3. Dishonesty and theft. The term theft can include theft of time, office supplies, and use of office equipment for personal projects. Set standards for what is acceptable use of company assets. Security experts say as many as 30 percent of workers steal, resulting in an estimated loss of $50 billion a year from U.S. companies and contributing to as many as one-third of business bankruptcies.

As for dishonesty, I have a zero-tolerance approach. I dismissed members of my accounting staff for what may seem to be petty reasons: one for using $5 of petty cash as personal lunch money, another for telling me he was home sick when he was out of state on a long weekend vacation. If key staff members are not honest with you about small things, how can you be sure they will tell truth “when it counts?”

4. Substance abuse. Substance abuse is more rampant than most employers know. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that from 6% to 11% of adults are substance abusers. Substance abuse costs U.S. employers an estimated $100 billion a year. Call your attorney to make certain you follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Illegal drugs are expensive and have led financially desperate employees to commit fraud. They have also been implicated in violent behavior in workplace.

Commit to setting standards in your workplace and you will find a calmer atmosphere, less turnover, and more attention to productivity, growth, and profitability.

6.The ability to keep developing new products to retain and build a customer base. Consider gradual product development based on improvements to current product line and sold to current customer base.

7.Deal-making skills to work with resource suppliers to keep costs low. Keeping costs lower than competitors’ and continuing to look for cost reductions even when business is profitable is key.

8.The maturity to treat employees, suppliers and partners fairly and respectfully. Trust and respect result in productivity increases in ways that may be difficult to see and quantify.

9.Superior location and/or promotion creating a connection between your product and where it can be obtained. Studies have shown it can take seeing your product or name seven times before a customer is ready to buy.

10.A steady source of business during both good economic times and downturns. Over long term, develop a product mix that will include winners during good economic times and other winners when times are tough.