When I first started my career, I made lots of mistakes.

Not just average mistakes, but a lot of really bad, terrible, misguided, arrogant, immature, and inexperienced mistakes. The kind you learn from immediately.

There's a saying that goes, "Experience is the best kind of teacher." I am here to tell you that experience is the worst kind of teacher. Experience as a teacher brings nothing but heartache, frustration, difficulties, shame, and embarrassment. Looking back on my career honestly and truthfully, I wish I would have avoided all of these mistakes, taking instead the wise advice of those around me, implementing the suggestions I was given over the years, and not being as stubborn. But you live and learn. Fortunately, I did figure things out, and I hope you can learn a few important lessons from my ups and downs over the years:

• The steps necessary to fire someone with dignity and integrity
• A complete list of the best questions to ask in any interview
• How to spot the differences between "C" players and franchise players
• How to handle conflict on the team
• An easy, four-step solution for holding your team accountable
• The easiest way to do team member reviews
• How to fire someone without splitting the team
• How to remove volunteers
• Adding a new position: Yay or nay?
• How to hire and interview effectively
• How to take your team to greatness
• How to create a place where on Sunday night your team is excited about Monday

We're not rewarded when we do the right thing at the wrong time. Please avoid the mistakes I made and let me guide you in the right direction, before you possibly experience the same kinds of failures I did.