Recently I found myself thinking about early Cartographers and how they managed to create accurate maps. They’d use rudimentary tools, landmarks, and their own observations.

In-fact, distances were often estimates due to lack of accurate measuring tools. That caused a lot of problems for travelers, would rely on those distances and measurements to get to where they wanted to go.

As we know today, being slightly off over a long distance could land you in a dramatically different place. Just ask Christopher Columbus.

Today, of-course, we don’t have that problem. With most of the world mapped out, and those maps accessible at any moment with real time directions, accurate maps are commonplace. Modern cartographers are focused on creating advanced, interactive digital maps.

It’s not that simple when you’re starting your own business. Sure, you might have a rudimentary map. But there’s no set of directions you can follow to have a successful business…despite what Twitter bros tell you.

That’s why you need a great cartographer for your business — someone (or a group of someones) who can use their observations and experience to help you create the map that will get you to where you need to be in your business.

Chris Lema, CaboPress, and all the great people I’ve connected with there have been those cartographers for me.