Every business is a service business. Does your service put a smile on the customer's face?

I would favor three policies: raising the minimum wage to $12, closing the tax loophole where persons only pay a 15% income tax on long term capital gains (tax it at the full tax rate), and institute a progressive tax moving the highest tax rate from 39.6% to 45%. I would favor implementing these three policies in that order, starting with raising the minimum wage, but not stopping there.

The art of marketing is the art of brand building. If you arenot a brand, you are a commodity. Then price is everything and the low-cost producer is the only winner.

The key to branding, especially for smaller firms, is to focus on a limited number of issue areas and develop superb expertise in those areas.

Good customers are an asset which, when wellmanaged and served, will return a handsome lifetime income stream for the company.

Good companies will meet needs; great companies will create markets.

Watch the product life cycle; but more important, watch the market life cycle.