Now that investors can get advice and market information from many sources other than full-service brokers, they are less willing to pay a premium just to trade.

ECONOMIST: Electronic commerce

Above all, avoid self-sabotaging behavior that you may not even be aware of, like blaming others rather than taking responsibility for all decisions, or not charging what your product or service is worth, due to lack of current market information or a personal bias.

FORBES: 7 Startup Mistakes Kill the Best Profit Projections

The OTC Fundamental Data Service will provide information on more than 800 companies trading on the OTC market.

FORBES: Top OTC Firms, Including ADRs, Gain Market Visibility

Suppliers and especially manufacturers have market power because they have information about a product or a service that the customer does not and cannot have, and does not need if he can trust the brand.

FORBES: Can You Trust Your Brand?

MSN's new "Everyday Web" theme stresses personalized information and Web-based utilities such as Microsoft's Hotmail e-mail service, not mass-market content.

CNN: Thinking Smaller

Some evidence of this was Mobile ESPN, still the only broad attempt to act on the belief that there exists a market for a cellular phone and associated service through which sports fans could access vast amounts of sports information.

FORBES: NFL Experiments With Fan-Controlled In-Stadium Technology