Companies can add value and simultaneously promote themselves if their product or service truly improves the lives of their customers. I mean really improve lives, not wishful thinking, rationalization. That's the acid test.

Unfortunately, they develop a fixed mindset that they're the most talented, and they think that continued success is a right. Problems arise because pure talent only works as long as the going is easy. Furthermore, they don't take risks because failure would harm their image of being the best, brightest, and most talented. When they do fail, they deny it or attribute it to anything but their shortcomings.

Just do what's right for the customer, and you'll be okay.

Smart, well-meaning people get it wrong when they start believing that the world owes them something and that the rules are different for them.

It doesn't matter whether the Dow is 5000 or 50,000. If you're an entrepreneur, there is no bad time to start a company.

You say: "I'm a blue sky thinker." Investor thinks: "You have no business model, and you don't know how to ship."

Looking back on my own career, I've come to the conclusion that too much money is worse than too little.