10 Must-Reads for Biz Owners
The number of layoffs is staggering.
Although the bottom of the economic recession is nowhere in sight, there are opportunities. There are always opportunities if you can see them. Some examples: marketing the unemployed; developing products that will save companies money by taking over functions handled by people; and providing sites that match the unemployed with full- and part-time work.
To improve your chances of identifying opportunities that will allow you to survive the financial tsunami, I recommend you read the following books.
1. The Five Most Important Questions You Will Ever Ask About Your Organization, by Peter Drucker. The book, put out by the Leader to Leader Institute, provides advice on how to focus your organization by starting with a self-assessment through developing and implementing a plan that matches today's reality.
2. Startup Guide to Guerrilla Marketing, by Jay and Jeannie Levinson. Every company needs to spend money to keep their name out there so business clients will give them consideration. Reading this will provide you with ideas on how to position your company against rivals as well as inexpensive marketing tactics.
3. From the Bureau to the Boardroom, by Dan Garrison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of the most adaptable and well-organized groups. The reader learns how the FBI has developed its management skills to train and turn out the best police investigators in the world.
4. 101 Ways to Turn Your Business Green, by Rich Mintzer. President Obama has made energy and the environment a top priority. The book is focused on what companies should do to be greener, but it is really a great book to learn about the products and services that will be in demand for the next four to eight years.
5. The New Elite, by Jim Taylor, Doug Harrison and Stephen Kraus. The book was written before the stock market crashed and wiped out many millionaires, but there are still people with wealth and money to spend. This book provides insights into how to market to this group that goes beyond designer names.
