percentage of these stores have failed because the skills needed to run a successful bookstore involve more than a love of books.     2. General and Specific Skills Your Business Needs     Businesses need two kinds of skills to survive and prosper: skills for business in general and skills specific to the particular business. For example, every business needs someone to keep good financial records. On the other hand, the tender touch and manual dexterity needed by glass- blowers are not skills needed by the average paving contractor.     Next, take a few minutes and list the skills your business needs. Dont worry about making an exhaustively complete list, just jot down the first things that come to mind. Make sure you have some general business skills as well as some of the more important skills specific to your particular business.     If you dont have all the skills your business needs, your backers will want to know how you will make up for the deficiency. For example, lets say you want to start a trucking business. You have a good background in maintenance, truck repair, and long distance driving, and you know how to sell and get work. Sounds good so far-but, lets say you dont know the first thing about bookkeeping or cash flow management and the thought of using a computer makes you nervous. Because some trucking businesses work on large dollar volumes, small profit margins and slow- paying customers, your backers will expect you to learn cash flow management or hire someone qualified to handle that part of the business.           Antoinette Gorzak: General and Specific Skills My Business Needs     1.How to motivate employees     2.How to keep decent records     3.How to make customers and employees think the business is special     4.How to know what the customers want-today and, more important in the clothing business, to keep half-a-step ahead     5.How to sell     6.How to manage inventory     7.How to judge people             3. Your Likes and Dislikes     Take a few minutes and make a list of the things you really like doing and those you dont enjoy.