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The Seven Pillars of Business Excellence

Published by Pearson

Beginner content levelBeginner

How to break out of the “employee” mindset and take charge of your career

  • Real-world wisdom from a self-made entrepreneur and Java Champion — not just theory, but hard-earned lessons from decades of business experience.
  • Holistic approach that blends business strategy with personal values — learn to sell, manage cash, reduce risk, and bless your community.
  • Practical, mindset-shifting insights you can apply immediately — designed to help you rethink work, money, purpose, and success.

This class is a practical and inspiring guide for anyone ready to break free from the constraints of conventional thinking and start living with entrepreneurial intent. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, Dr. Heinz Kabutz—Java Champion, educator, and business owner—shares the real lessons that helped him succeed without relying on debt, investors, or flashy startup hype. Whether you're a developer, freelancer, business owner, or simply looking to rethink your relationship with work and money, this course offers a new lens on how to build sustainable freedom.

What sets this course apart is its emphasis on mindset over mechanics. You’ll explore the seven pillars of entrepreneurial living: Sales, Cash, Capital Equipment, Structure, Risk, Blessing, and Welfare. Each module delivers actionable insights and timeless principles, helping you make wiser decisions, reduce stress, and create a business—and life—aligned with your values. It’s not just about making money. It’s about taking control of your destiny with integrity and purpose.

Career Success Series

The Career Success Series from Pearson addresses essential skills for your personal and professional development in the areas of communication, presentation, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and resilience. These skills are critical for any industry, any job title, and any career stage – whether you are just starting out or have been in the workforce for years. Expert trainers deliver practical tools and techniques you can use to enhance your resume, excel in your career, or simply enrich your life skills.

What you’ll learn and how you can apply it

By the end of this class, you’ll be able to:

  • Clearly articulate and sell the value of your product or service
  • Manage your business cash flow to avoid financial pitfalls
  • Reduce risk by choosing the right structure and protecting your assets
  • Align your business with your values to create long-term personal freedom

This live event is for you because...

  • You’re a professional pursuing entrepreneurship.
  • You’re a programmer or technical specialist who is facing redundancy in traditional jobs and looking for entrepreneurial opportunities.
  • You have an employee background and want to transition to working independently. Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned expert, this course will challenge how you think about work, money, and success—equipping you with the entrepreneurial mindset and practical tools to take control of your future.

Prerequisites

  • No specific technical knowledge is required, but attendees will get the most out of this class if they have some professional work experience—especially in a salaried or corporate environment.

Recommended Preparation

Recommended Follow-up

Schedule

The time frames are only estimates and may vary according to how the class is progressing.

Welcome (10 mins)

  • Hard vs Easy Path
  • Entrepreneurial Wisdom Passed Down through Generations
  • The Java Specialists
  • HIC Straws
  • Inspiration for this Course
  • Imposter Syndrome

Pillar #1 - Sales (20 mins)

  • The #1 Secret to Great Sales
  • Pricing
  • Consultants vs Contractors
  • Public Pricing
  • Marketing
  • Giving Away Value for Free
  • The Java Specialists’ Newsletter

Break (5 mins)

Pillar #2 - Capital Equipment (20 mins)

  • The Bank's Job is to Sell You Credit
  • The One Bleyle Suit
  • Be Careful When Saving Dimes
  • $100 Rule
  • Buying on Credit or for Cash?
  • Depreciation
  • Insurance

Pillar #3 - Blessing (20 mins)

  • AVBOB story
  • Integrity – Filotimo
  • Comparisons are Odious
  • Choose your Customer
  • Charitable Donations
  • Pay Quickly
  • Happily Pay Taxes

Q&A and Break (5 mins)

Pillar #4 - Cash (20 mins)

  • Cash in Bank Trumps Profit
  • What Drains Cash?
  • Getting Your Customers to Pay
  • Big Deals Sink You
  • Markup vs Profit
  • Keep a Pulse on the Business

Pillar #5 - Structure (20 mins)

  • Scoobie Doo Partnership
  • Structure to Protect Your Personal Assets
  • The Value of Advisors
  • Regular Bookkeeping and Controls
  • Value Added Tax and Sales Tax
  • Separate Bank Accounts
  • Cooperation and Teamwork

Q&A and Break (5 mins)

Pillar #6 - Risk (20 mins)

  • One Mistake Is All It Takes to Ruin Your Future
  • Self-Employed vs Employee
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Surety or Guaranty
  • Risk Within the Business
  • Risk of Slow Payments
  • Knowing When to Call it a Day
  • Your Employees Are Your Biggest Liability
  • Government Interference
  • Risk of Customer Envy
  • One Big Customer

Pillar #7 - Welfare (20 mins)

  • Look after Yourself
  • Ignore the Haters
  • Day of Rest
  • Importance of Enough Sleep
  • Educating Yourself
  • Improving Your Business Writing
  • Practice Public Speaking
  • Mentors
  • Fitness and Health
  • Income Protection Insurance
  • Enjoy Your Success

Course wrap-up and Q&A (15 mins)

Your Instructor

  • Heinz Kabutz

    Heinz Kabutz is the author of The Java Specialists' Newsletter, where he explores interesting tips and tricks from the Java Programming Language. Please join his newsletter on www.javaspecialists.eu.

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Skill covered

Entrepreneurship