> 1) How would you stop your top employees
> from taking your idea/ideas and building a
> business of their own to compete with
> you?...

Let me be VERY brutal here: Unless Top Businessman is making a ton of mistakes and employee morale is the pits, the chances of a New Guy taking over the niche is small. It can be done with a large enough organization and enough money -- but newcomers don't have the contacts or name recognition and may not have the staying power to do it. Building THE #1 business in a niche is NOT something done in one year or two. It takes up to 5 years... or longer.

> 2) How would you get them to work for YOU as
> employees for the rest of their lives,
> without ever thinking of leaving?

Me? I'd hire the people that employers often overlook -- the older worker. Offer a good compensation plan and insurance. Too many people look at age and not experience and dedication.

> 3) Now here's the kicker, how do you do it
> without the Use of Contracts? and Have them
> be very happy to do it?

Not sure what you mean here. In the US, unless you're doing "work for hire" jobs (like lawn work or a friend doing secretarial work for you), a letter of agreement/hiring contract protects both the employer and employee. Even a bill of sale for services (such as tree trimming) spells out the services received for the payment.

What, exactly, do YOU mean by that?