2. Listen. One of the number one problems that companies run into is a failure to listen. How can you address market concerns and meet the needs of consumers if you don't stop to listen to what they are? How can you recognize issues and solve problems within the company if you don't respect employees and listen to what they have to say?

3. Don't Believe Your Own Marketing Hype. Just because you made headlines in 2006, doesn't mean anyone remembers who you are in 2011. You have to keep working at it.

4. Act, Don't React. It is not enough to just play catch up with competitors. Your product or service has to give customers some compelling incentive to use it. You have to be able to see beyond what your rivals are doing today, and willing to look at the changing landscape and develop a vision for the future that leapfrogs the competition and gives you the edge.

RIM right now seems like a house of cards on the verge of collapse while the execs sit in the board room on the top floor admiring the view. Learn from RIM's mistakes and don't let your company go down this path.