Years ago, Stefan had the rare opportunity of learning from a remarkable business mentor.
At the time, he was in the Forbes 500. A man with enormous experience… and even sharper judgment.
One day, he shared with Stefan a simple rule.
A rule he said Jewish entrepreneurs secretly use to decide whether a business is worth pursuing or not.
The Rule of 25%.
Here’s how it works.
Imagine you are evaluating a new business opportunity.
The main product sells for $100.
A savvy Jewish entrepreneur will immediately break that $100 into four parts:
At least 25% must be the profit
No more than 25% goes to sales and marketing
No more than 25% goes to the cost of the product itself
No more than 25% goes to staff and administrative costs
Now here’s the key.
If that first 25% is not there…
They walk away.
No debate. No rationalizing. No “maybe we can make it work.”
They simply are not interested.
Now, you might say this is an oversimplification.
And in some ways, it is.
But sometimes business does not need to be more complicated than this.
Because behind this rule lies a deeper insight…
Value yourself first.
Many entrepreneurs bend over backward to make a deal work.
They squeeze margins.
They justify thin profits.
They hope volume will save them.
But the entrepreneurs who follow The Rule of 25% think differently.
They build the profit in from the start.
They insist on it.
They expect it.
And that expectation shapes every decision they make.
In our experience, putting yourself first is one of the most valuable lessons you can learn.
Not just in business…
But in life.
Because the standards you set determine the results you get.
Love and Wisdom,
Monica and Stefan
