Every Company Needs a Good Map

Concepts that are often overlooked in the normal course of the daily operation of a business will be the focus of this blog. We may know them but we often forget about them. In many instances, the founders of a company have no business training at all. These people know how to do the thing or make the thing that the company sells. They do not know how to run a business but figure that will be solved down the road. Often they can get by for a while on the strength of the product but not for long.

By my most strict definition, a Modern Magellan is anyone who owns, runs, or in some fashion controls a part of a business operation. This also includes those who want to. There are 25 million businesses in the US (according to the United States Economic Census 2002, Survey of Business Owners) and possibly as many, or more, worldwide. One of the key similarities in most of them is that the captain of the ship could use some navigation help. You will find that help here on this blog. The ultimate goal is to help you with your business transformation and entrepreneurial success as you sail the seas of commerce.

Unless otherwise noted the posts on this blog will be my thoughts, observations, and ideas. I try to be thought provoking as well as insightful. My views are the result of research, study, and experience. As a scientist, I was trained to observe and to identify causes and effects based on observable results. I particularly look for patterns that indicate activities or relationships.

I want to thank Know More Media for hosting this blog and for helping through the process of joining the Web 2.0. I have known some of the founders for a while and I look forward to watching this company as we grow together. I am also excited to be a part of the wonderful and divers group of blogs found here. Just look at the list on the far right.

It is not my intention to repeat the material in my book. I will entertain questions, debate, or discussion but it is not my intention to have this blog be a repeat of what has already been published. I may use material that is discussed here in future works or float ideas out to get a feel for how well they would be received.

I will try to focus on a small to medium existing, new, or early stage company each week (with permission of course). The intent is not so much to promote them as to examine their efforts and see what can be learned from the successes and mistakes that they make. Due to the sensitive nature of many of these companies, the actual name may not be used. It is often difficult to take Fortune 500 company examples and apply them to 5 person companies and vice versa but we will try when we can.

I am a big believer in Socratic dialog. I think that I know some things and many others know quite a bit more. I will try to keep my post short and I hope that comments will be kept short and on point as well. Comments that are off-topic but interesting will be moved and perhaps made the subject of a post at another time. Comments that are out of place (hate, flame, obscene, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate) will be removed. This is not a forum for manifestos about politics, religion, or nationalities.

I hope you will bring to my immediate attention if there is ever a situation where you feel I have said something incorrect, improper, or offensive. It is my intent, with this blog, to add to the common understanding and to enlighten the minds of those who participate in the discussions here. Well this got long so I will leave it at that and add to it if a need arises.