Last Update: Thursday August 28, 2008

Every day is a day for insight, creativity, courage and tenacity.

Robert Rubin raised their first round.

After a hostile take over, they bought this bronze, "I'll be back."

Fort Worth: Remember when oil was $9 per barrel? Bob Simpson and Steve Palko do. They founded Cross Timbers Oil & Gas in Fort Worth at the same time others were getting out of the business. These two visionaries with a long range plan teach us all what it means to take calculated risks.

Palko was the VP of Engineering for Southland when there was a hostile take over of the company. As a reminder to everyone in their newly-formed venture, one of the first things he did was to buy the "I'll be back" bronze (above). And, surely, they did come back with a vengeance!

Today, know as XTO Energy, the business has quickly grown out of the ranks of a small business, but we believe the spirit of small business will permeate this business forever. These people dream the impossible dreams then turn them into multi-faceted realities with deep-seated values.

Go to all the key ideas and videos of this episode...
Go to the homepage for this episode...

About membership within the school...

Of course, you can use this school's online resources without charge. Within the school, as a member, you can tell your story, benchmark key ratios within your industry, raise capital, and/or implement an exit strategy. More...

* A segment called "The sliver of genius

"...was part of the earliest broadcasts back in 1994. We slowly began to realize virtually every successful business is built on that special focus. And, yes, all these people are recommended by their community for their integrity and by their industry for their creativity and courage. Our national sponsors from IBM, USPS, Verizon, Microsoft, D&B, and others have paid for everything.

Nobody can pay or has every paid to be on this television show.

And, every day should stimulate our imagination, creativity, and motivations.

Entrepreneurs do not wait for somebody else to do it. They just do it themselves. They take on the big challenges and are not afraid that others will think they are stupid, crazy, or simply a fool. It is so much easier to say, "That's impossible" or "That can't be done."

So what are you waiting for? Do you have that special genius?*

Make this your school for success with integrity... Go to the prior homepage...


	Explore for FREE. It takes 30 seconds to register. Get access to search the entire library.

Search for videos within your Industry.

Find Real Answers to Key Business Questions. No matter what the question, no matter in which subject or industry, there are answers to key questions. Log on, then click on Video (also always just above in the navigation bar). Click on Search by Industry; access over 2000 video clips from 14 years of weekly television episodes that air on PBS stations in the USA and then on the Voice of America around the world.

Create an account then log on. Notice "My Profile" is added to the top navigation bar (the header). Cursor over it. From the drop down menu, please click on "Basic Information." Add your business URL, city, state, etc. Get listed and linked within the Small Business Index of Learning Companies (More).

Watch The Videos. Study the Videos. Just click on an image.

	1. Buy a big company's mistakes 2. Build a brand 3. Be your town's top citizen (All the Key Ideas) For more, go to the homepage of this episode and meet John Hawkins of Cloud 9 Shuttle, San Diego. Key Question: How do I start a business?"
	4. Study Customer Behavior 5. Commit to commit 6. Test and train (all the Key Ideas) For more, visit Anne and Michale in their Dallas showroom. Go to the homepage of this episode. Key Question: What is a path for growth?
	7. Buy an existing business! 8. Offer customers expert advice 9. See the big picture (All the Key Ideas) For more, go to the homepage of this episode and meet the Gregory brothers of DeLand, Florida. Key Question: Can my business be my legacy?
	10. Find money to match your dream 11. Earn your market position by being the best 12. Do it different (all the key ideas) For more, go to the homepage. Visit Andy Wilson in Boston. To raise the money to launch his business, he sold a piece of the action right during the start-up phase. Then he prepared his employees to buy him out later. Key Question: Who is the best buyer?