HATTIE: (Voiceover) Karen Good of Michael Good Designs is a veteran business owner.

KAREN GOOD (Michael Good Designs): Oh, Michael started looking at jewelry and making jewelry in the late '60s, right before we moved to Maine and we started making jewelry. The first line we made was flat, hammered, very, you know, 1969. If you looked at it, you'd say, `That's 1969.' But it was very nice and we sold it to a few department stores.

(Voiceover) And when we moved to Maine, we thought we would continue that, but we didn't realize that there was a serious learning curve. We, for many, many years, just struggled with trying to make things and get them to the people who wanted them, because we had to learn to produce. We had to learn to market. We had to learn to make a profit on all of this, and it was a process.

HATTIE: And you now know.

KAREN: Yes, I think we know. We do. We're doing all right.

HATTIE: Let's talk a little bit about what you're wearing. And are these earrings something special?

KAREN: These are our signature pieces. This is the piece that, when people look at these earrings, they say, `Oh, Michael Good.' (Voiceover) Whether you're on an airplane or walking down Fifth Avenue or on the beach in Puerto Rico, they say, `Oh, those are Michael Good earrings.' And this is our signature earrings.

HATTIE: (Voiceover) Oh, so is he famous?

KAREN: (Voiceover) I guess. I mean, how many jewelers are famous? You know, yeah, famous among jewelers, very famous among jewelers, famous among jewelry lovers.

HATTIE: (Voiceover) Being well thought of is not the only reason this business succeeds.

KAREN: Well, I think being in a small business is an opportunistic thing, you know. It's between getting everything ready--whatever the Girl Scout motto was--`Be prepared'--at that end to being totally opportunistic -- am I ready to take advantage of absolutely any chance that comes my way? I always play this game with myself. What's the worst-case scenario? What am I going to lose here? I'm either going to stay in the same place, which sounds dreadful, or I'm going to... I have a good illustration of this. We got an order from someone in Austria, and we had no idea how to ship it, not a clue. So we put it in a box, we wrapped it up, and we sent it. What could happen? I would lose $300 worth of jewelry. That's what I would lose. Or I would get a check back for that amount of money. And I got a check back. It went, it got delivered, and we said, `OK.' We said, `Now we know how to do that.'

HATTIE: Now that was your first European order.

KAREN: Yeah, my first European order. It was one pair of earrings, and we just sent it.

HATTIE: So what did I just hear you say? Take opportunities ...

KAREN: Oh, yes, totally opportunistic. Don't be afraid of anything. Play a worst-case scenario with yourself. What's the worst thing that can happen? Can I live with the worst-case scenario? And then do it.

HATTIE (Studio): If you feel you're on a treadmill, visit Maine. You'll be refreshed by the beauty and inspired by the small-business owners who are devoted to getting things just right. But, don't think about marketing from a distance unless you have a unique product and unless you're willing to devote yourself completely to quality.

We'll see you next time.