Did you see the Today Show interview with Susan Boyle (the new sensation from this season's Britain's Got Talent)?

Her story is so touching!

As she puts it, "to go from obscurity" to instant fame is "indescribable".  When asked what it felt like to become an overnight success, she responded, "It was like being hit with a demolition ball."

Whoa.  For some reason her story just resonates with me.  Sure, it's touching and inspiring, but even more, her story presents an even bigger lesson--How to Manage Overnight Success.

As small business owners and entrepreneurs, we want nothing more than to watch people flock to our great ideas.  We are so passionate about what we know and what we do, and often dream of waking up one day to a booming business.

However, do you know what you'd do if this actually happened?  Would you be ready to manage the instant success?  Or would this be the biggest nightmare that ever came true?

Most small businesses are not equipped to handle the change that overnight success would bring.  In fact, entrepreneurs and small business owners spend most of their time in survival mode, and put strategic planning on the backburner.