Mark Annett

Mark created his company, the Scruplestore.com, by minting coins that weighed exactly 10 scruples, with the intention of selling them to lawyers, politicians, and used car salesmen who didn’t have any scruples. However, Mark soon found that having and selling scruples placed some additional burdens on him as a businessperson, which he hadn’t anticipated.

Based on his experience as a Director of Quality Assurance, in both the public and private sector, Mark created the “scruples methodology” in order to allow him to live up to his company’s mission statement (“To not only be a company that sells scruples but also a company that has them”).

Professionally, Mark has been a featured speaker at statewide conferences about disability issues in both Virginia and New Jersey. Most recently, Mark was the conference chair of Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey 2001 Annual Conference. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Bio-Medical Engineering, and is a Certified Quality Engineer, Auditor, and Manager, in addition to holding a Regulatory Affairs Certification. His most recent journal publication appeared in the April/May 2001 issue of the Industrial Physicist.

In addition to editing the companies official ezine, "Stories of the Unscrupulous," Mark also dabbles in poetry. A sample can be found below:

Scruples and the Terrible Twos
By Mark Annett
Children get their scruples during their terrible two's. How they're going to turn out depends on how you paid your dues. If you give into their tantrums and do not stand your ground then they'll grow-up to be complainers and their judgment won't be sound.

They will think the world owes them, no matter if it's wrong. "Give me. Give me. Give me.", will be their chorus song. But worst of all, is if you lie to make them stop. Many parents have fallen victim to playing the good cop.

They say, "If you just stop crying, I'll take you to the store. I'll buy you a present, some ice cream,... even more." When the child stops its crying, they distract him with a toy and when the child forgets... they think, "What a clever ploy."

But the child has learned a lesson that they won't soon forget. You don't have to keep a promise, if it's to your benefit. Your child will learn, they don't need scruples to succeed. You can get there through manipulation, and that is all you need.

But if you want your child to have scruples then this is what you do. Don't give into their tantrums and make sure what you say is true. If you make your child a promise then you must be true to your word. For lying to your child is always a double edged sword.

Instead, tell them that you love them each and every day and that you'll always love them no matter what they say. You can love them if they're handsome, pretty, strong, or smart. But the best reason to love them, is because they've got a good good heart.