Firas Kittaneh

Richard Branson loves to kite-ski. David Heinemeier Hansson is a race-car driver. Two other entrepreneurs worked on a sporting goods product for years -- then sold it to Timberland.

Becoming enamored by the endless new tech possibilities can cause you to divert your focus from the critical functions of your organization.

Start by collecting data on your customers. Just recognize that they will expect that data to be used to enhance their purchasing experience.

Richard Branson said, "You need to learn when to go forward and when to say no, which can be difficult -- especially if you prefer to say yes, like I do."

As Jack Welch once put it: "Leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions . .do not dwell or cajole."

Send a clear signal to your team that their employer values sleep and its positive impact on employee health.

China is a country whose values and systems are still largely misunderstood by most casual Western observers. Are you game?

Many of the most successful companies in the world, from Apple to Harley-Davidson, have undergone significant brand relaunches.

Most entrepreneurs have an intuitive understanding that mental health is important to the success of their business.

Companies are likely doomed if they commit to creating products they think their customers need, without actually stopping to verify if that's true.

Caffeine is a common fix, but the brief spurts of energy it produces offer only a short-term solution.

Customers are satisfied knowing that someone is listening to them, and, there, social media can be better than phone calls and email.

While procrastination, let unchecked, can be harmful, there are ways to use it to your advantage. Ever consider "controlled procrastination"?

Something as simple as taking a walk while you're at lunch, or making calls, can make a big difference.

For starters, have you ever considered that there actually is a substitute for experience?

Buffer, HubSpot and Warby Parker didn't break the bank with their start-up marketing plans. They just did them well.

Forty-four percent of online consumers called live chat service when they're making online purchases one of a brand's most important website features.

These common psychological obstacles hold potential business owners back from succeeding.

Your brand too will one day have to adapt to survive.

The driving principle, more and more, is to create value as the ultimate goal, rather than profit for profit's sake.

The adage which states that experiencing real change necessitates getting out of your comfort zone isn't some empty cliche.

'Hospitality' has myriad possible interpretations. Hotel industry leaders are using a slew of them to create good feeling about their brands.

Practicing 'persistent curiosity' and having a 'stepping-stone' philosophy are key.

L.L. Bean offers a 'lifetime' guarantee on its products. Isn't that pricey for the company? Not if you keep talking about it.

If you're working 80 hours a week, employees will assume they're expected to, too.

'Hospitality' sometimes goes way beyond a clean room and a decent breakfast.

Destress, stay positive and get some rest. You'll be surprised how a little goes a long way.

There are a bunch of important ones. Bootstrapping your business instead may well be your best bet.

Forget tech: Healthcare, education and real estate are among the industries ripe for entrepreneurial genius.

I became an accidental entrepreneur after saying goodbye to a medical career -- and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.