Monday, December 7, 2009
See You in Febraury
The Business Book Club will be taking January off but we are excited to kick-off the New Year in February when we will discuss "Idea Spotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea" by Sam Harrison. We will meet at 6:30 (instead of our usual time at 6:15) in the large Program Room at the Green Valley Library.
Since starting the book club in September we have had inspired discussions about business and life as a leader. We are looking forward to more interesting discussions and seeing new faces. The Business Book Club is a great place to network and bounce ideas off other entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals.
If you have questions about The Business Book Club, email Megan Lane.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Book Review: "E-Myth Revisited"
“E-Myth Revisited” is written in three distinct parts. “The E-Myth and American Small Business” examines the infancy, adolescence and maturity phases of starting a business. The “Turn Key Revolution” discusses the necessity of creating uniform systems for the business. The final section, “Building a Small Business That Works,” lays out the author’s philosophy of how an entrepreneur should build a successful business. A common element throughout the book is the author’s example of Sarah, a pie baker, who learns how her business habits resulted in poor results. By the end of the book, she’s learned how to overcome the problems and build a successful business.
Here are some other resources:
E-Myth Revisited on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/E-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254721177&sr=8-1
Review #1: http://businesscoaching.typepad.com/the_business_coaching_blo/2007/09/michael-gerber-.html
Review #2: http://ezinearticles.com/?Book-Summary:-The-E-Myth-Revisited&id=12930
Interview with Michael Gerber: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/02/27/escaping-the-entrepreneurial-seizure-interview-with-michael-gerber-plus-tim-speaking/
E-Myth Worldwide (Michael Gerber’s Website): http://www.e-myth.com/
“E-Myth Revisited” has become more relevant lately because of the adversity in our economy. Entrepreneurs are responding to new market dynamics by developing new systems to address the new problems. Understanding the concepts in “E-Myth Revisited” can empower an entrepreneur to build a business instead of just a job without boundaries.
We welcome you to discuss Michael Gerber’s “E-Myth Revisited” at the Green Valley Library on October 6, 2009 at 6 p.m.. To RSVP for email Megan Lane.
William Crozer is a strategic advisor for Entrepreneur Advisors and can be email directly at wcrozer@entadvisors.com.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Oct. 2009: Suggested Reading List
Below is a working list of books that we have developed either from books we have read, want to read or have been recommended to us. Some of them are specific business books, but there are a few that tell a story with a lesson that can be applied to business. Please feel free to click through the links and provide feedback on the books on this list in the comment section. Also, feel free to add to the list, be sure to include a link as well.
- “Broken Windows, Broken Business” by Michael Levine (2006)
- “Buyology: Truths and Lies About Why We Buy” by Martin Lindstrom and Paco Underhill (2008)
- “E-Myth: Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber (1995)
- “Free!” by Chris Anderson (2009)
- “First, Break All the Rules” by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman (1999)
- “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff (2008)
- “Idea Spotting” by Sam Harrison (2006)
- “Juicing the Orange: How to Turn Creativity Into a Powerful Business Advantage” by Pat Fallon and Fred Senn (2006)
- “In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules” by Stacy Perman (2009)
- “Made to Stick” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (2007)
- “Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions” by John Kotter, Holger Rathgeber, Peter Mueller, and Spencer Johnson
- “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell (2008)
- “Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success” by Kevin Freiberg and Jackie Freiberg (1998)
- “Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money” by Robert Kiyosaki (2009)
- “Simple Truths of Service: Inspired By Johnny the Bagger” by Ken Blanchard & Barbara Glanz
- “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (2009)
- “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni (2002)
- “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss (2007)
“The Experience Economy: Work Is Theater & Every Business a Stage” by B. Joseph Pine and James H. Gilmore (1999) - “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” by Malcolm Gladwell (2002)
- “What Got You Here Won't Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith (2007)
- “What Would Google Do?” by Jeff Jarvis (2009)
- “Powerlines: Words That Sell Brands, Grip Fans and Sometimes Change History” by Steve Cone (2008)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Meeting Day Clarification
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Tuesday, Nov. 3
Tuesday, Dec. 1
All meetings will continue to be held at the Green Valley Library at 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Upcoming Book Club Choices
As a group we chose the titles through the end of the year, here they are:
October 6 -- "E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber
November 3 -- "Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success" by Kevin Freiberg and Jackie Freiberg
December 1 -- "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" by Malcolm Gladwell
Books can be reserved through the Henderson Libraries by contacting Rachelle Smith or purchased online at the Henderson Libraries bookstore.
If you have suggestions of books you would like us to read or if you would like to RSVP for the next book club, email Megan Lane.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Get Them to Come to You
I first learned about Scott “The Nametag Guy” Ginsberg while listening to a podcast about his latest book, “Stick Yourself Out There/Get Them to Come to You.” (Scott is a creative fellow and gives his readers two books for the price of one, packaged together in a unique flip-flop format).
During the podcast, I was struck by his enthusiasm for creating approachability. The marketplace is so congested that you have to stand out from competitors and peers to be successful. How will you create thought leadership? How will you increase your web presence in an effective way? Scott focuses on tips and tricks to create approachability and solve the common problems professionals face in building their own personal brand. He covers everything from making first impressions to business card design to leveraging social media.
Scott is at his best at a tactical level. In “Get Them to Come to You,” he gives his readers literally hundreds of ideas they can put into use immediately. The book’s premise is that in today’s world, attention is currency and the best way to get attention is not to seek it but to attract it. Or, as he says in a Zen-like way, “Be the bull’s-eye, not the arrow.” He spends the rest of the book explaining how to do just that.
This in and of itself is not a new concept. Those of us in the marketing biz know it as a “pull strategy,” instead of the more traditional “push strategy” involving heavy doses of mass market advertising. But what Scott does more effectively (and more entertainingly) than anyone else is to refine the strategy and put it directly in the hands of the business person. Some of his concepts will force you to rethink your entire business model (a good thing in the New Economy):
* Get away from what everyone else is doing
* Create a marketing environment
* Develop a web presence, not just a web site
* Become not only an expert but the perceived expert
* Be the go-to resource for media
* The power of giving stuff away for free
And much, much more.
Throughout, Scott asks thought-provoking questions that could conceivably rock your world. Here are two of my favorites:
* If everybody did EXACTLY what I said, what would the world look like?
* What if I only sold one thing?
I’ve been thinking about these ever since.
If you’re interested in learning more about Scott and his books, check out these links:
Beyond his books, Scott is a very interesting and deep thinker devoted to writing hours a day. I’ve had the privilege of meeting him personally; true to his writing and philosophy, he’s one of the most approachable people I’ve ever met. And he does wear his nametag wherever he goes. (We won’t talk about his nametag tattoo.)
I’ve made it a habit of stopping by Scott’s blog a couple times a week to see what new ideas he’s turned up. I frequently find myself recharged by his writing. If you’re ever headed to his hometown of St. Louis, be sure to bring him an In ‘n’ Out Burger; he’ll be your friend forever.
Learn more about Scott at his blog, website and on You Tube. For the ultimate Nametag Guy overload, check out his Squidoo page.
I hope you will join us for the first Business Book Club meeting on Tuesday, September 8 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at the Green Valley Library, located on Green Valley Parkway just of Sunset Road, where we will discuss Scott’s book.
You can purchase the book through Amazon. Here’s the link to the page. We also have several copies available to share. Please contact me directly to borrow one of these editions: wcrozer@entadvisors.com.
William Crozer is an advisor