The companies that do best are almost invariably the most creative, whether they are introducing new products and services or riffing like jazz musicians on old standards.

FORBES: The Benefits of A More Thoughtful Approach To Consulting

So what I think is needed in the short term, very much so and almost desperately, is first the ability of the government and responsibility of the government to command and receive on a continuing basis significant market data about all sorts of products and services whether they are regulated or not.

FORBES: Intelligent Investing Briefing Book

Whether they involve high-tech products such as semiconductors, or unfamiliar services such as healthcare IT, industries often need years to win over their first customers, prove their worth, and build the capabilities required to penetrate the broader market.

FORBES: Why "Green Jobs" Don't Belong in Obama's Jobs Program

In a recent study of seven different sectors of the Thai economy, McKinsey, a consultancy, found that poor government regulation was the single biggest barrier to productivity growth in almost every instance, whether in manufacturing or services, in export-oriented or locally consumed products.

ECONOMIST: Give it a chance

Regardless of our opinion about whether this is good or bad, ongoing discoveries will usher in a new age of gene-based products and services.

FORBES: Launch Sequence For Human Genome Stocks