The old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” has been used so often that it’s message is taken for granted these days. However, there’s a hidden message in that phrase that has a great deal of pertinence to business and marketing.

We are bombarded daily – no, minute-by-minute – with messages. “Buy my product – it’s better!” “Buy my service – it’s cheaper!” “Do business with me – I’m faster!”

If you own an older home (mine is celebrating it’s 95th birthday this year) in Northeast Ohio, in the wintertime, with these rising gas prices, there is a certain ritual that you no doubt take part in. Every year, when the weather turns cold and the snowflakes fall, out come the holiday decorations – and along with them, the storm windows. Homeowners from big to little scout around the house, feeling for drafts at windows and doors, with caulk or a can of foam insulation, or new weatherstripping in hand. There’s plastic sheeting for windows, extra thick insulated curtains, another layer of the pink stuff in the attic, and our favorite warm slippers to keep our feet toasty. However this ritual took form this year at your house, the goal was the same: Plug Those Leaks! You’re paying good money for your heat and you want to KEEP it!