Rules of Business I Live By in 2025
I’ve been at this for 30 years. Learned a lot. Learned most of it the hard way. Here’s the truth: if you give anything away for free, you’ll stay busy but you’ll stay broke. People love free. They’ll line up for it, drain you dry, and never see the value in what you do.
So charge for everything you possibly can. Every time. No exceptions.
And while we’re at it, here are the other lessons I had to bleed for.
If they come to you, you’ve got something of value
When people come knocking, it’s not just because they like you. They want something — they want to make money. So, don’t give it away for free. Charge for everything. Teach people how to treat you from the start. If you give something for free, they’ll keep coming back, expecting more, and you’ll be lucky to get a coffee in return.
Eliminate the middleman
Middlemen are only there to profit off your work. They don’t respect you. They show up with their own agenda, supporting who they want, no matter what you say or do. I’ve always had more success when I go straight to the top. It’s not disrespect; it’s about taking care of you. Skip the middleman, go direct. They’ll try to make you wait, but you can set the tone.
The one with options holds the power
Your business should be where people come to you. If you’re the one chasing others for support, you’re not running a business — you’re working a job. You don’t need to beg. People should be seeking you out. If they’re not, you’re wasting your time. Build something so valuable that they have no choice but to come to you.
Sell at your peak
Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you’ve got something hot, sell it while it’s still burning. You might love it, but the time to cash out is when it’s at its peak. Sell when the demand is high. When you love something, don’t let your emotions make you hold on too long. You can always start something new — don’t wait for it to slow down.
Hang up on “hook me up”
Anyone who asks for the “hook up” is disrespecting your work. Don’t tolerate it. If they ask for a favor, hang up. It’s not just disrespectful — it devalues the effort you’ve put in. Don’t let people tell you your business isn’t worth paying for. Respect the grind.
Take weekends off
Work will always be there, but you won’t. Make sure you take time for yourself, your family, and your friends. Don’t be the person who sacrifices everything for work and wakes up one day realizing you’ve missed your life. The hustle can wait. Take your weekends. Recharge.
Always be looking for your next
Resting on your laurels is how you get blindsided. Always be on the lookout for the next opportunity. Right now, it’s AI. Learn it. In a month, you’ll be more valuable than 90% of the workforce. Opportunities are everywhere, but you have to keep looking, adapting, and evolving. Don’t get comfortable.
Charge high, negotiate down
Corporations waste thousands a day. They don’t care about a few extra dollars — don’t sell yourself short. As a matter of fact being cheap HURTS your reputation more than helps it. Always ask for more than you need. When they negotiate, let them haggle you down. You’ll still come out ahead. Never sell yourself cheap. Big companies have money to burn; you’re not in a position to discount for them.
Pay yourself first
Set aside 20% of your income into a high-interest savings account — not some commercial bank where they pay you nothing. Use it to build a cushion. Every lump sum you earn should feed into this account. Over time, you’ll be amazed at how much it grows. Protect your future, and build wealth quietly.
Final Thoughts
These are the rules I’ve lived by in business, and they’ve served me well. You can’t play the game by their rules. Play by your own. Respect yourself enough to charge for what you do, eliminate the middleman, and keep pushing forward. Always be looking for what’s next, and don’t ever let anyone disrespect your time, talent, or money.
