When I returned to the United States after three years of World War II service, my total assets consisted of one wife, one small daughter, $276 in the bank, and an idea. The idea was for an export business to supply items badly needed everywhere in Europe.

E. Joseph Cossman

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.

E. Joseph Cossman

The greatest power is often simple patience.

E. Joseph Cossman

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves.

E. Joseph Cossman

If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.

E. Joseph Cossman

The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

E. Joseph Cossman

Middle age is when your broad mind and narrow waist begin to change places.

E. Joseph Cossman

Many past products advertised in old publications can be profitably promoted all over again. Sometimes, just by giving them a new twist or modern application, you'll hit a real winner.

E. Joseph Cossman

Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners.

E. Joseph Cossman

You can have the best product in the world, you can have the best motivation in the world, you can have best education in the world, you can have all the money in the world - but if you don't have direction, you'll never go anywhere.

E. Joseph Cossman

Square meals often make round people.

E. Joseph Cossman

'Salaryitis' is when you become so accustomed to that salary that you no longer have the gumption to pull out of the rut and strike out on your own. It destroys the nerve of ambitious, imaginative men, and bowing to it has meant sure defeat for more people than any other sickness, mental or physical.

E. Joseph Cossman

If you try to make money doing something you're not enjoying, it's a hard way to make money.

E. Joseph Cossman

Your goals should be to have the system work for you instead of your working for the system! Be the hammer - not the nail!

E. Joseph Cossman

I believe the classified section of a newspaper - especially the 'Business Opportunities' column - can tell you more about your city 'business-wise' than any other publication.

E. Joseph Cossman

Do not quit! Hundreds of times I have watched people throw in the towel at the one-yard line while someone else comes along and makes a fortune by just going that extra yard.

E. Joseph Cossman

A lot of magic happens when you put out a publicity release. I have launched many products with the money I got back from my publicity release.

E. Joseph Cossman

Starting in business is like getting married... there is really no good time and no bad time. The time is now.

E. Joseph Cossman

This country is conducive to making money. Once you learn this lesson and make your first deal, you will really appreciate the tools available to you in the United States, the tools that will help you 'boot-strap' yourself into a large income.

E. Joseph Cossman

Making $30,000 on my first business deal was exciting, but not as exciting as the sudden knowledge that I did not have to work for anyone again.

E. Joseph Cossman

Since it is not granted to us to live long, let us transmit to posterity some memorial that we have at least lived.

E. Joseph Cossman