It is likely that most small business owners don’t dream of being “small” for long.  Who doesn’t want to be the owner of the next successful restaurant chain such as McDonalds or the next IT Company to watch its profits soar?  Can you imagine what could happen if your small business could mimic the success of these innovative companies?  What if you had the chance, as a small business owner, to work directly with one of these successful businessmen or women who are sitting on top of a global company?  You may not have that opportunity, but you can reap the same benefits by taking the time to study their business plans, their mistakes, and their successes. Study any information that you can get your hands on pertaining to that company.

To recreate the success that you see in some of these other businesses, you have to study them and strive to be like them.  Use them!  Research the history of a successful business that is similar to your own.  This is a cost-effective way to save time and money when developing your own business plan.  This is sometimes referred to as best practice benchmarking.

Specifically, what kinds of ideas and practices are you looking for in your research?

The answer can vary, however, the most popular ideas that small businesses take away from larger more successful ones are as follows:

• How to cut business expenses
• Ideas about product development
• Effective management of employees
• Time management

One of the most important things to remember when you are doing this research is that you want a business that is uniquely yours.  Therefore, you will want to borrow the best practices of successful businesses but at the same time you will want to make them conducive to your own company.

For more information, please visit http://www.CraigDuswalt.com.

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You’ve had lots of good ideas in the last year. Maybe they relate to your work; maybe they’re entrepreneurial plans for your own business. No matter, because none of those ideas was ever put into action.
You had your reasons at the time. Did you decide to wait until you had a bigger savings account? Until the children were in school? Until you could take some vacation time?
Do you even remember what those ideas were? Probably not, because if you don’t act on an idea, you’ll forget about it. One reason for delay begets another and the days stretch into weeks and months.
As a result, you might still be at your low-income level, still less happy than you could be. Next time you get a brainstorm, slip a harness on that whirlwind and put it to work for you. Start at once. Put your idea on paper, list the steps you need to take, and take step one. Step two will be easier. And a year from now, you’ll have more income and be happier.

This is earth, not heaven. Accidents happen, mistakes are made, people are rude. Nothing you do will stop unfortunate events. The only thing you can control is your attitude toward them. You can wallow in self-righteous anger and self-pity, or you can realize that all things pass and that while things look bleak now, tomorrow is another day.
You would think some people were born to complain because that’s all they do. If you have a negative attitude the only people who’ll listen to you are the sadists who love to hear whining.
On the other hand, if you maintain a positive attitude, you’ll attract positive people and positive results.
I knew a man who was dying of cancer. When he rang his bell for the nurse there was literally a jam of people rushing to his room. Why? No matter how badly he was hurting he always told a joke or an upbeat story. It was the same positive attitude that had taken him from door to door sales to management of a large insurance agency.
Trying to change your attitude from negative to positive can feel like moving mountains. But if you keep at it the earthquake will happen and each morning will be the dawn of new opportunities.

http://www.rockstarsystemforsuccess.com/public/main.cfm is officially launched! If you would like to take your business to the next level, then this site is a daily must-read. Become an All-Access member today!

Check out SmallBusinessTrends.com as they bring a list of this type every other week.

Start-Up, Boot-Up
Enter by April 25, 2011

Here’s a chance to get your start-up out of the garage with over $75,000 in servers and development tools! Some of the greatest start-up ideas were born in a greasy garage or cramped basement. But Start-Up, Boot-Up will take one winner out of that environment and put them in a modern office with access to the servers and development tools to take their idea to the next level: reality. See website for full list of prizes and entry details.

AMD Visionary of the Year Awards
Enter by April 30, 2011

AMD has announced its first ever VISIONary of the Year Awards, honoring innovation in the three passion categories of Foodie, Photography and Entrepreneurship.

Eligible voters can vote and enter to win one-of-a-kind category prizes, including the ultimate culinary trip to New York City (Foodie category), a $4,000 technology shopping spree (Entrepreneurship category), a $4,000 camera (Photographer category), as well as AMD’s $10,000 grand prize.

Recognize an Administrative Professional
Nominate by April 26, 2011

Chances are you rely on one or more administrative professionals to conduct business.  A great virtual assistant, administrative assistant or other administrative professional can be a big part of your success.  Show your appreciation.  Nominate someone deserving, in honor of Administrative Professionals’ Day (which is April 27).  The person with the most nominations gets a $2,500 American Express Gift Card.  Another 100 nominees will be randomly selected to win $25 Gift Cards.

2011 Small Business Awards
Enter by May 20, 2011

In its 6th year, The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards honors the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state New York area. In addition to the Best of the Year Categories, the New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards will honor nine small businesses for their accomplishments and best practices.

National Association for Moms in Business Grant Competition
Enter starting March 1st, Competition runs May 1 – June 15, 2011

Business grant competition via crowdfunding to give mom entrepreneurs a better chance at launching a new or current business project. All participants win a half-page feature in Moms In Business Magazine, publicity on peerbackers.com and momsinbusinessgrant.com, and a $2,000 publicity toolkit from PRNewswire. When the crowdfunding competition ends, all grant applicants who raised 80% or more of their funding goal will become semi-finalists. A team of mom executives and entrepreneurs will judge each application to determine the $10,000 Grand Prize Grant Package winner. Competitors must be a member of NAFMIB.

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women Competition
Enter by June 30, 2011

Ten winners will be paired with advisers and resources for growing their businesses and they’ll get to participate in a customized executive-leadership program. In addition, winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum 2011 in Palm Springs, Calif., in November.

The contest is being run in collaboration with the Women Presidents’ Organization, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the Committee of 200, National Association of Women Business Owners and Babson College.

The Conway Center for Family Business Awards
Enter by August 4, 2011

The Conway Center for Family Business Awards Program was established in 1998 to recognize excellence in family business and has honored more than 115 Central Ohio family businesses during its first 11 years.

The program honors recipients in categories consistent with the success and longevity of a family business: leadership, planning, communication, support and community service. For more details, see the website.

Via SmallBizTrends.com