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Posted by A. B. Dada on January 31st, 2006
My usual Tuesday article covers what teens can do to be their own bosses. Today is no different, but it is targeted more at older business owners and people wanting to get into business. The reason I posted it on Tuesday is so the teens can get into a good habit that will greatly affect them.
I’ve met a bunch of small business owners in recent weeks. I’ve also met some of my readers who want to start a business. I’ve taken a little hiatus from heavy duty work right now (I lost a business due to my not following up on the responsibilities of others), so I have a good amount of time to get out and help others practice what I preach.
The number one impediment I had from both business owners and future business owners is an easy one to fix — halitosis, A.K.A. bad breath.
If you’re young, you can fix this right now. 4 simple words: Floss, Rinse, Brush, Dentist. Seriously. Good mouth health is something that 50% of business owners don’t seem to have, and it seriously hard for me to do business with someone I need to talk to if they stink.
Do you floss twice a day? Seriously? Every day? You should. Start now. Don’t use fancy mint flavored waxed floss. I use the cheapest unflavored unwaxed floss. Why? If there is something stinking up my teeth, I need to know. Coating and covering that terrible taste is bad news. I eat a lot of steak and veggies and bacon — I floss twice a day. It’s gross, I know, but it keeps my breath in order.
Do you rinse after flossing? I love the Tom’s of Maine alcohol-free mouthwash. Alcohol-based mouth washes tend to dry out your mouth, increasing your chance to have bad breath. The Tom’s of Maine stuff is a little pricy but well worth it. It has aloe and some other natural additives so it tastes fine and leaves your mouth clean. Mouthwash is NOT to give your breath a minting scent, it is used to rinse out the junk that comes from flossing. Trust me, its gross.
Brushing is simple — do it. Twice a day. If I have a meeting, I brush after lunch and half hour before my meeting. Brush the heck out of your tongue. Brush your tongue every day until you overcome that gag reflex, and you’ll be amazed at the junk that grows there.
Seriously, friends, I don’t mean to be gross. I am giving you a huge word of advice — 50% of you have bad breath. Your friends, family and loved ones won’t tell you. They’re embarassed. Go floss, go rinse, go brush. Once a year (or twice) go to the dentist.
If you followed my advice on using others to gauge your appearance and manicure, you’ll be able to get good advice on your breath. Don’t be afraid of the answer — you need to create the best impression you can for your future customers (or current ones). Start with your mouth, in the beginning your words have more value than anything else you have.