 Here is a great business start up reading list from Business Insider. How many of these have you read? What is the best one you've read?
1. "Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable" by Seth Godin 2. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change" by Stephen R. Covey 3. "You Already Know How to Be Great: A Simple Way to Remove Interference and Unlock Your Greatest Potential" by Alan Fine with Rebecca R. Merrill 4. "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D. 5. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie 6. "Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time" by Keith Ferrazzi 7. "The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey" by Ken Blanchard 8. "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor E. Frankl 9. "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith 10. "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell 11. "Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works" by A. G Lafley and Roger L. Martin 12. "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… And Others Don't" by Jim Collins Read more: http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2014/03/21/best-business-books-read-starting-next-venture/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=best-business-books-read-starting-next-venture#ixzz2x68X88v
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 I just returned from a trip to Chicago, my former home. I was back to attend the International Housewares Show and check out the most recent kitchen and housewares for my shop.
I've exhibited at a number of trade shows, including NYNOW and Atlanta International Gift and love the energy at a good show. Believe it or not, many booths are staffed by the founders/owners of the exhibiting company and there's a real excitement in being around people who love their business and want to show it off to the world. If you're feeling in a slump with your business, it's time to see who's in your hive. If you're not surrounding yourself with other dynamic, exciting entrepreneurs, you're doing yourself and your business a disservice. Surround yourself with people that are excited about what they do, take action and reach for the stars. It's easy to pick up on other people's energy and let it affect your own mood. You need to either choose not to let it affect you or surround yourself with those that will have a more positive effect. It's an easy way to get back on track to have an inspiring business.  I recently read a really interesting article in the NY Times Magazine about how the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) could lead to an explosion in entrepreneurs. If you know anyone that has remained at a job they hate just to keep health insurance, you'll understand.
Once freed from the pressure of maintaining employer-provided health insurance, many workers may choose to finally start a business or find new employment better suited to their skills and desires. The healthcare exchange makes it possible to obtain coverage on one's own, a feat that was previously very difficult, especially for anyone with a pre-existing medical condition. More entrepreneurs lead to more start up businesses and more money in the economy.  One area I constantly struggle with is planning. With my first business, I was able to plan in small increments (ie: if I had a trade show coming up, I designed my catalog in advance and had samples ready), but I did not plan so well beyond say, 90 days. This led me to world of trouble.
I think part of the problem is I had ideas and I executed on them, and though I knew bits and pieces of where I wanted to go, I just failed to solidify them. I was still able to accomplish a lot, but I constantly felt disorganized and that I was always throwing things against the wall to see what would stick. Quite honestly, I think business plans in the traditional sense are garbage. Getting some random template and filling in an "executive summary" doesn't exactly get the creative juices flowing. To be most effective, the plan has to be meaningful to the business owner. I suggest the following when planning: 1. Imagine your business in three years: what do you want it to look like, how does it run, who is involved, how much money does it make? 2. What steps do you think you need to take each year to make that three year image happen? 3. Decide on your goals for this year. Write them down. Now, break up the year into four 90 day (quarterly) segments. 4. For the first 90 days, establish short term goals that will get you on a path to your year end goal. 5. For the next 90 days, establish goals that will continue your path toward your year end goal. Do the same for the remaining 90 day segments. 6. For the next 60 days, follow your plan and break it down further into monthly and weekly goals. When you get to 60 days, take a look at the second quarter goals and see if they are still relevant. If you accomplished more or less than you thought, you can adjust the next quarter as needed. 7. At the end of the month and quarter, look back to see what your goals were and how many of them you accomplished. This will help greatly when you feel frustrated that you're not doing enough. If you keep following a consistent plan, at the end of the year you'll be pleasantly surprised by just how much you accomplished. |
AuthorSarah E. Holmes is a Philadelphia business attorney and strategist that helps start ups and established businesses looking to expand, protect their assets and increase their profits in an approachable, down-to-earth way. When you're looking for a business lawyer in Philadelphia, the Main Line or New Jersey, we can help. Categories
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