Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by chance but never developed it as a useful drug. TEN years later, two scientists unearthed Flemings *mold* , SAW ITS POTENTIAL, and started treating patients in wartime England. This was a dramatic medical advancement and saved thousands of lives.

So don't wait around trying to develop a unique IDEA. Instead you should identify a Unique Selling Position (USP) in order to distinguish your product from your competitors.

6. Critical Mass - "SIZE MATTERS"

For online businesses which operate from your basement or from a motor home, it certainly helps to look bigger than you really are. There's a certain comfort in dealing with a business that seems established.

You should try to establish 24 hour customer service. Even if it means answering phone at your favorite watering hole. Just try to get away from background noise.

Having a separate business line is critical. Attempt to inform your family that if business line rings it should be answered in a professional manner. You really don't want your loved one picking up line in middle of closing a deal to remind you to take out garbage.

Have a logo developed for your business, there are several sites available that will create a logo for you. Or find a student from a good graphic design school to create one. Use your logo consistently, on all your stationery, packaging and other corporate communications.

Take advantage of any local business incubators, these operations offer affordable, flexible leases for start ups. They will provide anything from office furniture and equipment to business plans and high speed Internet access. Historically businesses in an incubator stand significantly higher chances of surviving.

You can get free publicity for your business by contacting local news media and selling your company as a human interest story. There are many periodicals looking for businesses to profile.

Get your name on TV. We have all seen those morning shows with live outside feeds. A poster board you hold up in front of camera may get you more publicity than a 30 second commercial.

And finally, if you have a web site, ensure you have ability to process credit cards. Most Internet transactions use credit cards to complete a purchase.

CONCLUSION

The preceding list just scratches surface of an entrepreneurs "to do list". The Internet is awash with information and you can drown yourself in web sites, magazines and secret membership sites, and still not learn anything. Why? The Internet is a new and ever changing phenomenon. Advice that seems fundamentally sound today can be completely wrong next day.

However, you can learn from both successes and failures of others and be guided by their experiences. Remember that no matter what you do, you will never achieve much success unless you have happy customers, happy workers and happy suppliers. That means you must have a company that is perceived as friendly, especially in area of customer service.