You need to be able to take risks. I'm not saying to take high stakes risks, but take calculated risks. Most entrepreneurs aren't afraid to take risks, because they can visualize end result.

You need to be organized. When you run a business there is a lot of paper work involved; taxes, record keeping, licenses forms etc. You need to be able to organize your business and marketing plans in order for your business to be successful.

Just because you may not naturally posses some of these entrepreneurial traits doesn't mean you can't learn them. There are a number of books, courses and web sites out there that you can use to develop these traits.

The bottom line is that your future depends on actions you take right now. By being organized and prepared, you're making your business "failure proof". And this is exactly what's needed online.

After we hung up, I thought to myself: they could have milked me for another couple hundred bucks (like many other mechanics would have). I wouldn't have known difference.

Just after lunch, phone rang again. "All done Mr. Chapuis," rep said. I was expecting car at 5:00. It was ready four hours early.

After rental car agency drove me back to dealership, I noticed a conspicuously shiny vehicle backed into a parking space. It looked just like mine would if it were for sale on lot. Upon further inspection, I saw that floors were clean, too - spotless almost. Couldn't be my car.

"I hope you don't mind we cleaned your car up a bit," I was told when paying inside.

"Huh?"

I looked behind me for cameras or ghost of Alan Fundt. I walked outside, a bit stunned by what had transpired.

Before pulling away in my new-looking, smooth-driving car, I noticed service light hadn't been turned off. I went back in just as shop was closing. I found a man in a sharp suit who looked a sales manager, or at very least, like someone who has never had to scrub grease off their hands. A few seconds later, he had popped open hood, removed some covers, fidgeted with some buttons and wires, and then merrily sent me on my way.

I can hear you asking: "OK, Joe, what in world does this story have to do with internet business?"

Everything. The internet is no different from "real world". Just faster.

Here are a few questions you need to be asking yourself about your business and online activities:

Is your organization trained to respond to inquiries in a timely and professional manner? Are you catering to customer's wants and needs? Are you showing an appreciation for your customer's business? Are you greeting and responding to people by name? Are you going out of your way to solve problems? Are your services saving customers time instead of wasting it? Are you offering solutions? Are you instilling a sense of trust? Are you delivering what you promise, on time? Are you delivering MORE than you promise? Do your customers leave feeling they received good value for their money? Are your customers consistently coming back for more? Are your customers so thrilled with your service that they're doing best advertising for you, for free?

Bottom Line: If you're not answering "yes" to all of these questions, you're losing money.

I may or may not go back for something as simple as an oil change. But, where am I going to go for a brake job or tune-up? Better yet, where do you think I'm going to buy my next Ford, um... I mean, Volvo?

Wishing you much online success...