• Rules from the BABY’s Book on Becoming a Billionaire
  
  

  • Rule #26: Sometimes low-tech is all the tech you need.

  • Rule #27: Human behavior has evolved over the past 6,000 years. Don’t build a product that depends for its success on changing it. Unless of course it is called iPod.

  • Rule #33: : Innovation is not a recipe in a book -- so if you break an egg, don’t clean it up. Scramble it.

• Hulluva Design: "Patents are only the initial barriers to entry," says Bill Burns, co-founder of M Ship Co. True innovation is a process which continually matches science and theory with observation and experience.

• She’s the Boss. Women today have unique opportunities to fund their business startups, but in our Ask the Expert segment, Janet Christy, business consultant and author, cautions against “mothering” a business and thinking too small.

• Make no mistake about it... Innovations frequently arise from “accidents.” The key is to sail, not bail.

• High-tech dreams and disasters. In our “I wish I’d thought of that idea” idea segment, Neil illustrates how human behavior and customer need dictate true success in a technology-driven world.

Bill Burns, co-founder of M Ship Co., developed the M-hull Technology and created the M Ship team through a unique blend of creative design, naval engineering and business experience. As executive director, he leads the M Ship office and is responsible for conceptualization, development and execution of innovative marine concepts for the military, commercial and recreation markets. Bill has been involved with the advancement of innovative concepts for a diverse range of organizations, including the Naval Research Lab, Office on Naval Research, Office of Force Transformation, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and America's Cup syndicates. He is also a founding member of CBTF Co., which designs high-performance sailing yachts featuring the patented canting ballast-twin foil (CBTF) appendage design.

Bill and his M Ship team are creative not only with design, but also with management, implementing the Rapid Empirical Innovation (REI™) process for developing advanced hull forms and the Virtual Shipyard™ manufacturing process for high-performance ship building with new methodologies, faster build cycles and lower costs.

Bill graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and from San Diego State University's Executive Program with an MBA. Bill is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers , Industrial Design Society of America, and the American Boat & Yacht Council.

Janet Christy, author of Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned: Expert Advice for Women Who Have or Are Starting Their Own Businesses, has spent the majority of her professional career in marketing, sales and public relations positions. She has also worked on several economic development and technology initiatives in the Southeast.

In 2003 Janet formed Leverage & Development, LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping Small and Woman/Minority Owned businesses and government/education entities. The firm has several service offerings that assist businesses and governments in evaluating their assets and then developing plans to improve them and/or use them to accomplish specific goals. Janet also conducts seminars for Small and Woman/Minority Owned Businesses. She conducts the seminars for Chamber of Commerce memberships, private businesses, education institutions and municipal/county governments. These workshops provide attendees with practical instruction, resources and experience-based advice.

Janet currently works with women and minority owned businesses to develop plans that will help them maximize their certification as a Woman Owned Business or Minority Owned Business. She prepares a customized manual that includes: Market Assessment, Key Prospects, Prospecting Strategy, and a Step-by-Step Marketing Plan. She also develops and executes focused Public Relations and Media Plans for small businesses and for technology initiatives of municipalities, counties and economic development projects.