1. Encourage Input Google team members live by a code of tolerance and respect. Once decisions are made, the company insists upon consensus and cooperation from everyone.

2. Think Lean A typical employee-to-manager ratio in the technology industry is seven-to-one. Google averages 20 employees for every managerthe result of an inclusive culture.

3. Focus On The Numbers Data rules at Google, as the company understands decision-making is easier when based on facts. Make sure your small business has strong data.

4. Share On Fridays, Google has an all-hands on deck meeting complete with refreshments to disseminate information and solicit feedback.

5. Test Employment candidates endure several levels of testing and eight or more interviews, being graded at every turn. Some of the brightest dont get hired, if theyre not team players.

6. Improve On Someone Elses Idea Search engines, video file management, mapping, online auctions, e-mailall of these existed before. Google just made them easier to use.

7. Play Big Some say Google wants to control the Internet, because whoever does will rule the world. There is nothing wrong with aiming high, even if its a tad short of global dominance.

8. Dont Fear Competition Google wasnt afraid to go up against Yahoo or MSN. If you believe in your small business, welcome all challengersand dont fear Goliath.

9. Recover Did you know Google was supposed to be Googol (like the number)? Someone misspelled it on an application, so they went with it. Not a bad decision as it turns out.

10. Create An Experience Google focuses on being user-friendly, utilizing its 82 million monthly visitors as a big testing ground, then adapting quickly to suggestions and feedback.

11. Be Innovative Internet advertising (think: pop-up) was in decline until Google came up with a new approach. Look for new ways to do something old in your small business.

Copyright 2006 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.

David Handler

The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, LLC, and specializes in helping franchisees, franchisors and business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he?s been there ? as a franchisee, franchisor, business owner, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.

There are two ?I?s? in accountability ? You and Me! Together we will achieve your destiny.?

David worked with ABC Sports, ESPN and regional sports programmers HSE (now Fox Sports Southwest) and Raycom. He produced more than 700 live events, including NFL football, NCAA football and basketball, and Major League Baseball. Career highlights were broadcasting Nolan Ryan's 5,000th career strikeout and two of the 15 perfect games in MLB history (Mike Witt-1984 and Kenny Rogers-1994). The second earned a national Telly Award for best sports production and was nominated for an ESPY.

In 1988, David awoke in the middle of the night from a dream and wrote down four words: "Notre Dame, football, travel." Partnering with two lifelong friends, David helped Anthony Travel become the Official Travel Service of the University of Notre Dame, Disney's Wide World of Sports? complex and several other universities. Over one five-year period, Anthony Travel was named one of the 100 fastest growing privately held companies in Dallas on three occasions.

After selling his interest in the travel company in 1998, David joined the International Center for Entrepreneurial Development (ICED) - a family of franchises with nine brands and more than 1,000 locations around the world. As senior VP in charge of marketing, he developed creative programs that franchisees used to gain new customers and increase profits.

David founded Success Handler to utilize the skills gained during his 23-year business career in a coaching capacity with franchisees, franchisors and business owners.