As a practicing dentist I was the head of my office and made all the important decisions. It was heady stuff and my financial capabilities depended on what I determined and how well I carried them out. I did not have to vie with anyone or consult anyone when a conclusion was about to be reached. Also in my category as a lone proprietor, are small shopkeepers or individual private business owners.

When I retired and joined groups and committees of social activity, I learned a lesson. I had to deal with others when the group was venturing in some direction. To quote Mel Brooks, "It's good to be King." My eyes opened to people who had worked in large agencies and who had developed "the Corporate Touch." They were more clever than I in getting their ideas and programs carried out when voted upon by the group at corporate meetings.

Some of their tactics were strange to me, but I learned pretty quickly. With a few evening phone calls to committee members, they could isolate me and I would stand alone at the next group meeting. After a while I used the telephone and the Internet to my advantage. It was an epiphany.

Putting a person "on the spot" was another method of using "the Corporate Touch." Asking you slightly offbeat questions in front of the group placed you in a bind and made them look better. They were slicing you up and leaving no scars.

In a corporation one must consider the company's name at all times. The integrity and the reputation of the corporation are always at stake. These people always must consider their career path and incomes constantly. Self-preservation becomes the name of the game.

Hiring and firing are more of a concern in a large business than in a Mom and Pop shop. When working with others we must consider the effect of our actions and behaviour on our team members. To accomplish anything as a sole proprietor or a corporate executive, we must be fair and above board. We must not use negative tactics to gain our point-of-view.