Don’t let the headlines fool you. There are new small businesses being formed every single day. Sometimes it is because of layoffs from the corporate job but lots of times it is because of the exercise of choice. (And even those who are laid off and start small businesses should be able to look back on these times as a defining, exhilarating moment in their life.

Now, don’t make this mistake:

Most will look around at what others are doing in their industry and just try to copy that. The thought here is that “it must be working — everyone’s doing it.”

Don’t be foolish. The majority is at best, average.

Earl Nightingale said that the best thing you could do if you were starting a new business is to look around at what everyone else is doing and DO THE OPPOSITE. That’s the only way you can stand out from the crowd.

Don’t “get” what I just meant by that? Join us at a local meeting of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle.