http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/19/marcus-lemonis-reveals-the-best-advice-he-ever-got.html
For Marcus Lemonis, the star of CNBC’s “The Profit,” a handshake is much more than a polite greeting. “The best advice that I was ever given was about shaking hands and making a deal,” the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur tells CNBC. Marcus learned this advice from his Mom. “She said: ‘When you shake someone’s hand, you have to honor the deal that you made, and you have to do what you say you’re going to do,’” Lemonis recalls. It’s refreshing and a sign of a person’s character when the person honors his word. From Marcus’s point of view agreeing to something with someone has to mean something. The handshake represents it. Marcus points out that people that want to get of a legal document will find a way to get out of it. The handshake is a way of representing the sealing of a deal. “Ultimately, I do paperwork,” he explains. “But if you want to know what the movie’s going to be like, watch the preview. And that’s what the handshake looks like to me.” “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NIV)
Most Americans spend about a third of their day in bed, and yet few have a go-to brand for sheets. Paul Saunders wants to change that. After launching as a one-man operated e-commerce site from Saunders’s garage in Evansville, Indiana in late 2009, eLuxurySupply.com is now the fourth fastest growing company in America. Last year, the company posted more than $30 million in sales–a three-year growth rate of 23,619 percent. What prompted Saunders to start this business was buying a new set of sheets for his wife that were of a poor quality, and knowing he could do better. And with his background as an ex-Marine officer and Naval Academy graduate that meant working harder than anyone else to do it. He was able to quit his job when products began literally filling up his house. And those products quickly expanded beyond just sheets: Unlike upstarts in the mattress industry like Casper and Saatva, which only sell two or three products, eLuxurySupply.com now sells hundreds of items under the bed, bath, home, and garden categories (including mattresses). And despite starting out with a direct-to-consumer model, it now also has a growing wholesale business with a presence in hotel chains like Marriott, as well as government contracts for military barracks. The company separated itself even more by acquiring its mattress pad supplier, Regency Pad. Even though the company has high capital requirements, the company’s been able to post growing sales even without angel or venture funding. From its humble beginnings of a character loan, eLuxurySupply.com has expanded to the UK, Canada, Europe and will soon launch in Japan. Saunders says the company’s definition of success stems from the original 1806 Webster’s dictionary: a generous, prosperous, and kind person. “We take care of each other and try to do right by our customers and our community,” he says. Cox, who joined eLuxurySupply.com earlier this year, says that mentality is felt throughout the company. As a leader, Saunders understands that the nature of his business requires a high paced culture, which makes hiring the right people a necessity and to work hard and smart.
If you have a prayer request, or if you’re in need of a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.
For this week, I’ve included a motivation video called Building Determination from the EndlessMotivation YouTube channel.
“But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, “ GOD is great—everything works together for good for his servant.” I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.”
Psalm 35:27-28 MSG
Pursuit of Excellence 
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