The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. – James BryceBooks are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. -Charles W. EliotThe man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. – Mark Twain
What better way to start a New Year than with a good book designed to help improve your business, your career and your future? Here is a list of popular publications from which you can select your next read.Driven: Business Strategy, Human Actions, and the Creation of Wealth by Joel Litman and Mark Frigo (Strategy and Execution , January 2008)This book is based upon a 10-year research project on thousands of businesses that have succeeded, failed and maintained mediocrity. Driven examines how a business’s plans and actions determine it trajectory and introduces the Return Driven Strategy as a “framework for business analysis and planning prioritization.” This book contains helpful case studies and practical advice in evaluating critical business decisions.Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renee Maugorgne (Harvard Business Press, February 2005)Using the metaphor of an expanding and competitor-free blue ocean, this book examines how some businesses ensure their success by avoiding “red oceans” which have been thoroughly explored and are rife with competition. Blue Ocean Strategy encourages innovation while focusing on creating and capturing new demand rather than competing for an existing market share. This book includes examples from Southwest Airlines, Cirque du Soleil, Curves, and Starbucks.The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small-Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber (HarperCollins, March 1995)While this book may have been written 15 years ago, its continued status as a best-seller is an indication of its value to small business owners everywhere. The author himself explains, “If you own a small business, or if you want to own a small business, this book was written for you.” Gerber dispels startup myths and misconceptions. He also walks readers through the different stages of business developments and makes the distinction between working on your business and working in your business. Some claim the principles discussed in this book have already qualified it as a classic and must-read for all entrepreneurs.Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins (HarperBusiness, October 2001)A prequel to Collins’ bestseller Built to Last, Good to Great is based on research of 1,435 companies to determine what characteristics successful companies share. That list is narrowed down to 11 businesses that made substantial performance improvements over the course of time, including Fannie Mae, Gillette, Walgreens and Wells Fargo.In the Black: Nine Principles to Make Your Business Profitable, by Allen Bostrom (Universal Accounting Center, 2005)Designed specifically for the small business, this book contains 9 practical principles that will enable you to improve your business’s profitability. And you don’t have to wait to complete the book before you can start applying them. Working from personal experience and the experience of his father, President and CEO of Universal Accounting Center, Allen Bostrom, shares tips proven in countless businesses just like your own. If you would like to run a more synchronized practice where all three business functions (accounting, marketing, and production) work together, this is the book for you. See why In the Black has become a bestseller on Japan’s amazon.com. Order your copy today!
