Create a clear marketing plan. It is important to have a defined marketing strategy and not to have a shot gun blast approach. Use a laser beam approach to getting to your target market as this will save you time and money. Only spend time with people already interested in your products or services. How do you do this? Social networking sites are a good way as they allow you to see what people are interested in.

Focus on a specific niche where there's an untapped market or where you feel you can add value and improve upon the service. Google is a prime example. Yahoo had a several year lead on them, but Google had a superior product where the market was not being served.

Create several profit centers with multiple streams of income. You cannot rely soley on one product or one revenue stream. You must diversify, synergize and tie in. Using Google as an example again, they've acquired YouTube and Facebook to get away from just having search and ads as their main source of income.

Automate as many services as possible using software. This allows you to cut costs, save time and have your business working for you 24/7.

Find mentors. Although having a person is best you can use books, CDs and even your own imaginary mentors. In other words if you want to be like Richard Branson, read his biography and imagine having a meeting with him weekly and what he would say to you. Really it's not as crazy as it sounds.

Develop internal strength. You are going to shave setbacks. Whether you will or won't isn't the question. The question is what do you do with those setbacks. You must develop internal fortitude to deal with the bad days. One way is through daily meditation.

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