Posts by Fran Tarkenton
A Culture That Cares
I recently watched a profile on New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. He has a very strong reputation for being a real hard-nosed, tough, disciplined coach. Certainly not a touchy-feely, “players’ coach” kind of guy. In this feature, his wife was telling the story of how he prepared his team before one of the…
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Why I’ve Followed the Same Morning Routine for Decades
I’ve had the same morning routine for decades. Sticking to a routine has always brought me clarity of thought, a positive mindset, and most of all, successful results for the rest of the day. First and Foremost, Take Care of Someone Else Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I feed my two German…
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Scholarship Offer: Tarkenton Certificate in Entrepreneurship
This past weekend, I asked people the following question on social media: “If you could start any business what would it be and why? What’s stopping you?” I got some great answers. I heard from someone who wanted to start a guide service for inner-city kids, people who wanted to start restaurants and bars, graphic…
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This One Tip from Oprah Will Help You Take Control of Your Success
So many times, especially in business, we find things that can drag us down. We knock on doors, we keep knocking on doors, and yet they close, close, close. Am I Good Enough? We want to make more connections. We want to make more sales. We want to have more customers, and we struggle without…
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Even Home Depot Was Once a Startup
One of the things everyone should remember is that every large, successful company was once a small business startup. If you read the stories of corporate founders, or hear them speak, their stories all bear a strong resemblance. I got to spend several hours talking to Bernie Marcus, the founder of Home Depot, and was…
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How to Strike and Sustain a Successful Business Partnership
If you’ve ever sipped an Honest Tea, you’re likely aware of — and likely share — the Maryland company’s core values. Seth Goldman and Barry Nalebuff, the entrepreneurs behind the company, have built a brand around offering a more healthy, organic alternative to the sugared waters that clutter the shelves in most stores. What you…
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Hiring Lessons from the NFL Combine — Look for People Who Can Make Plays
Over the last week all eyes have been on the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Every year, potential draftees are put through their paces, running a series of tests and drills to help teams determine who is the biggest, the strongest, and the fastest, and so will be the best players…
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3 Small Business Myths That Prevent Your Success
For years we’ve been told by “experts” that there are certain all-encompassing principles that will get you through the bad times and make your business a success. Well, just like you and unlike many of these experts, I’ve actually gotten my hands in the soil and started quite a few successful businesses, and I…
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When I Was “Live from New York”
Like many of you, I really enjoyed the 40th Anniversary Special for Saturday Night Live this weekend. If you were paying close attention, you might even have noticed me on screen a couple times during the montage showcasing athletes on SNL! That’s right, back in January 1977 I hosted Saturday Night Live, the very first…
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Helping Others is the Greatest Motivator
I have always believed that the mission of business is to help people. It’s not about you, about what you want. It’s about what you can do for your customers, for your partners, for others around you to bring value to them. A lot of people take a different view, though—they think it’s about making…
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