When I was young I hated rules and in a funny way I loved rules.  I hated them because they were limiting and I was creative and "innovative" as a child.  Not a characteristic every parent longs for in their offspring.  I eventually realized that I loved rules and structure because they allowed me to understand the boundaries of where I could go and be successful.  Just like in any game I couldn't win unless I knew the rules.  Once I learned the rules I then was free to create my own path.  

Business rules are not the rigid things that tie you up and rob life of excitement and fun.  May it never be...  No, what business rules are or do is define the treacherous path of business so you don't kill yourself and therefore take you completely out of business.  You must pay attention to the rules in business or you will die a slow and sometimes agonizing death. 

Probably the number one thing most companies do not understand is that marketing is not a department or an activity but is what every part of a business is about.  We call it the Marketing Chain and it is what connects every part of the business to a single focus, creating a customer.  Isn't that what we are all in business for?  Don't we all need customers to stay in business?  Peter Drucker, the father of management and most other things to do with business said that a business's main purpose was only two things, innovation and creating customers. 

This blog entry is not encouraging and it is not uplifting so beware.  If on the other hand you want to go forward with your eyes wide open then read on.  Kathryn and I believe that having your own business is a great thing but it is also one of the hardest things we have ever done.  We believe with all our heart that if you are not compelled to pursue a dream to have your own business or to create something significant in the world then work for someone else.  You will save you and your loved ones a lot of heartache and a lot of money.  This is part of the shpeal that we give people thinking they are going to start a business and it starts with the advice, "Weigh the cost."

I like to tell the story about the plumber who has bad pipes at home or the cobbler whose children all need new shoes.  I like to tell these stories because for a very long time my wife, who is my business partner, and I have had bad pipes at home. 

What I mean by this is that for most of our formative years in business we didn't pay much attention to our own marketing and we didn't execute our own business affairs in the same way we advise our clients.  I don't completely understand why 

I've been thinking recently about the main points my clients all need to know.  This last week I had one client contact me and tell me that they are shutting their entrprenurial venture down because it will cost them too much.  They are two Moms that had an idea and didn't realize the cost.  They invented a cool thing for parents and their kids and even spent several thousands of dollars having it developed in China but didn't realize what it would take to go to market.