Why do people become entrepreneurs? Some people believe that the answer lies in money; making money is only the score card in the grand scheme of things, but it is not the reason most entrepreneurs start a company. If this was true they would get a job instead of creating jobs for others around them. At least this has been my experience.

Entrepreneurs start companies to scratch an itch and beat out competition that they view as weak, or in my case, posses a desire to create new things, to take hold of a gift and to use it in ways that only you and no one else or no other company can harness. If you actually think about it, how many people want to start a company against competition that they think is doing a fantastic job at a great value? Not very many…

That is why small businesses will ALWAYS have a place against big businesses. Big business is inherently inefficient in areas, and in most cases, the entrepreneurial spirit was killed after the 100th employee started. What makes these companies “lose their way”?

They start down the path to nowhere the second they make a decision that impacts the customer experience in a negative manner for financial gain. It’s really as simple as that. Anyone that says differently is an accountant or a moron or knows something that I don’t. So with that being said, here are a list of a few companies that have traded their customer experience for some short term $$$.

1) Comcast – They just announced a “partnership” with several media companies for their DVR (Their Tivo equivalent). One of the requirements was that the commercials couldn’t be skipped/fast forwarded by the consumer. Who wants to have recorded content that can’t fast forward? While I understand the loss of revenue to them, the reality is that customers won’t put up with that after tasting what its like to have it. This is a HORRIBLE decision by their management.

2) Microsoft – They have gone completely overboard with their “Windows Genuine Advantage” that tries to make sure you have a legit copy of Windows. I don’t dispute their efforts to get rid of piracy, but their methods throw the baby out with the bath water. Their draconian measures to implement DRM into EVERYTHING and protect themselves at the expense of the consumer has marked a turning point in Microsoft’s management. They used to be all about the customer and profit. Now they are simply trying to stave off competition and maintain their stock price. Microsoft will never be what they once were, and based on their recent decisions I can’t say I am not disappointed.

3) Google – Yes, Google! Their technology is great, but their treatment of customers is truly abhorrent. They REFUSE to protect their customers from fraud in their ad-sense department because it affects the bottom line, and their phone service is nonexistent or utterly useless. I could excuse this in the early days because of growth and infrastructure problems, but with today’s demanding customers the only excuse they have is that it costs them money.

These, my friends, are simple, present examples of what good, hardworking entrepreneurs accomplished when they place money above that of the actual mission of the company, and that is providing the customer with the best product of service that they can offer. I know that is what I expect from any company I deal with, and that is what I try to convey to my customers. Now I know my base isn’t massive, but a word of wisdom, nonetheless.

Sean Wing is a 19-year old serial entrepreneur who currently serves as the Creative Director for ArisTech Media Corporation, a digital marketing and creative design agency based out of Orange County California. His goal is to change the world through philanthropic missions. You can connect with Sean on Facebook and Twitter.

GM Has Turned the Final Page Before Chapter 11.

It doesn’t take an economic guru to realize the desperate state of the U.S. auto industry. Two of the Big Three car makers—Chrysler and General Motors—have grown utterly reliant on a lifeline of government cash.

The prospect of a deal between Chrysler and Fiat Spa, spearheaded by the Italian automaker’s boss Sergio Marchionne, has brightened the dismal and seemingly hopeless future of the sickly automaker. However, Chrysler still has much more to clean off its plate before it can straight-facedly ask for a second chance to pioneer American auto development.

“General Motors, once the pinnacle of U.S. industrial primacy is on the brink of financial collapse,” say Bill Vlasic and Nick Bunkley in their New York Times article, “G.M., Leaking Cash, Faces Bigger Chance of Bankruptcy.” GM’s market capitalization is now less than 1 percent of its Japanese arch-rival, Toyota.

This poses two important questions. First, what are the chances of GM entering into bankruptcy? And second, if it does file Chapter 11, how should it go about the process?

In a recent MarketWatch article, Shawn Loinglois reported that “Last week, GM posted a first-quarter loss of $6 billion, or $9.78 a share, vs. a loss of $3.3 billion, or $5.80 a share, a year ago and said it burned through $10.2 billion during the three-month period.” GM’s capital reserves are down to almost nothing. The company is confronted with mounting retirement costs and plunging profit margins.

In seeking to gauge the probability of bankruptcy, KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Brett D. Hoselton notes, “Chrysler is the best indicator at this point of where we’re heading with G.M.” In other words, bankruptcy “is looking like a real high probability.”

It is difficult—and perhaps even counterproductive—to provide specific numerical data stating the likelihood of GM filing for Chapter 11—is there a 50 percent chance of bankruptcy? 60? 70? As Fritz Henderson, GM’s chief executive, stated, “I’m not going to get into relative percentages and probabilities, but certainly the tasks that we have in front of us are large.”

However, one thing is certain: there is at least a big enough chance of the car maker filing for Chapter 11 that the American people and the U.S. government need to employ prescience in preparing for such an event.

So, in preparation, will there be damages or advantages—or both? Assuming that all goes swiftly and smoothly—which is quite an assumption—only those unfavorable scratches and dents which are absolutely necessary and unavoidable will occur.

Sounds good so far. Yet, reality demands a more, well, realistic analysis. “Emerging out of bankruptcy would be very difficult. Given its very large, global operations and various stakeholders, the process will take a lot longer than what people think,” a source familiar with the matter said.

GM Chief Financial Officer Ray Young casts a rather bleak milieu when he explains the effects of the bankruptcy process: “Once you start losing revenues, you get yourself into a vicious cycle from which you cannot recover.”

Thus, a quick recovery should be at the epicenter of focus for all involved in the bankruptcy process. Of course, there will be difficulties. But, in order to avoid a spiraling cycle of plunging revenues, GM and the Obama administration must strive to overcome those difficulties—whether it is via compromise or standing firm on their position.

On a much lighter note, bankruptcy may not be such a bad thing after all. According to Mr. Henderson, “Given the objective that we set for ourselves, it’s more probable that we would need to accomplish our goals in a bankruptcy.” So, in the end, Chapter 11 may not only be necessary for GM—it could also be the best path towards getting the automaker back on its feet.

So long, old friend

An easy, simple, and insightful explanation of the massive problem we have now.