What does it take to get a new venture up and running? Conventional wisdom suggests that the entrepreneurs should hit the pavement in high gear and then keep up the pace. Research shows, however, that speed alone is not a guarantee for success.

A classic is defined as something that has lasting significance or worth. Knowledge@W. P. Carey offers a selection of books that have passed the test for a group of W. P. Carey School of Business faculty.

There is a significant correlation between higher education and small-business success, according to a recent study by Behavior Research Center of Phoenix conducted in partnership with the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W. P. Carey School of Business.

A study of entrepreneurial cultures by W. P. Carey School of Business management professor Angelo Kinicki revealed similarities in leadership styles of the most successful companies.

An outgrowth of Motorola in the late 1980s, Iridium was set up to be the world's first global wireless phone company.

Some small firms have weathered the economic storm by cutting expenses and reducing staff. But others have continued forward by focusing on what they do best: exemplary customer service, employee excellence and innovation. They tweaked their business plans to react to the new economic realities.

Recessions are especially hard on small businesses. Few small firms have the resources to stay the course and wait out the bad times. Credit is scarce, and budget cutting difficult. In a small operation, there are not that many places to cut.

Thirty-seven years ago Roy Vallee was stocking shelves at a small electronics distribution company in Los Angeles. That small firm has grown up to become Avnet, Inc., a Fortune 500 firm located in Phoenix, Arizona.

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Tom Blondi, who has been involved with several start-ups, says it takes more than a great idea. Much as you might like the cheerleaders, what you need more is someone who will ask tough, specific questions.

What are the characteristics of companies that succeed, even in tough times? The stories behind the five winners of this year's Spirit of Enterprise Awards are instructive.