It's really easy to be rude and irritated when you receive an email and respond with irritation and frustration. 

I have learned that it's significantly more difficult to be rude to people over the phone. Through a phone call you begin to link the issue to the human behind the issue. This is an invaluable realization for business owners trying win over customers.

Phone calls often solve email problems

Take a look outside, isn't it lovely? Scroll through your Facebook feed, isn't everyone just having the best time? Talk to your friends and colleagues and I'll be they're all just killing it and loving life and are #blessed. 

Lies. 

Being an entrepreneur is painful. I embrace the pain and understand that it's part of my process and the choice that I make every day. I live for the pain.

Being An Entrepreneur Is Painful

My first business was brutal. We started a band an played a gig to an audience that included the sound engineer. That's it. 

Do you have it in your to run a business that faces hardships?

Playing To An Audience Of One

I hate hearing from people who give you half truths, who tell you that things are amazing all of the time. I struggle with people who only show me one side of themselves and their lives. I like to surround myself with honest people who succeed and fail in equal measures and aren't scared of saying so.

Speak More Honestly

Lots of people complain that they don't have money, a holiday, a nice car. They complain that they are fat, or tired, or unstylish. These people make choices that illustrate their priorities.

Your Choices Are Your Priorities

Walking my dogs one day I managed to get myself into a bit of an altercation with a runner who then proceeded to threaten to kill me. 

What was he thinking? What happens one day when we meet in a boardroom? 

How do you manage your reputation in business, in life and even when you are out for a run?

Death Threats Aren't Good For Business

The world is built in a certain way. We are told to buy the fancy new things because it will make us feel better. For me it was a car. For your business it may be something more substantial that you are doing because the world says so but may be slowly killing your success. Be honest about what you need vs what you spend your money on.

What you buy may not be what you need

Should we negotiate every price we encounter when buying things? Why is it OK to negotiate for a house but not for your groceries? Let's discuss.

Are all prices negotiable?

Stop Worrying About Your Competitors

Entrepreneurs will face tough times as they build things. Resilience is the one trait that will keep your head on straight when things begin to spin out of control and failure lurks.

The One Trait Entrepreneurs Need

Nicholas Haralambous is the founder of the style company, NicHarry.com.

He is an entrepreneur, speaker and writer who likes to tell the honest, brutal truth at every possible opportunity.

Nic Haralambous