For Subscribers

Sage Advice Can Confucius' wisdom make you a better marketer?

By Kirsten Osolind

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Idealist and philosopher Confucius was born on September 28, 551B.C. Confucius never ran a business or pitched a client. In fact,Confucius touted a hard-line negative perspective aboutprofit-seeking activities and believed that business, if it existedat all, should be an ethical economic system serving the well-beingof all people. He felt business should demand enduring, deep-rootedrelationships, far beyond any single sales transaction.

B2B entrepreneurs may not all agree on a "goldstandard" for ethics and marketing, but we can infuse ourbusinesses with accountability, transparency, trust and meaningfulcustomer conversations. In honor of Confucius, here are somethoughtful meditation tools for your B2B marketing toolbox:

For inspiration and insight, read Marketing the Professional Services Firm byLaura Mazur and Laurie Young. Also of note: Powerful Proposals by David Pugh and TerryBacon. It's featured on the American ManagementAssociation's "2005 Business Reading List."

Subscribe to the Business to Business Marketingnewsletter.

Plan to attend The Direct Marketing Association's B-to-BMarketing Conference, scheduled for Sept. 13-15 in Tucson, Arizona.Visit www.the-dma.org/conferences/btob.shtml toregister.


Kirsten Osolind is CEO and founder of re:inventioninc., a Chicago-based marketing consulting company.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

5 AI Tools Doing Overtime So You Can Run a Profitable Solo Business (Without Losing Your Mind)

Most entrepreneurs are using AI to save time — but that's not where the real leverage is.

Side Hustle

I Took My Side Hustle Full-Time and Made $222,000 Last Year. Here's How — and Why Sometimes I Work Just 10 Hours a Week.

Carter Osborne launched his side business in 2017 to help with his tuition payments for graduate school.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

The CEO of the World's Most Valuable Company Says This Would Be His College Major in 2025

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang graduated with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University in 1984, but he would change that major if he were in college today.

Business News

Netflix Co-CEO Says the Company Used AI on a TV Show for the First Time: 'Completed 10 Times Faster'

Netflix chief Ted Sarandos says audiences were "thrilled" with the AI-generated footage.