Hello, my name is Mike Gowen.

My $.02: What’s a Blog? (Seth Godin)

I agree with this post from Seth Godin, and since comments are off I’ll add my $.02 here.

I think that following the “musts” is an act of fear and laziness. I’ll be the first to say that people perform better within the boundaries of constraints, but not if you use them as a crutch. The bigger the company, the less risk they’ll take. “Musts” keep big companies safely in the status quo, which is right where they want to be. While constraints can lubricate decision-making and provide focus, you also need to know when the time is right to break them. Use constraints to guide you, but don’t let them suffocate you.