"People are always asking 'Which mower is the best?' My standard response is the one where you have the best relationship with your dealer."

Unhappy customers are part of doing business. You try to understand their point of view and offer a solution. But, what if that approach doesn't work and the customer begins publicly attacking your reputation?

Small-business owners get unsolicited advice everyday. Some of it can be very helpful, some of it is better off ignored. If you hear any of the "words of wisdom" listed below, our advice to you is to smile, say thank you, and move on.

Don't let price competition deter you

Almost all companies prepare a budget, or annual operating plan. And almost all companies do it wrong.

As many of the game bird hunters among your customers can attest, success can often be measured in the ability to anticipate. Wall Street traders and military strategists may have the same advice. Know where your target is headed and then get there first, with your bead, your investment or your troops.

If you want to motivate your employees, you give them a raise, right? Wrong. In fact, sometime a raise can even de-motivate an employee. "We all like to make money, but it is not the "be all and end all".

There's a famous scene in the 1992 movie "A Few Good Men" where the hardened professional soldier (Jack Nicholson) yells to the idealist lawyer (Tom Cruise): "You can't handle the truth!" Sad to say, that's often the case for salespeople, who are sometimes afraid to ask prospective customers questions that might reveal that the "opportunity" isn't going as well as they assumed.

23 million small business in America account for 54% of all sales.