A common theme ran through this interview. No matter what you do, think about what's right for your business, then choose the right actions. Don't copy other businesses. Plan ahead. 

Our subject experts, Whitney Keyes (marketing), Priya Cloutier (intellectual property) and Wendy Gillihan (human resources), also weighed in on essential characteristics of entrepreneurs. Oh, and they had a few words to say about social media too. How they use it for themselves and what they recommend to clients.

Don't get obsessed with all the fun communications tools; keep the end goal in mind. Whitney also shared a few ideas on how to compete with the big guys for media attention. 

Keep up with changes in patent law. Know where to find value in your business and how to protect your intellectual property. All types of companies need to understand IP, not just tech.

Most small business owners who want to grow wait too long to hire. Don't wait. Make a plan. Understand the type of expertise you need, how much you'll need to pay and what you need to have on reserve. And, if you're just starting a business, say goodbye to the 40 hour work week.

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Patti Dobrowolski, of Up Your Creative Genius, consults with Fortune 100 companies all around the world about visual goal setting. She's the author of "Drawing Solutions," which contains a template, among other ideas, for mapping out your new reality. She doesn't believe in luck, but in the ability to harness the power of the brain to achieve success. Hear more about how entrepreneurs can get what they want by following her process.

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