I have an 84-year-old mom who lives about an hour away from where I live. Once a month, I have to take her to her doctor's appointment. The routine never changes: I pick up Mom, drop her off at the doctor, go to a nearby grocery and pick up the 27 things she needs to get her through the month, pick her up at the doctor's office, have lunch at a nearby delicatessen, bring her home, put her groceries away and head back home.

Obviously, the most fun part of the day is lunch at the delicatessen. Because the deli is located in a building with at least a dozen doctor's offices, there are always other elderly people having lunch at the deli with their caregivers. Most are pleasant, and Mom enjoys talking to them.

Except last time.

The deli was full when we arrived, so we had to wait for a table. An elderly man wearing a military cap (you have to watch out for those, I've learned) and sitting at a nearby table asked me if my father had served in the military during World War II.

I told him (truthfully) that my Dad served in the U.S. Navy and had seen action during the battle for Guadalcanal in the southern Pacific Ocean.

Wrong thing to say...

It turns out this gentleman was in the Marines during World War II and saw action in Guadalcanal, as well. For the next several minutes (it seemed like "from here to eternity"), he rambled on about digging up bodies of U.S. Marines killed by the enemy during the epic battle, some of which had had their hearts cut out, "no doubt eaten by the Jap officers." And so on.

Finally, a table opened up, and my Mom and I were able to sit down, well out of earshot of the table-thumping veteran. Although my mom was as proud of Dad's military service as anyone of the Greatest Generation, even she said, "That guy over there is a little loopy."

But then the ex-Marine said something that made me stop in my tracks:

"That's the trouble with you young Americans today. You don't know who your enemies are. Even worse, you don't think you have any. You will be lucky to still have an America to live in when you're my age."

I think he was trying to make the point that "the Japs" were still our enemies and should be treated as such — which is a dubious proposition at best, in light of the past half-century of our countries' respective histories.

But taken as a larger statement about the shortcomings of "the younger generation" (meaning, for him, just about anyone with a pulse), the old man had a point.

Somehow over the past several decades, we in the U.S. have internalized the idea that no one is an "enemy." We are taught from grade school that everyone is just like us, and even though we disagree on certain matters, we should respect their point of view, etc. When a politician talks about an "axis of evil," he is shouted down, ridiculed or worse. He is seen much as my mom and I viewed that old veteran: "a little loopy."

This is not a political column, of course, and I'm not qualified to talk about whether or not we should view China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, the Taliban or anyone with whom you personally disagree as an "enemy." Nor will I speak about the many naive and trusting young people who post the intimate details of their lives on Facebook in the certain knowledge that no one will ever think of using that information against them someday.

But when it comes to running your own business, it is a fatal error to assume that you have no "enemies" — people or companies who would be delighted if you or your business simply ceased to exist.

Back in 2005, I wrote a book titled "Small Business Survival Guide," in which I identified 12 potential enemies every small business needs to cope with if it wants to survive. In declining order of obviousness, they are:

—your competitors (duh);

—your creditors;

—copycats (people who steal your ideas);

—crooks, flakes and frauds;

—suppliers, customers, employees and contractors;

—the government;

—spouses and ex-spouses;

—business partners;

—family and friends;

—heirs, successors and the infirmities of old age;

—lawyers, accountants and other professionals; and

—(sometimes) yourself.

Pretending you don't have enemies or (worse) being nice to the wrong people and "turning the other cheek" can kill you. Get over it. Not everyone is your friend, even if you've "friended" them online. You have enemies, and identifying and beating them is part of the game. Fail to do this, and it is your heart that will be cut out and eaten on the beach, perhaps with some fava beans and a fine Chianti.

Cliff Ennico ([email protected]) is a syndicated columnist, author and former host of the PBS television series "Money Hunt." This column is no substitute for legal, tax or financial advice, which can be furnished only by a qualified professional licensed in your state. To find out more about Cliff Ennico and other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit our Web page at www.creators.com.