Share some of the great pieces of advice that has stuck with you over the years.

[customsawyer]

Most of us have been influenced by some wise folks. One of the things I learned from a friend years ago was about making money buying and selling stuff. "If you buy it right you can sell it right". There have been others over the years but that one has stuck with me as it applies to anything. Don't matter if it's buying logs and selling the lumber or buying equipment, land and anything else that you might need to resell later. Lets hear some from y'all. 

[thecfarm]

I was cutting wood with my Father on the family land, I built a house here. We were cutting eastern white pine. My Father came from the Old School, logs had to be good logs to sell. We got involved with a Pallet Pine grade. They would cut out the bad spots and dovetail to make door and window frames. This stuff was UGLY and I mean UGLY. We were even selling them crotched wood!!! Knots would be a foot across on some logs we cut. We even hauled out limbs for pulp!!! We chased down every ugly pine tree we had.
As my Father said, you can sell good logs anytime, can't sell the ugly ones anytime.

[newoodguy78]

Had a guy tell me one time "the only thing worse than paying too much is paying too little" he was referencing quality items and not wasting money on garbage. Never forgot that. 

[WV Sawmiller]

   Nothing in life is 50/50. Accept it. No matter whether its marriage, raising kids, a partnership or other business one party is usually going to have to yield a little more than the other.

   If you go through life trying to demand "your fair share" all the time you are going to be a bitter, disappointed soul.

[WDH]

From my Mamma, "Just because someone is an idiot and a fool, you don't have to tell them that."

[Cedarman]

"If a million people do a stupid thing, it is still a stupid thing".
Definitely applies in todays world.

On my brothers mill is the saying.
"Step One.  Engage brain."

[SawyerTed]

A good friend and very wise woman told me "not to borrow trouble" when I was on a negative tirade about something that "might" happen.  That has stuck with me and served me well for many years.

[hacknchop]

I was a know it all 18 yr old that went to work for a retired 70 yr old machinist, one the first things he told me was" you know Terry you will never learn anything with your mouth open" in other words shut up and listen and maybe you will learn something. The time spent with him in that little machine shop gave me the knowledge and skill to go on from there to be a productive and competent worker.

[mike_belben]

"Michael, theres a lot of suction under a dozer" is the one coming to mind right now. 

And that the easiest business years are the ones when you have the day job and the side business simultaneously.  My experience agrees. 

"Life aint fair kid."


"Theyre gonna come for your guns, dont ever let them take your guns" 

i guess i was about 8 back then.  Time has also vindicated that one. 

[Texas Ranger]

"ain't no such thing as a free lunch"

[chet]

"take time to do it right the first time" was one that stuck with me.

[Andries]

"Cut your deals up front."
and
"Only pick up one end of a board." 
In other words . . . 
Look things over, state your terms and stick to'em.
and
Find leverage and fulcrum points whenever you can. 

[snobdds]

Had a guy tell me one time "the only thing worse than paying too much is paying too little" he was referencing quality items and not wasting money on garbage. Never forgot that.

Yep.
My dad has always said....
Buy once, cry once.
It's too expensive to be cheap.
I look at his shop and think, he is a wise man.  A lot of things purchased years ago, and because of quality...will be good past my life time. 

[K-Guy]

From my dad
It's quicker to take the time to do it right the first time instead of doing it twice.

From a sergeant from my army days.
I can watch you do it over and over again till you get it right.

From a civilian boss
It's my way or the highway.
 

[Sedgehammer]

From my dad when it comes to arguing with your spouse

"Son , you can win every battle and still lose the war"

Very wise words

[Bruno of NH]

I had a guy tell me when I was a young carpenter
You have to slow down to go fast.
Meaning less mistakes makes your project go faster.
Fix it now or lose time latter.

[HemlockKing]

I had a guy tell me when I was a young carpenter
You have to slow down to go fast.
Meaning less mistakes makes your project go faster.
Fix it now or lose time latter.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

[mike_belben]

Sometimes the budget or the circumstances dont allow for things to go the way ya want.  Then "do the best ya can" takes over. 

[YellowHammer]

My personal favorite is "Don't be an idiot."  That pretty much covers everything.

[jimbarry]

"Always finish what you start." (my 3rd grade art teacher)

"LIFE
Look to your future.
Invest in yourself.
Focus on your goals.
Enjoy the rewards."

I take full credit for the second one.  ;D

[mike_belben]

Well that does jog my memory .. Its not really an official saying since i made it up to lecture my kids on being a man or woman of your word. 

*Say what ya mean, mean what ya say, do what you say youll do and finish what you started.* 

I generally finish it off with something like i dont care how many teeth or degrees you have, if you do those things youll always be welcome wherever it is you wanna be.   

[Nebraska]

I've posted this before, "work hard, live a clean life, success will follow."  My father.

[metalspinner]

"To be on-time is late. 15 minutes early is on-time. "

[TroyC]

Measure twice, cut once.

Not everything in life is fair.

Sometimes you get what you paid for.

And from Yogi- If you come to a fork in the road, take it!

[SawyerTed]

"Don't cut your own hair!"  Basically saying when necessary get an expert.