Have you ever wondered why some small businesses survive while others don't? Or why some businesses grow and become large companies while others remain small forever? There are four major stages of a business life cycle (the start-up stage, the growth stage, the mature stage, and the decline stage). Unfortunately, many small businesses fail in the start-up stage of the business life cycle; that is, within the first to fifth year of operation. Additionally, many small businesses stay small and never really become large companies. But then, every large company today was once a small company when they started, such as Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. What makes some companies grow and move to the next phase, while others don't? The answer is in this book. After reading various business school case studies about the rise and fall of businesses and a review of 75 successful publicly traded companies in five industries, I have found that companies that survive to the next stage all have certain things in common. 1.They have a business strategy.2.They are aware of the unique problems facing each stage of a business life cycle.3.They take process innovation and customer responsiveness very seriously.4.They are aware of the external environment that affects their business operations.5.They understand and take seriously the story their financial statements tell.6.They follow their customers wherever they are globally. After all, 95% of the world population lives outside of the United States.7.They are aware of the basic business technology needed for small business operation. This book will show you how to start, grow and successfully expand your small business globally.