But they weren’t always so aligned when it came to the most important issues affecting business owners today. When asked which political party is better for small business, Godin stood firm in his belief that SBO’s should lead by example, “we need to act in a way we want the government to act, and vice versa.” Peters, on the other hand, drilled down to what he as a business owner is personally concerned with, “I kind of like it when the revenue exceeds the cost by a significant number” – a sentiment which clearly resonated with many of the SBO’s in the room who broke out in unbridled laughter.

For more insights from these experts: from the economic crisis to the importance of decency in business and from the You Tube phenomenon to thoughts on Generation X, visit New Perspectives on Business.

Check OPEN Forum regularly for new installments of Inside the Entrepreneurial Mind. Archived series available for viewing include The Business of Food with Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio, The Business of Technology with Facebook and Wikipedia co-founders.

As times change, OPEN Forum will continue to evolve to keep you up to date on the latest affecting your business. Whose perspective do you agree with more, Seth Godin or Tom Peters? Get in on the conversation below.