Oh, how I love a start-up! If they were a person, they would be a three year old. Full of exuberance and energy and far more brave than what a more sensible, mature entity might deem wise. Not yet disappointed and jaded by the inevitable hard knocks of the business world, the excitement of the start-up is infectious. Much like a young child reminds us of our own youth and innocence, so does the start-up renew our optimism in entrepreneurship and enterprise.

Engendering those kinds of feelings in your stakeholders is a powerful thing. Your bigger, more established competitors can't do it and chances are good that your fellow start-up competitors don't know how to do it. Here's a few tips on how to make the most of your distinct advantage!

1. Be Yourself: Let's face it, what makes your company different than it's competitors is you. You can have all the USPs (Unique Selling Propositions) in the world, but it's you (your personality, your integrity, your approach) that sets you apart and makes people want to be a part of your world.

2. Ask for help: People want to help. Hard to believe, I know, but true nonetheless. Asking your stakeholders for help in the form of feedback, advice, mentorship, or referrals shows a certain amount of appealing vulnerability and if help is rendered the helper often feels a sense of protectiveness and investment in your company. This is not a bad thing.

3. Make a New Friend: There's a whole community of prospective customers, complementary service providers, and mavens out there just waiting to meet you and be your friend. Get yourself out on the virtual (Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Flickr, Ning) and real world (Chambers of Commerce, community associations, industry events) playgrounds and make some new friends who will be eager to share your excitement with their own networks.

4. Act your age: The number one mistake that many young companies make is trying to appear older and more established than they really are. Picture a three year old dressed up in her mom's clothes and makeup. Uh-huh, cute, but not the image you want others to have of you. Don't throw away your most powerful advantage - a freshness and energy that older companies can't touch.

5. Tell your story: It's all about the story. Whether in the professional or personal realm, it's the story that engages and compels. Give people something to relate to (the excitement and anxiety of starting something new), paint a picture that's vivid in their mind (describe how you started your pet jewelry company after Fido swallowed your Tiffany charm bracelet), and leave them with your vision of things to come.

6. Mind Your Manners - In this world of mass communication, "Thank You" seems to be the second hardest word (after "Sorry", according to Elton John). A sincere thank you for kindnesses given is a powerful message. Many bigger companies (and their management personnel) get caught up in their own importance and forget the simple courtesies. Thanking people who reach out to your company, share news, or email you with questions will make you stand out.

7. Sharing is caring - Take the time to offer your pearls of wisdom in your areas of expertise, whether in a volunteer setting, through LinkedIn Answers, or through an industry association. You can be the go to person for questions, advice, or referrals, in your area of expertise without an awful lot of effort. Just be willing to share some of your knowledge openly and freely for the sheer joy of loving what you do and wanting others to benefit from that.

8. Remember where you came from - We all had to start somewhere. It always irks me to run into managers from small-turned-midsize companies who act as if their corporation sprung from Zeus' head fully formed. Come on, we all know better. There are struggles, fear, uncertainties, and doubt for any fledgling company and its coming through that fire intact that makes them successful in the end. As your entrepreneurial venture takes flight, remember where you came from and give those upcoming fledglings a receptive ear and a gracious welcome.