If you plan to be in business for any amount of time you better be able to compete with the big boys, because the competition will inspire you or immobilize you.
One important thing to remember is that you will not win 100 percent of the battles, but the victories you should experience will make all the effort worthwhile.
As a business owner you will compete for the best employees, best products, and to show the best value for the client.
To do this you have to play the game smarter in some aspects than the big companies who may try to crush you.
For the small business owner, or a business just getting started you want to carefully control some of the components of your business: Overhead - Do you really need that office downtown with the marble lobby and solid walnut doors? How might a potential client feel coming to this type of office? They might get the feeling they will be paying for your expensive tastes.
Find employees who eager to expand and learn and hungry to succeed - As much as you might like to go out and find yourself an experienced person to hire, that might not be economically feasible.
Instead look for employees with a wide range of abilities and drive.
Try not to become fixated on age or gender either.
Keep it simple - The fewer layers of management you have to better off you will be.
Big corporations spend millions in salary to multiple layers of management each year, yet when the final tally is computed they find those layers produced little or nothing in the way of tangible benefits.
Do everything you can to protect your company from wasted levels of bureaucracy.
Always remember your business plan and fall back on it when things seem to be getting out of hand.
Be flexible and don't panic.