“We’ve compiled 100 rules of business. Now it’s your turn. Do you have wisdom to share with [Harvard Business School] alums?”

“…if you run across someone who just really wants to stand their ground on ROI, suggest that to improve your estimate you’d like them to provide examples of the top ROI estimates that most closely matched the results (…watch for the response). Why bother creating an ‘estimate’ that isn’t going to be validated and/or has no consequence? How is an unsubstantiated estimation model superior to one in which we try out very simple things and measure the results, and don’t invest more without desired results?”

“At the end of every interview someone inevitably asks ‘Where do you see 37signals in five years? Ten years? 20 years?’ My answer remains the same: ‘Still in business. Beyond that I have no idea.’

Five years ago I had no idea we’d release Basecamp. Four years ago I had no idea we’d release Ta-da List. Three years ago I had no idea we’d release Backpack or Campfire. Two years ago I had no idea we’d release Highrise. Did I ever think we’d write another book? Not until we started it. And what about next year? I’m not entirely sure what we’re going to be working on.”

“In 1970, The average CEO earned 28 times more than the average worker. Despite all the recent noise around reining in runaway CEO pay, the gap has widened drastically.”

“Managing a successful business (nonprofit or for-profit) — or building up the health of an already established business — requires healthy, ongoing leadership and management, planning, product and service development, marketing and financial management. To carry out these practices in a healthy manner, it’s important to first understand the basic ‘territory’ in which these practices are carried out.

These practices are all ’systems’ that occur within the larger system of the organization. This is not academic talk — this is a highly practical point to understand. To truly understand and be effective at these practices, it helps greatly if leaders, managers and employees have some basic understanding of the overall ’system’ of the business, its common traits, dimensions, ‘personalities’ and life cycles. Too often, this basic nature is not understood. Instead, people tend to focus only on the day-to-day events and when problems occur, they don’t see the “larger picture” in order to resolve these problems effectively.”

“I work in the surreal world of Silicon Valley where venture capitalists fund companies based on PowerPoint pitches and executive summaries. My friend Tim Berry rightfully pointed that business plans still serve an important role in ‘the rest of the world.’”

“Biznik is a business-building social network for indie professionals. That means folks who own and operate their own businesses, whether they are the head honcho of one or a team of twenty. Accountants, fashion designers, writers, sex therapists, business coaches, attorneys, marketing gurus, soap makers — and countless others — are all part of the Biznik mix. Biznik offers a new way of networking. We refer to it as ‘radical self promotion’ because it’s not your typical me-first-take-no-prisoners kind of self promotion. For example, we emphasize collaboration over competition.”

“I try to read my favorite business book of all time at least once a month. Luckily it’s only 30 pages. Benjamin Franklin’s The Way to Wealth was first published in 1758 as a preface to Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. It’s a summary of his previously published thoughts on how to succeed in business (and, I’d say, life). It’s chock full of astute observations…

“A common question on the Business of Software forum is ‘How do I get started…’ — fill in the blank. Some people are seeking their first consulting clients, some their first product customers, and some are seeking people interested in their service; others are trying to grow their business. Whatever the situation, we all want to get the word out about our products or services and we’d like it to then spread like crazy. Whatever you think of ‘marketing’ or ’sales’, spreading the word is really all it’s about. For most BOS readers, it’s not about advertising, large marketing campaigns, or a giant sales force. It’s about something else that I think can be summarized in these seven steps.”

“Last night one of the people who’ve been on the ScobleShow (my video show) wrote me and told me he was fired for appearing on my show without PR permission. I won’t tell you who that was since he’s interviewing for a new position now, but it made me realize that when I aim my camera at someone that there are real consequences for doing so. Now, the guy in question should have known that would have pissed someone off. Most big companies, in their employment agreements, have in there that you aren’t allowed to talk with the press unless given permission by the PR departments.”

“I typically use this column to look at future trends, but this month I want to recognize some businesses that are simply doing a great job leveraging corporate weblogs, which are the most mature social media tools. While only a handful of corporations are blogging, the ranks are growing steadily. The leaders below all take different approaches to the craft, but it’s working for their businesses. With one exception, I’ve screened out tech companies, where blogs are now mainstream and different rules apply.”

Solid advice from Marc Andreessen on the hiring process: “I define drive as self-motivation — people who will walk right through brick walls, on their own power, without having to be asked, to achieve whatever goal is in front of them. People with drive push and push and push and push and push until they succeed… Finally, although this goes without saying: value the hell out of the great people you do have on your team. Given all of the above, they are incredibly special people.”

“Take a trip around the world to discover how easy (or difficult) it is to do business in 175 countries. Click on green, yellow or red placemarks to learn more about each country… The World Bank Group’s Doing Business project aims to provide objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 175 countries.” (Thanks Coudal Partners!)

“Trial and error are usually the prime means of solving life’s problems. Yet many people are afraid to undertake the trial because they’re too afraid of experiencing the error. They make the mistake of believing that all error is wrong and harmful, when most of it is both helpful and necessary. Error provides the feedback that points the way to success. Only error pushes people to put together a new and better trial, leading through yet more errors and trials until they can ultimately find a viable and creative solution. To meet with an error is not to fail, but to take one more step on the path to final success. No errors means no successes either.”

“You would be wise to listen to the customers you’re threatening to sue — they can leave you, especially if you give them motivation. Remember, they wouldn’t be motivated unless your products were somehow missing the mark. All of which is to say — no amount of fear can stop the rise of free media, or free software (they are the same, after all). The community is vastly more innovative and powerful than a single company.”