Rick Gilbert, Founder, PowerSpeaking, Inc; Author, Speaking Up: Surviving Executive Presentations

After starting his business from scratch – literally, a rolodex and telephone in the bedroom – Rick Gilbert and his partner, Mary McGlynn, built PowerSpeaking, Inc., into a Silicon Valley legend with 30 employees and a worldwide footprint. Along the way, he found that the standard motivational slogans like "winners never quit" and "have a positive mental attitude" were not helpful. These success tips were learned by screwing up a lot. Be forewarned, this is not advice you will read in The Harvard Business Review.

Working for or running a small business? Come and learn the uncommon wisdom of why being a quitter and a pessimist is good for business, why "work/life balance" is nonsense; why you should be more like a jazz musician than a classical musician. And why you should fire the consultants.