Lessons you can learn from big business
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5. Be careful to live within your means. As companies grow, they need to make sure that expenses don't outpace revenues, says Eric Tyson, author of "Personal Finance for Dummies." He points to Whole Foods as an example of a company that's doing it right. As the company expands, it's also keeping an eye on expenses and quality. "Clearly, it is spending more money, but doing it in a thoughtful fashion," says Tyson.

What the rest of us can learn: Like big companies, we all have problems living within our means. Too often, raises mean living at the same level of debt in a better ZIP code. Instead, do some thinking and decide ahead of time how you can get the most out of that money.

6. Pay attention to the details. The late Sam Walton of Wal-Mart knew how to pay attention to key details without micromanaging, says Weaver, who did some work for the company in the mid-1980s.

When Walton visited stores, he wanted to see a shopper-friendly environment with clean, bright, well-maintained stores, says Weaver. "If there were potholes or lights out on the sign, you might be fired on the spot," he says. And that attention to detail helped distinguish the company from its competition and fuel its success, he says.

What the rest of us can learn: The same attitude can help you make a success of your job, whatever you do. Look at what you do from someone else's eyes, says Weaver. Ask, "What do your customers see? What do your employers see?"

7. Play to your strengths. While staying on as company chairman, Bill Ford recently stepped down as CEO of Ford Motor Co., turning that spot over to former Boeing exec Alan Mulally. The reason: The company is changing direction and Ford stated that he wanted it to have the benefit of a corporate head with experience in guiding a major manufacturer through such a transition. That gutsy move shows that Ford is not only listening, but he is putting the company above himself, Weaver says. "He's a Ford and a major shareholder, and he's willing to step back," he says.

What the rest of us can learn: It's no sin to know what you don't know and plan accordingly. Whether you're drafting a budget or making investment decisions, know your own limitations. And don't be afraid to call on people who have the expertise you need.

8. Continue to cultivate your strongest skills. Strong companies that make a reputation in one area don't abandon their bread and butter for the latest trend. Good example: Verizon, says Tyson. As the company grows the business and expands into new areas, it's stayed in the field that it's known for: communication. The company is "sticking with the things that build off of its core expertise," he says.

What the rest of us can learn: When you're planning your own investments, start with the areas where you have the most skill and knowledge. You can always branch off from there.

While some people are more experienced in real estate, others do well in the stock market. Stick with areas where you have some expertise, use them as your bases and expand from there. Just be sure that within your specialty, you also build some diversity into your plan. That way, if one area takes a beating, you can balance it with other investments. 

Think the same way on the job. Try to learn new skills and expand your abilities, but make sure you don't slack off on those things you do very well.

9. Be realistic about what works in the real world. Steve Demos, head of White Wave, started producing and marketing soy foods because he believed in their health benefits, but he subsequently realized that no one would buy the brand if the products didn't also look and taste good. His real-world solution: Develop an appealing soy milk product that would be marketed in refrigerated cartons on the dairy aisle, says Barbara Bund, a senior lecturer at MIT and author of "The Outside-In Corporation."

The resulting product, Silk Soymilk, is now a successful household name.

What the rest of us can learn: Be just as pragmatic when you manage your finances, says Bund. Having a good product -- or a good financial plan -- might not be enough to guarantee that you meet your goals.  If your plans look good on paper, but you can't seem to make them happen in the real world, take a cold, hard look at the real reasons why.

"Truckloads of people want to be saving more, managing money well and using credit cards wisely," says Bund. But the secret to realizing your financial goals might be to acknowledge what's really important to you, what you're doing about those goals (as opposed to what you think you should be doing) and proceed from there.

Says Bund, "Be more realistic."