The Sandhills chapter of SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business) begins the winter/spring 2012 edition of its small business seminar series Tuesday, Jan. 24, with "The Right Stuff."

The seminar begins at 6 p.m. in room 103 of Van Dusen Hall at Sandhills Community College. This is the first in a series of six "Business Basics" seminars sponsored jointly by SCORE and the Small Business Center of Sandhills Community College.

"In today's fast-paced world of commerce, starting a new business brings more challenges than ever," a SCORE news release said. "Having the 'right stuff,' the kind Tom Wolfe described in his best-seller book and movie, to persevere through the trials and tribulations and manage the risks of starting and running a business, greatly improves the likelihood of success."

The goal of this seminar is to enable the aspiring entrepreneur to realistically assess the risk of starting into business by highlighting the various pitfalls that will likely be encountered and suggesting strategies and tactics for success to overcome these challenges, SCORE said.

The seminar teaches how to develop the "right stuff" to be able to start a new business in a way that increases the potential to be a winner. Topics covered include why most new businesses fail, what it takes to be successful, tips on starting and running your own business, pitfalls that will destroy a new business and "It's All About You - Visionary, Manager, Doer."

To register for the seminar, call the Small Business Center at (910) 695-3938. Registration will also be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the seminar.

SCORE is a nationwide nonprofit association of experienced business people who provide free, confidential counseling to small business owners. The Sandhills chapter is active in counseling, mentoring and presenting free business seminars.

Anyone wanting to speak to SCORE counselors must register as a client at www.edmisscore.org/0364.

In addition to counseling by appointment, the Sandhills chapter of SCORE has drop-in service, for those who have registered, from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays at the Moore County Chamber of Commerce building on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines. The phone number is (910) 692-3926.

More information on SCORE's counseling activity and a complete description of each seminar can be found at the Sandhills SCORE website, www.sandhillsscore.org.