Surround yourself with people you trust . Invest heavily in top talent in the legal, finance and design areas. Use advisers, mentors and confidants who are fabulously successful and empathic. If you subcontract or hire staff, never rely on lengthy contracts and written agreements. If your gut feeling isn't right, then don't enter the relationship.
Chemistry is more important than contracts.
Stay current . This business is about intellectual breadth. Consultants don't read enough, experience enough or experiment enough. We have to stay at the leading edge, not get dragged over it. Be happy that the marketplace is so competitive, because it means there's a great need for and belief in external consultants.