make things happen. As a result, you may focus so completely on the immediate goals at hand that you lose sight of the larger picture.     Recognizing that you dont know everything is a good first step toward business success. If youre unsure of yourself in any particular area, please take advantage of the advice and help that is there for the asking. That way, youre less likely to be sabotaged by something you didnt know- and didnt know you didnt know.         1. Its Lonely at the Top     As a business owner, you often make decisions in a vacuum. Most of the time you wont have immediate peers who understand your business and can also offer you good, dispassionate advice. Probably you have to go it alone, and that can be pretty tough.     You and your business become targets for an army of job-seekers, government regulators, charities, competitors, consultants, salespeople, insurance brokers and so forth. All these people have their own goals and objectives, which may or may not coincide with yours. As a matter of survival, you must become skeptical about what people claim they can do for you or your business. This isnt necessarily either bad or good, its just the way things are. You are the only one who can decide what is good for your business.     You also have to manage relations with your three primary sources of business success: customers, suppliers and employees. Again, each person in these groups has her own set of goals and objectives. Your job is to reconcile all those competing interests so that your business prospers.     Incidentally, I hope this doesnt read like a nightmare to you, because it isnt a nightmare. In fact, I think its one of the best parts about being in business for yourself. As a business owner, you decide the goals and the steps to reach them. The comparison is similar to the difference between riding in the back seat of a car and driving the car. If youre like me, youre a lot more comfortable when youre driving the car.     Axiom: If you need approval from others to function at your best, you will be uncomfortable as a business owner.     Advice: Get tough. Learn how to set goals and reach them. Learn when to take others views into consideration and when to ignore them.     2. Anticipate Problems Before They Arise     Your business plan describes the risks your business faces. Periodically reread that risk discussion to see if youd like to add anything to the list. If youre like most people, youll admit that there may be something you missed and that you dont know what it is.     Things always go wrong in business. Your job is to notice troubles and problems before they become major hurdles. If you dont notice the mistake until others tell you about the unfortunate results, it may be too late for an easy, inexpensive cure.