it.

I remember the time I received a call from a prospect. The message came late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Eve. I decided not to call until the following week. I took down the number and erased the message.

Guess what happened next?

The number disappeared. I must have thrown it away as I cleaned out my car. And there was no way to retrieve it.

Here's the lesson I learned:

Cleaning the car wasn't as important as a new prospect. Yet I was too busy with the minor stuff and lost focus on the major stuff. From that day on, I constantly remind myse

A colleague flew in to town for a visit. Being recovered coffee-holics we backslid and went searching for morning coffee. In days past we would instruct the waitress to leave the pot, bring two bowls of creamers and when she wasn't looking we'd swipe sugar-packs from adjacent tables because our packets always disappeared.

I will never forget the time I drank fourteen cups during a late dinner we had. I was trying to prove I could keep up with my colleague. On the way home, my car had a tough time keeping within the lanes.

This time it's a bit different. We're both more health-conscious. Our coffee-thon days are in the past.

So we drove by Marie Callender's but then he remembered they switched their coffee brand after the new corporate owners took over. It was too strong. There was a Denny's next door but their coffee was a bit too blah.

But that's when we discovered a goldmine...

We cruised into the next driveway and found a New York style deli/bakery/restaurant camouflaged within a mini strip mall. We entered D.Z. Akin's and found a bustling eatery reminiscent of San Francisco's busiest restaurants. The only item missing was the counter where you can sit up close and watch your servers pick up orders from the kitchen through an opening.

Autographed celebrity photos lined the walls, which added personality to the plain decor. But patrons don't return to DZ's for the ambiance. They come back for the gigantic, appetizing food portions served with East Coast flair.

My eyes bulged out of their sockets when I saw some of the thickest deli sandwiches this side of the Mississippi making their way to the tables. The kind where the meat dwarfs the bread and the sandwich covers the entire plate. And if you don't squeeze tight on the bread—you're not going to fit it in your mouth. Certainly not a chain restaurant.

And the coffee was excellent. Light-bodied and smooth. The servers moved briskly and kept our mugs warm. And when you ask for more cream, they don't pretend there's a dairy shortage. You get about a dozen creamers in a bowl.

We struck gold.

As small business owners we often miss the golden nuggets that surround us. They're often within eyesight, but we're too focused on daily tasks to see them. And unfortunately, we pass up the chance to profit.

I remember the time I received a call from a prospect. The message came late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Eve. I decided not to call until the following week. I took down the number and erased the message.

Guess what happened next?

The number disappeared. I must have thrown it away as I cleaned out my car. And there was no way to retrieve it.

Here's the lesson I learned:

Cleaning the car wasn't as important as a new prospect. Yet I was too busy with the minor stuff and lost focus on the major stuff. From that day on, I constantly remind mysel

re health-conscious. Our coffee-thon days are in the past.

So we drove by Marie Callender's but then he remembered they switched their coffee brand after the new corporate owners took over. It was too strong. There was a Denny's next door but their coffee was a bit too blah.

But that's when we discovered a goldmine...

We cruised into the next driveway and found a New York style deli/bakery/restaurant camouflaged within a mini strip mall. We entered D.Z. Akin's and found a bustling eatery reminiscent of San Francisco's busiest restaurants. The only item missing was the counter where you can sit up close and watch your servers pick up orders from the kitchen through an opening.

Autographed celebrity photos lined the walls, which added personality to the plain decor. But patrons don't return to DZ's for the ambiance. They come back for the gigantic, appetizing food portions served with East Coast flair.

My eyes bulged out of their sockets when I saw some of the thickest deli sandwiches this side of the Mississippi making their way to the tables. The kind where the meat dwarfs the bread and the sandwich covers the entire plate. And if you don't squeeze tight on the bread—you're not going to fit it in your mouth. Certainly not a chain restaurant.

And the coffee was excellent. Light-bodied and smooth. The servers moved briskly and kept our mugs warm. And when you ask for more cream, they don't pretend there's a dairy shortage. You get about a dozen creamers in a bowl.

We struck gold.

As small business owners we often miss the golden nuggets that surround us. They're often within eyesight, but we're too focused on daily tasks to see them. And unfortunately, we pass up the chance to profit.

I remember the time I received a call from a prospect. The message came late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Eve. I decided not to call until the following week. I took down the number and erased the message.

Guess what happened next?

The number disappeared. I must have thrown it away as I cleaned out my car. And there was no way to retrieve it.

Here's the lesson I learned:

Cleaning the car wasn't as important as a new prospect. Yet I was too busy with the minor stuff and lost focus on the major stuff. From that day on, I constantly remind myse

was the counter where you can sit up close and watch your servers pick up orders from the kitchen through an opening.

Autographed celebrity photos lined the walls, which added personality to the plain decor. But patrons don't return to DZ's for the ambiance. They come back for the gigantic, appetizing food portions served with East Coast flair.

My eyes bulged out of their sockets when I saw some of the thickest deli sandwiches this side of the Mississippi making their way to the tables. The kind where the meat dwarfs the bread and the sandwich covers the entire plate. And if you don't squeeze tight on the bread—you're not going to fit it in your mouth. Certainly not a chain restaurant.

And the coffee was excellent. Light-bodied and smooth. The servers moved briskly and kept our mugs warm. And when you ask for more cream, they don't pretend there's a dairy shortage. You get about a dozen creamers in a bowl.

We struck gold.

As small business owners we often miss the golden nuggets that surround us. They're often within eyesight, but we're too focused on daily tasks to see them. And unfortunately, we pass up the chance to profit.

I remember the time I received a call from a prospect. The message came late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Eve. I decided not to call until the following week. I took down the number and erased the message.

Guess what happened next?

The number disappeared. I must have thrown it away as I cleaned out my car. And there was no way to retrieve it.

Here's the lesson I learned:

Cleaning the car wasn't as important as a new prospect. Yet I was too busy with the minor stuff and lost focus on the major stuff. From that day on, I constantly remind myse

And if you don't squeeze tight on the bread—you're not going to fit it in your mouth. Certainly not a chain restaurant.

And the coffee was excellent. Light-bodied and smooth. The servers moved briskly and kept our mugs warm. And when you ask for more cream, they don't pretend there's a dairy shortage. You get about a dozen creamers in a bowl.

We struck gold.

As small business owners we often miss the golden nuggets that surround us. They're often within eyesight, but we're too focused on daily tasks to see them. And unfortunately, we pass up the chance to profit.

I remember the time I received a call from a prospect. The message came late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Eve. I decided not to call until the following week. I took down the number and erased the message.

Guess what happened next?

The number disappeared. I must have thrown it away as I cleaned out my car. And there was no way to retrieve it.

Here's the lesson I learned:

Cleaning the car wasn't as important as a new prospect. Yet I was too busy with the minor stuff and lost focus on the major stuff. From that day on, I constantly remind myse

it.

I remember the time I received a call from a prospect. The message came late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Eve. I decided not to call until the following week. I took down the number and erased the message.

Guess what happened next?

The number disappeared. I must have thrown it away as I cleaned out my car. And there was no way to retrieve it.

Here's the lesson I learned:

Cleaning the car wasn't as important as a new prospect. Yet I was too busy with the minor stuff and lost focus on the major stuff. From that day on, I constantly remind myself not to major on minor things.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.