Having the right people in the right places distinguishes good companies from great companies. Whether your company is a neighborhood deli or a Fortune 50 super power, your people--the executives, the first-time supervisors, the programmers, the janitors--determine your business' success. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that businesses distinguish themselves from competitors. That means finding a way to stand out from the crowd, finding a way to out-compete competitors large and small. Fortunately for small businesses, competitive advantage--the lasting kind--is not a product of the latest, most expensive technology or the right uptown address or having enough cash to buy up your nearest competitors. Sustainable competitive advantage comes from something every business can afford-- attracting, hiring, developing and managing the right people in the right roles. Long after the cutting-edge technology has been upgraded and the product or service has been eclipsed, your organization will still be reaping the rewards of your decision to put your best people to work on your biggest opportunities. So how do you ensure that you have the right talent in the right roles, and that they have the tools they require to build, grow and sustain your organization? 1. Understand your organization 2. Focus on TALENT 3. Partner strategically (with YourHRBusinessPartner.com)