I spent this weekend at a rodeo watching a friend and a world champion compete in barrel racing. The day before the event her winning horse was stolen and her back up was an inexperienced horse who has never been in the competitive circuit. Needless to say she didn't win but her horse gained the experience he needed.

What struck me about the terrible incident was the fact that bad ethics and seedy behavior occurs in the horse business as much as the business world. Business ethics has become a hot topic given the large scale fraud with the financial meltdown. The New York Times recently report of almost 20 percent of the Harvard Business School’s graduating class have signed “The M.B.A. Oath" to serve the greater good.

Good business ethics starts with practicing it at all levels especially the top of an organization. For small business, this means you set the tone for good ethics in your business from how you handle deals to hiring the right people. Poor business ethics can impact even the smallest of businesses.

On July 4th, 1776, Benjamin Franklin was one of the group of politicians and business men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Franklin is America's original entrepreneur and inventor. He created many worthwhile products, including: bifocals, an odometer, the lightning rod, and the wood stove.

Beneath Franklin's successes lies the principle of peer advisory groups. Franklin understood the power of a small group of people dedicated to providing each other support and ideas for advancement. His regular meetings with a group of 12 members played a role in his great achievements.

Today, groups of small business owners from diverse industries meet monthly to solve problems, share best practices and offer each other peer support. Centuries later, the success principles of America's first entrepreneur still stands ever present.

A catchy slogan or tagline can help a business create instant brand recognition. One of the most unforgettable catchphrases is none other than "d'oh". The Homer Simpson phrase was voted as a T.V. all-time favorite by a recent poll from thebabywebsite.com.

More than a simple form of entertainment, The Simpsons offers us valuable business lessons including D’Oh! Yourself. Who can forget the funny, catch-phrase of Homer when things go wrong? So powerful is the expression that 20th Century Fox applied for trademark protection.

Every small business vying for attention in today’s information glut society can use a memorable phrase to stand out. Jim Cramer of CNBC’s Mad Money uses the term, “Boo-Yah” referring to “are you ready to make some money?” Taco Bell’s “Think Outside the Bun” promotes Mexican Food. A good catch-phrase can make you unforgettable. - from Woo-Hoo! 5 Business Lessons from The Simpsons

Pets are big business in America. A pet is family to the average pet owner which means this is one of the last expenses to cut in a slow down. According to The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), annual industry expenditures continue to grow and last year were over $43.2 billion and estimated to be $45.4 billion in 2009. Expenditures break out as follows:

• Food - $16.8 billion
• Supplies/OTC Medicine - $10.0 billion
• Vet Care - $11.1 billion
• Live animal purchases - $2.1 billion
• Pet Services: grooming & boarding - $3.2 billion

This growing market offers plenty of business opportunities including pet insurance, pet sitting and gourmet pet foods.