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Will your idea fly with customers? Here's the best way to find out. Editor's note: This post is part of a series featuring excerpts from the recently published book, The Startup Owner's Manual , written by serial entrepreneurs-turned-educators Steve Blank and Bob Dorf.

Use this seven-step process to develop and tell a business anecdote that will you help close the deal. There are few sales tools more powerful than stories, if they're appropriate and well-told. Because they are always about people and events that changed people's lives in some way, anecdotes create emotion and interest.

Here's why, if you want to get to $500 million, you should set your goal at $450 million. I have a non-standard philosophy on goal setting.

How to spread the word when you're new to an industry, don't have a big budget, and have few people to help you do it. If you're like many start-up founders I know, you’re on a limited budget , have limited manpower, and you're working in an industry that's new to you.

Your goal isnt to ensure every employee is great; it's to ensure that collectively they'll be great. (Theres a big difference.) We all know what makes a great team: Great people, right?

When Ardie Ulukaya launched the 34 Heritage denim brand in the United States just over a year ago, the goal was to create a gentleman’s pant collection that combined the casual look and feel of jeans with the comfort of a trouser.

You're in an epic battle against distractions--and most of the time you're on the losing side.

If you want your audience to make a decision, you need to tell a good story.

Big, nonsensical blunders such as a bad acquisition can happen when you don't consider a broad enough set of growth paths. Do you ever wonder why businesses make big, nonsensical, blunders like a bad acquisition or selling an unprofitable product?

I have a positive outlook for 2012. But it's more important than ever to map out the goals you want to stick to.

Youre ready to start investing again in growth initiatives but your management team is at odds over what to do next. Building a value model will help train everyone's focus on your growth goals. Most of us spent the past few years doing more with less.

%excerpt% More here: Why Entrepreneurs Gain Weight: 3 Reasons

If you can't describe your own products without resorting to marketingspeak, you're losing sales. Here are 3 mistakes to avoid. Most product descriptions suck, especially when they’re written by marketing people who have never sold anything.

This plan will help you refocus on high-potential opportunities that will bring your target back in view. A client of ours —let’s call him Pete—recently took on the most challenging role of his career.

Took your eye off your goal? Take these suggestions to get back on track. Becky McCray publisher of Small Biz Survival advises how to stay focused day to day