, is a great factor to a
successful business venture.

Section III: Attract a Great Team

50
Dropping the baton is not as crippling to a
business team as the unwillingness to pass
the baton. @AlexMandossian

51
If youre a true business leader, youve
completed your job when your followers say,
We did it ourselves! @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

51

52
When building your business team,
remember that no one alone is smarter than
everyone together. @AlexMandossian

Section III: Attract a Great Team

53
Do an emotional MRI on every person
you want to hire to join your team.
@AlexMandossian

54
When vetting new team members, hire
them for attitude and train them for
skills. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

53

55
Everything is a mirror in your business.
Remember that whenever you complain
about a disloyal team member.
@AlexMandossian

Section III: Attract a Great Team

56
Business teams who get along typically
outperform teams made up of high
achievers. A great culture trumps great
talent. @AlexMandossian

57
Experienced high-achievers know that
passion doesnt produce commitment;
commitment produces passion.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

55

58
Bridging the gap between your vision
and execution is the root of all business
leadership. @AlexMandossian

59
Hiring a business mentor shaves off years
of trial-and-error, because you cant read a
label from inside the jar. @AlexMandossian

Section III: Attract a Great Team

60
Delegating a Vision is a mistake. Its
like giving up your newborn baby to an
orphanage. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

57

61
In business, when more than one person is
held accountable, in reality, no one is!
@AlexMandossian

62
Business meetings have 3 primary agendas:
1) Where you were, 2) Where you are, and
3) Where youre going. @AlexMandossian

Section III: Attract a Great Team

63
The root issue to any business problem
seems to always stem back to a human
being. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

59

64
When you build an ENGAGED business
culture, its much like going to heaven
without the inconvenience of dying.
@AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

61

Section IV
Road to Success

Delayed gratification is the epitome of success

in business. No business is successful on day
one. The road to success in business is hardly the
easy one. There may be obstacles on the way, but
turning these obstacles into opportunities are the
defining moments youll remember most.

Section IV: Road to Success

65
Sloppy success is better than perfect
mediocrity. @AlexMandossian

66
Theres no scarcity problem in business.
Its a distribution problem of matching the
right message with the right market.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

63

67
Whenever you want to dissolve a roadblock
in business, remember: Seeing is not
believing, believing is seeing.
@AlexMandossian

68
Never underestimate the power of denial
when you ask your business partners to
admit their mistakes. @AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

69
Wild success in business is nothing more
than ordinary tasks done consistently
thatproduce extraordinary results.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

65

70
Living in priorities is knowing the
difference between whats important and
whats urgent, and then doing whats
important! @AlexMandossian

71
The biggest reason for failure in business is
not ignoring your daily distractions.
@AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

72
The single most important thing to do each
business day is the single most important
thing. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

67

73
Spectacular achievement is always
preceded by unspectacular planning for
wildly successful Serial Entrepreneurs.
@AlexMandossian

74
High achievement in business means to
conduct business with high intention and
low attachment. @AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

75
Business systems can grow your profits;
business sequencing can accelerate your
wealth. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

69

76
Never confuse activity with
accomplishment. Which pilot do you trust
more: one who loves flying, or one who
loves landing? @AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

77
There are 2 types of career regret: 1) Risks
you took that didnt work, and 2) Risks you
didnt take that could have.
@AlexMandossian

78
Saying later or never to new business
projects is far less decisive than saying, Not
now! @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

71

79
The risk of the wrong decision trumps
the terror of indecision in any business
predicament. @AlexMandossian

80
High-achievers know that risk-taking is
natural. No one refuses to eat when hungry
just because of the risk of choking.
@AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

81
Unlearning a bad business habit is more
difficult than learning a good business
habit. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

73

82
The greatest way to live with honor when
growing your business is to become the
person you pretend to be.
@AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

83
Turning business obstacles into
opportunities are the defining moments
youll remember most. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

75

84
Quantification is key to business success
because you cant improve what you dont
measure. @AlexMandossian

85
Successful entrepreneurship is binary:
youre either a VICTIM or a VOLUNTEER
of your success. @AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

86
Your biggest business headaches of today
were once your brightest ideas of yesterday.
Own them, and move onward and upward!
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

77

87
Gambling with your time to grow your
business is silly, because unlike money,
youre placing a bet you cant cover.
@AlexMandossian

88
Your unconditional guarantee attached to
your offerings is an opportunity to resolve
unspoken predicaments in your industry.
@AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

89
Clarity is the sweet-spot between
expectation and direction in understanding
the purpose of your business.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

79

90
The quality of a good business answer
is determined by the clarity of a great
business question. @AlexMandossian

Section IV: Road to Success

91
If you want to be hyper-productive in
your business, make No your default
answer to bright, shiny opportunities.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

81

92
A business owner without a vision is like
a captain attempting to navigate with a
rudderless ship. @AlexMandossian

93
The key to managing uncertainty when
growing your business is to never take
yourself or your business too seriously.
@AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

83

Section V
Become a High-Achiever

Being successful is the easy part, but staying

successful is a different story. Improving your
business process with lesser cost while providing
the same output is the challenge.

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

94
Your best client today was once a stranger,
so if you want life-long clients, dont treat
them like strangers. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

85

95
Something terrible happens when you dont
engage prospects to become long-term
buyers: NOTHING! @AlexMandossian

96
Caring is the ultimate competitive
advantage in starting and maintaining any
business today. @AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

97
Relationship capital is your most precious
asset. Were no longer in the Information
Age, but the Recommendation Age!
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

87

98
It pays to polarize prospects. Theyll
either turn up the volume or change the
channel with your marketing messages.
@AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

99
Public opinion always lags behind private
reality. @AlexMandossian

100
Focus on building momentum, not only
growth. Its better to aim for first-downs, not
just touch-downs. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

89

101
Creating a sustainable cash-flow in business
is to first spend your imagination, not just
your money. @AlexMandossian

102
Every business is a marketing business.
@AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

103
Sincerity in business means you eat your
own cooking and drink your own Kool-Aid.
Remember that behavior never lies.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

91

104
No major business predicament was ever
resolved by unanimous consent.
@AlexMandossian

105
Being trustworthy is neither good nor bad.
It simply means youre acknowledged as
being consistent and predictable.
@AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

106
The most critically important question any
business owner can ask: What marketing
idea are we testing today?
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

93

107
Your prospects secretly ask three questions
before buying: Why this? Why you? Why
now? @AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

108
A beginners mind in business means
youacknowledge the fact that youre
neverthe smartest person in the room.
@AlexMandossian

109
To convince a new client to give you a BIG
order, look them in the eye and say, Im
your 911. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

95

110
Dont just launch a new product or service,
create a marketing movement!
@AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

111
True growth demands to temporarily
sacrifice your security. @AlexMandossian

112
All clients are created equal, but not all
clients are treated equal. You must know
which clients butter your daily bread.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

97

113
Indifference to a clients needs is the
greatest tragedy when growing any
business. @AlexMandossian

Section V: Become a High-Achiever

114
If you want to keep your clients for life,
givethem value worthy of their devotion.
@AlexMandossian

115
Fuzzy marketing targets never get hit.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

99

116
The cost of doing the same thing without
getting different results is higher than the
risk of making change. @AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

101

Section VI
Points to Ponder

Everyone needs an inspiration, and this list of

phrases will supply you with something to reflect
on to be a successful entrepreneur.

Section VI: Points to Ponder

117
A definitive No to a business proposal is
better than a Maybe without execution.
@happyabout @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

103

118
The shortest distance between two points
is not a straight line, its the path of least
resistance. @AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

119
Stealing winning ideas from one source
is called plagiarism, but borrowing from
many sources is called research.
@AlexMandossian

120
Action is the antidote to ignorance. Not
knowing what you dont know is not as
tragic as not doing what you do know.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

105

121
Your daily DONT DO list is more
important than your TO DO list.
@AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

122
Seek wisdom, not just knowledge.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit;
wisdom is not putting tomatoes in fruit
salad! @AlexMandossian

123
Entrepreneurial bravery is physical.
Courage is mental. Boldness is emotional.
And humility is spiritual. Go 4 for 4!
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

107

124
Your professional life is always a
projection of your personal life. How you
do anything is how to you do everything.
@AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

125
Happiness in your personal and
professional life is getting what you
wantAND wanting what you get.
@AlexMandossian

126
Having hope in business is not about
KNOWING how to get from Point A to
Point B; its simply knowing there IS a Point
B. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

109

127
You cant be 100% committed to great new
ideas sometimes. @AlexMandossian

128
What your outer voice resists, your inner
voice persists. @AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

129
Discipline isnt meant to be hard. Its the
label we attach to the annoying feeling
when learning a new success habit.
@AlexMandossian

130
Multitaskers are suckers for task irrelevance,
because they are mediocre at everything
and masters of nothing. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

111

131
Business owners can learn much from
studying turtles - they make progress only
when they stick their neck out.
@AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

132
The truly genuine Social Influencer is not
a sage from stage; they are a guide from
the side. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

113

133
Beware of quitting too soon. Dr. Seuss
was rejected by 23 publishers, but the 24th
publisher sold over six million books.
@AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

134
Nothing is as persuasive as the truth in
business and in life. @AlexMandossian

135
Remember: the ripest fruits are typically
thehardest to reach high on the tree.
@AlexMandossian

Alexisms

115

136
Dont be concerned with not hitting goals
you set too high. Be more concerned with
hitting goals you set too low.
@AlexMandossian

Section VI: Points to Ponder

137
A very wise entrepreneurial mentor once
said, The light at the end of the tunnel is
not a light, its a mirror. @AlexMandossian

138
Great business minds are like parachutes:
they must be open in order to work
properly. @AlexMandossian

Alexisms

117

139
The velocity of decision-making causes
more positive change than the quality of
decision-making. @AlexMandossian

140
Remember, youre never as good as you
think you are - youre better!
@AlexMandossian

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

Alexisms

119

Afterword by Mitchell Levy

Every now and then you meet someone who makes you say, WOW!
They do something special you did not expect. They approach a situation youve
approached hundreds of times before in a way that no one else has. They say
something that completely changes the way you think about a topic.
Alex is one of those people. Alex did it with me and his approach in creating this
book. Alex is one of those special people who makes me say, WOW!
Its my hope you now believe as I do, that the book youve just read is an
experience and not just a good read. If youre anything like I am, youll
re-experience these Alexisms and share them online (and offline) with your
friends, colleagues, and loved ones.
Ive been following Alex since 2006, and it was great to get introduced three or
four months ago. Ive enjoyed all of my interactions with him, even when he said
no. Take a look at AhaMessage #117.
I asked Alex if he would like to be an affiliate with one of the products I was
working with, and he immediately said, No. I immediately replied with
AhaMessage #117, and he said, Thats an Alexism we have to use.
Why was it cool that I felt good about getting rejected?
Its simply because Alex didnt worry about saying, No. (He knew it would lead
to a bigger YES!) He did care enough about me to explain why he was rejecting
the opportunity, which helped me understand his rationale. Although it wasnt a
YES! at that moment, getting a quick No that produced another Alexism was
remarkable.
You now know the story behind one AhaMessage. Now imagine a book with 140+
AhaMessages, the life lessons of a successful entrepreneur: Alexisms.

Useful Life Lessons from a Recovering Serial Entrepreneur

Imagine reading two to three Alexisms at a time and having your own
AhaMoment that completely changes what you are going to do today, this week,
or this year. Imagine incorporating a couple of relevant Alexisms into your
lexicon, which helps you work with and manage others.
Picture yourself learning from someone who's not only been there and done that,
but creatively documented his wisdom so you can internalize it and make it your
own. Reread again and tell me your favorite Alexism. I'm curious.
Mitchell Levy
Chief Aha Instigator & CEO, THiNKaha
[email protected]

Alexisms

121

Acknowledgement
Its remarkable that this is my first book.
After over twenty-five years of teaching and training other serial entrepreneurs
on how to get more exposure and visibility and accelerate the growth of their
businesses, this is my first book. After being hired to personally consult more
than ninety authors to make their books international best-sellers, this is
my first book! Im finally eating my own cooking, as my good friend and
colleague, Keith Cunningham, says.
As I sat down to write this Acknowledgments section, I knew then as I still
know now, that Im leaving hundreds of people out who deserve recognition
for my progress and success. Its impossible to thank everyone who impacted
the development of this book. So if you dont see your name listed below,
I apologize to you in advance and I hope you reach out so I can thank you
personally.
As I said in the opening page, this book is dedicated to the Serial Entrepreneur
who wants to live with more honor by becoming the person they pretend to be.
I do owe the great Socrates a quick Thank You, because that dedication was
me repurposing a favorite quote of his.
To my mother, Carol, and my father, George . . . thank you for making a decision
about forty weeks before March 9, 1964 for putting me in play for the game
of life. I played to win and I won the ovarian lottery! To my sister, Taleen, who
with her husband, Arthur, made a decision to bring my niece, Grace, and
nephew, Alex (named after me!), into the world.
Ive heard it said that a child is the Universes opinion that life should go
onward and upward, so I would be remiss if I didnt appreciate my former wife,
Aimee, with whom I share our two children, Gabriel and Breanna. I can say
with a clear conscience that Ive learned more from my nuclear family than the
rest of my teachers and students combined!

Useful Life Lessons from a Recovering Serial Entrepreneur

To my partner, Sandra Bravo, who is like the rudder of my ship that sets
sail each day to explore new territories of understanding, personally and
professionally. Thank you again, Sandra, I love you.
To my team members, whom I can never appreciate enough: Sue Sierra, Diana
Blanco, Jennifer Glick, Riccardo Romano, Lloyd Minthorne, Eric Lingenfelter,
Doug Brown, Melanie McMurrain, Gary Henderson, and so many others who
could fill dozens of more pages!
To past team members and countless volunteers who assisted me with virtual
and physical events. To my strategic alliance partners from whom I learn daily:
Eben Pagan, Justin Livingston, Ryan Deiss, Berny Dohrmann, Lisa Sasevich,
Vishen Lakhiani, Bill Baren, Jack Canfield, Patty Aubery, MilanaLeshinsky,
Joe Polish, Blue Melnick, Bari Baumgardner, Paul Colligan, Mike Filsaime,
Jeff Walker, Brendon Burchard, Ted Prodromou, Ian Marsh, Christian
Mickelsen, David Perdew, Joe Polish, Mike Koenigs, Bill and Steve Harrison,
Scott Martineau, Armand Morin, Steven Olsher, and the list could go on and
on for another hundred pages!
To my three most important mentors: T. Harv Eker, Roy H. Williams, and Ivan
Misner. To Mitchell Levy, who wrote the Afterword of this book and distracted
me long enough to compile and curate the Alexisms youve just read. I am in
Mitchells debt for openly and decisively bringing me into the Aha family of
published authors.
And finally, I write these words to appreciate you, the reader. Without you,
the contents of this book would be far less relevant to the world, because all
140+ Alexisms would still be in my head. I hope our paths cross often and I
hope you keep up with the social conversation on our Facebook Community
at www.MarketingOnline.com/MVPgroup.

About the Author

Since 1993, Alex Mandossian has generated over $400 million in sales and
profits for his students, clients, and partners on five continents. He is the Founder
of MarketingOnline.com, and his enrollment strategies helped transform his
annual income in 2001 into a monthly income by 2003, and eventually into
an hourly income by 2006. By 2007, his proven online marketing strategies
generated $1.2 million in less than twenty-nine minutes during one magical
product launch.
Alex is acknowledged by his colleagues as the "Warren Buffet of the Internet"
because of his unique ability to make money for his students and joint venture
partners. He has shared the stage with diverse leaders such as Sir Richard
Branson, Harvey Mackay, Donald Trump, Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, Suze
Orman, Mikhail Gorbachev, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As a Master "Virtual Presenter" with over 22,000 hours of online training time,
Alexs lifetime goal (with his colleague, Jack Canfield) is to influence over one
million other trainers by his 77th birthday.
To contact Alex Mandossian, please email [email protected],
or mail to
Heritage House International, Inc.
530 Alameda del Prado, Suite 399
Novato, CA 94949

Take the 4-minute Serial Entrepreneur Assessment at

MarketingOnline.com

What Are Your Ahas?

Thanks for reading Alexisms!
Got any Ahas that would fit with this book?
Wed love for you to share them!
Tweet us @happyabout and/or @AlexMandossian,
and tag your Ahas with #AhaMe.

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