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Learning to Enjoy the Small Things

The stories of Jay Goltz and the other entrepreneurs who chose to "be great instead of big" hit close to home ["There Is a Choice," February]. With a new venture and three others going, reading about the "new big" was an eye opener for me. I have a family, and I probably don't spend as much time with them as I should. I think my new goal will be to continue to grow, but grow wisely. My father always taught me about enjoying the small things in life. I guess he was right all along.

William Dudley
president
Germophobic.com
Brighton, Michigan

Does big mean better? I've never thought so, and Inc.'s stories this month confirm it. Some companies aren't designed to be big, but that doesn't mean they can't be successful. At my company, we're committed to making sure that we send our employees home in better condition than when they came to work. I want my employees to be involved in the work they do and in taking care of each other on the job, so that when they go home it's in a good frame of mind. Good home lives will produce great employees, which leads to better production and a greater possibility of profit. And then we all win.

Ricki May
Owner
RSM Painting
Franklin, Tennessee

Inc. Goes to Washington

While writer Clay Risen provides a much-needed focus on Washington, D.C., and the unfair advantage given to big corporate interests, he seems to have a bias for Republican officials ["Who Loves You in D.C. (and Who Doesn't)," February]. Perhaps programs proposed by Democrats that don't see the light of day in this Republican-controlled environment weren't considered. It's hard to imagine why Senator John Kerry should be the only congressional Democrat whose efforts are recognized when the list includes someone like Karen Kerrigan, who is in lockstep with ideologue Grover Norquist. The unequal tax cuts and budget cuts are the biggest threat to entrepreneurs and the domestic economy.

Luis P. Reyes
Los Angeles

More Political Punches

Oh, sweet irony! First, I read Rob Larimer's bombast on "starry-eyed liberals" [Mail, February]. Then, in your story about the best friends of small business in Washington, D.C., I read this comment by Lloyd Chapman, head of the nonpartisan American Small Business League: "John Kerry is the biggest friend small businesses have in Congress." And, oh yes, then I read that "the SBA's budget has been cut 36 percent since 2001--more than any other federal agency's." With conservatives like President Bush behind us, who needs liberals?

William L. Speizman
President
P.I. Profit Builders
Los Angeles

I am always amused when a letter or article in your magazine mentions the concept of liberal American politics, particularly when it is a complaint that Inc. is "leaning too left," as Rob Larimer claimed in the February Mail section. As a Canadian reader, examination of American politics leads me to conclude that what is determined to be liberal in the United States would definitely be deemed conservative in Canada. From where I am standing, Inc. provides a balanced American viewpoint on both domestic and global entrepreneurship.

Benjamin Hunting
President
Repent Tokyo Records
Montreal

Where Heroes Are Made

Steve Sabol's NFL Films is a great enterprise [How I Did It, February]. We can't help but feel in the presence of heroes when those films begin to roll, that music starts to flow, and the narrators begin to speak. Thanks for the insights into the company's history and inner workings.

Eric Watkins
San Diego

The New Business Card

After having self-published my own book, The C.A.R.L.A. Concept, I'd like to add a few lessons I learned that may benefit readers ["Written Any Good Books Lately?" February]. First, don't skimp on cover design. While it's important to have great content that's well organized, the cover design truly presells the book. I'd also recommend getting a small run of galley copies printed first. That way you can test the market, gather feedback, and make revisions for your next production run. And as part of your promotion, create a website dedicated to your book, just as filmmakers do when they launch a movie.

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