Mail

This month's feedback.

Soaring to Such Great Heights

Congratulations to Burt Rutan for being not only a great entrepreneur but also a valuable asset to aviation and the world [Entrepreneur of the Year, January]. Rutan has always thought outside the box and developed products that were not just leading edge but well beyond that edge. There isn't a child in America who didn't at one time say he or she wanted to be an astronaut. Now because of the efforts of Rutan and others like him, that dream will come true for many.

Dennis Byron, Owner, Naples in Home Tech, Naples, Fla.

If you ask me, Mel Gibson is not an entrepreneur and should not have been an honorable mention for Inc.'s Entrepreneur of the Year. Sure, he had a good idea and generated revenue of $600 million, but Gibson is a Hollywood star with millions of dollars in the bank. He wasn't taking a financial risk to direct that film.

Does he stay up at night wondering if he's going to have enough money to make payroll like most entrepreneurs who don't have an eight-figure bank account to fall back on? Does he sweat the issues of marketing, insurance, and distribution? I highly doubt it. If his movie had failed he, unlike most entrepreneurs, could have just taken a few months off and relaxed in a Hawaiian villa until the next movie role came along.

Jason Phillips
Self-employed
Chicago

Painful Lessons From the Past

It was a with a sense of awe and respect that I read Sarah Bartlett's recent article about the tragedy of her husband's death and the travails of sorting out his business dealings ["What We Didn't Plan For," January]. I applaud the author's candor in sharing so many personal details. She addressed both the human and business elements of the story, a reminder that both are intertwined.

Lloyd Princeton
Owner
Design Management Co.
New York City

My mother died of cancer when I was 14 and reading Sarah Bartlett's account of her husband's battle with the disease brought back memories of seeing my father prepare for my mother's death. The story not only brought tears to my eyes but also was extremely helpful. My sister and I are business partners and have just realized the importance of estate planning and having adequate insurance coverage in the event that one of us were to become disabled or die. Tending to these matters can be a bit overwhelming, but Bartlett's story makes it very clear that we need to get these things done right away.

Therese Gibbons
Owner
Alora Ambiance
Minneapolis

As a business owner with an entrepreneurial spirit, I was touched on a personal level by Sarah Bartlett's story. I decided what to give my wife for Christmas -- a binder with all of the relevant financial documents that Bartlett mentioned in her story. It's not diamonds from Zales, but, in time, maybe it will prove more valuable. Thank you, Ms. Bartlett, for sharing these experiences.

Phil McMullin
President and CEO
Thrift Recycling Management
Lakewood, Wash.

Sarah Bartlett's story is the best illustration I've read of what happens to a small business when a tragedy -- such as the death of the owner -- occurs. I feel for Bartlett, her loss and the impact it has had on her family. It must have been very tough on the business and the associates that worked with her husband. What a great man he was in helping many of them find other jobs and in the architectural designs he left behind as a legacy. I think a lot of business owners will be able to learn from her article. The experience can't have been easy to write about, but I can tell that Bartlett is a survivor and will overcome the financial challenges she is currently facing.

Jim Shenep
Senior vice president
Delta Trust & Bank
Little Rock

Welcome to the World

I would have answered Brian Scudamore's question about "going global" [Ask Inc., January] in a different manner -- using the question as an opportunity to educate Inc.'s readers on the nature of globalization. The question about going global is moot: All businesses are global. The sooner American business adopts a global mindset, the sooner we'll be able to compete -- and, I believe, win -- in the global marketplace.

Josef Blumenfeld
Founder
Tradewind Strategies
Natick, Mass.

Not Without My CrackBerry

Adam Hanft caught my attention when he revealed his BlackBerry obsession ["An Entrepreneur's Resolutions," January]. I too am sick at the thought of going somewhere without my BlackBerry. I don't even like to turn it on silent mode.

I wish I could join Hanft in his resolution to be less dependent on the BlackBerry, but I just can't. So I've decided my resolution is to be patient and not rush an idea before its time.

Penny Haynes
CEO and producer
Encouraging Enterprises
Atlanta

Contact us at mail@inc.com or Inc. Letters Editor, 375 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Please include your name, address, and phone number for verification. Letters may be edited for space and style. Submission constitutes permission to use. For help with subscriptions, call 515-248-7694.