Secret Agent Plan Spy new business by taking tips from the secret service.

The U.S. Secret Service was first organized in July 1865. Whatthe Secret Service does best: intelligence analysis. It leaves nostone unturned.

The parallel here for entrepreneurs? To generate top-notchbusiness contracts, you need to prospect C-level decision-makers.No need for dark suits and glasses--according to the Society ofCompetitive Intelligence Professionals, 95 percent of competitiveintelligence information is publicly available. Some techniques totry:

1. Tactics planning and prospecting: Build company listsand characterize key C-level decision-makers with Hoover's Lite.Also, stake out the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Watch basicpatent and trademark applications for the inside scoop on acompany's next potential move.