Over this weekend, I will be looking at some famous quotes about business success.  Take some time to think about your small business and its success.
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.    Sun Tzu
I was talking with a friend the other day about how difficult it is to run a small business today.  Small businesses are going bankrupt at a greater rate, they have fewer opportunities to get loans, and yet some survive, even thrive.   People are still starting small businesses, they are finding new ways …read more

How does someone become successful at something?  It’s not what you think.  I’m reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. (He’s the author of Blink and The Tipping Point).  Among other points, Gladwell believes that people who become successful didn’t just come upon success by chance or luck; they worked at it.  For a long time. They practiced many long, hard hours.  Gladwell says the magic number seems to be 10,000 hours.  That’s a LOT!
Two cases in point: Gladwell chooses several examples to make his point:

Before they became famous, the Beatles spent many years playing in Germany.  They played in Hamburg, Germany, …read more

Do you have what it takes to succeed in a small business?  It’s fun to read about wonderful businesses to start or franchises to buy. But no matter how fantastic these business opportunities might be, consider carefully how the business fits your skills, experience, and interests. And you need something more to succeed: a passion for this business.
This business owner has a passion for pool. But without skill and experience, he will have a difficult time being successful.  Before you jump into a business opportunity, spend some time taking a personal inventory.
What are your skills? What do you do best? …read more

For any wannabe business –small and aspiring to be big– success lies in the intersection of three circles:

Other posts on this theme are at http://www.commonsensepr.com/2008/02/26/finding-the-wow-factor-in-business/