I was returning from a business trip, and as I entered the reception area and approached my office, I saw a flip chart with several of my favorite sayings on it. Next to the chart was my daughter and a young engineer. I looked at the chart, I looked at them and did this a number of times. They started to get somewhat uncomfortable. I then said, "Oh, there are many more of those sayings." So that was the start of the process that resulted in this book.

Initially, I saw the writing down of these "Marcisms" as a legacy to my kids. They would contain all, or very close to all, the knowledge that I have acquired mostly by making numerous mistakes over the years, borrowing and shamelessly stealing ideas and saying from others, and of course, things that I came up with myself. I have tried to give credit to others, but I am sure I have fallen way short on this matter.

Many of the Marcisms are universal truths that are common knowledge, and I have applied them to my experiences. Others are things I have learned through trial and error. I am sure longtime business owners will listen to this book, and for most of the items, they will say, "Oh, I knew that." However, newbies may find it more helpful and will get a different perspective than what is taught in business school or at least what was taught in business schools. For example, when I was taking a course for my MBA years and years ago, a finance professor said, "Don't hold cash. Invest it, and you will be rewarded." This proved to be a bad advice for me.

When I "invested" my nest egg, it almost put me in bankruptcy. As I looked over the cliff and into the chasm of bankruptcy, I endeavored that if I ever got into a position of having cash again, I would hold onto it-hence, the concept of the "rich uncle."