LooseSuits

The odds are stacked against entrepreneurs, and many handicap themselves by making decisions that actually make them more likely to fail, according to Scott Shane, author of The Illusions of Entrepreneurship. "There are many things that we know enhance the performance of startups that most entrepreneurs aren't doing," Shane writes. "You can take the atypical (and better) approach. If you do, you won't guarantee your success, but you will increase your odds." His tips follow.