RECRUITING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES can be one of the most difficult aspects of managing a growing business. Entrepreneurial companies are competing not only with big firms that have greater resources, but also with each other. But many growing companies have improved their ability to compete for talented staff by offering benefits that bigger companies may not offer--such as an opportunity to participate in ownership and critical decision-making, flexible schedules, an informal work environment, less red tape, and an openness to new ideas and innovation. Creativity, flexibility and aggressive performance-based compensation are the most competitive tools available to ...