BURGESSSTRATEGIC MARKETING SERVICES

Dec. 22, 2025 — Two classes in “Entrepreneurship and Advanced Marketing” welcomed me as their guest speaker at a local high school this month. Among the topics we covered was the importance of including core values in a business plan.

Core values state the guiding principles that will govern how you strive to run your business. They say how you will conduct yourself in your business dealings, how you will treat your customers, your employees and other stakeholders.

Core values help you to make decisions by pointing you toward the course of action most consistent with your guiding principles.

Bees stung me twice during my childhood.

The first time, I was walking atop a hollow log containing a hidden beehive. Angered at my stomping on their roof, the bees fiercely retaliated. The second time, while sitting on the lawn in the backyard, I accidentally placed one hand directly on top of a bee. Miffed at my invasion of its personal space, that bee retaliated, too.

Stung by those two painful experiences, I hated bees for many years afterward. My attitude toward bees has mellowed, however, since I’ve learned that they pollinate flowers.

September 4, 2025, marks the 39^th anniversary of Burgess Editorial Services (dba Burgess Strategic Marketing Services). Thank you to all of the clients, colleagues, family, friends and competitors who have kept us striving for continuous improvement. Without your support and the grace of the Creator, we would not be celebrating nearly four full decades in business.

We welcome referrals to new clients as well as more work from those of you who are our current and former clients. Contributing to your organization’s success by applying all of the expertise and experience we have gained during the past 39 years would be our delight.