On April 1, 2005, April Fools' Day, my business celebrated 20 years of existence. Imagine my joy and my surprise. Most new companies fail within two years, and here we are, crowing about a score of them.

I'm sure you're asking, as indeed I have, just what is the key to such success? As I reflect back, I realize the answer is neither simple nor singular. I believe that we intuitively know the answers, that they are inside us, and that they have to do with doing well by doing good.

It may be all about karma, which the Buddhists describe as “the force generated by a person's actions which perpetuate transmigration and its ethical consequences to determine one's destiny.” Confucius says that to attain perfect virtue, we need to practice gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. Wow. Well, we'll leave out the transmigration part and discuss what I believe are the 20 keys to 20 years.

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