Book Description
ANSWERS YOU NEED FROM EXPERTS YOU TRUST
How many times have you bought the latest and greatest management book and let it collect dust on your shelf? Management fads come and go, but leaders across the globe know that when they need substance, they'll find it in Successful Manager's Handbook.
Fully updated and revised, this 7th edition continues the PDI tradition of providing smart, practical ideas and suggestions that you can use immediately on the job.
Never simplistic, always relevant, Successful Manager's Handbook is the ideal resource for you, your employees and the people you coach.
"A one-stop shop…a wonderful resource for improving performance." — D. Bradford Neary Director, Executive & Leadership Development Medtronic, Inc.
"No manager's toolkit should be without it…indispensable." — Greg Schaefer Manager, Curriculum Development Learning & Development Rockwell Collins
"Successful Manager's Handbook answers the perennial question, 'Now that I know what my strengths and development needs are, exactly what can I do about it?' This simple, action- and behavior-oriented tool helps everyone prepare specific, meaningful development plans." — Coleman Peterson President & CEO, Hollis Enterprises Retired EVP-People Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
"My team and I count on the processes and suggestions in PDI's Successful Manager's Handbook to help us focus the business and deliver on long-term strategies. The processes and suggestions also challenge me personally to become a more effective leader in our organization." — Andrew F. Nelson Vice President, HP & Executive Director HealthPartners Resource Foundation
Customer Reviews:
successful manager's review.......2006-07-16
i gave this book 3 stars because of the size. although, it is very helpful in many ways, i feel that the writers of this book could have condensed a bit more. other than the size i feel some of the page space was wasted on repetition. that is basically it.
Good Reference manual, not textbook.......2006-03-28
First of all, as the name indicates, this book is a handbook. Merriam Webster defines a handbook as "a concise reference book; manual"
For a manual, I have to give this book high marks - it covers a whole gamut of topics / competencies - enough to assist those who consciously want to improve their professional and leadership skills. The language is easy to understand. The only prerequisite is to be in a work-place for a few years so as to appreciate each competency.
Pros:
(1) Compendium of competencies. Most likely, nothing has been missed!
(2) A person who is keen on gaining skill in a particular competency such as "Manage Change" or "Establish Trust" can quickly gather insights into what behaviors and skills he/she must practice or develop.
(3) Easy to understand.
Cons:
(1) No pictures or maps or schematics shown.
(2) No case studies or examples presented.
(3) Not concise. For example, there are 28 chapters in the seventh edition (2004). At a high level, one should be able to identify less than ten key competencies, with each having additional sub-topics. For example, it is easier on the reader to have one chapter on "Foster open Communication" with sub sections of "Write effectively", "Listen attentively", "speak with Impact", etc. rather than have a chapter each. A person solely relying on this book will have difficulty summarizing key leadership qualities. (Imagine organizing 28 chapters in the mind!).
(4) Systematic methodology for skill development not presented.
All this makes for dry reading. But then, if you look upon this book as a reference manual and not as a textbook, you might develop some compassion for the authors!
Here is how I used this book:
(1) Start a personal development plan (consult web, books or leader).
(2) Understand the competencies required for your profession.
(3) Self-assess on the competencies, assigning a skill level of "Development," "Working," or "Advanced".
(4) Have a competent leader who knows you (e.g. your manager) assess your skills. Compare notes.
(5) Pick the top 2-3 competencies where improvement is needed.
(6) Refer to those chapters in this book which correspond to these identified competencies.
(7) Summarize these chapters in your own words as you develop insights.
(8) Periodically look up summary and use these techniques during your waking hours - home or work - until they are internalized.
(9) Repeat this exercise once in 2-3 years.
In summary, this book is a good reference manual for improving one's professional skills, but should not be used as a text book.
Outstanding Reference Tool.......2006-03-03
Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (3/06)
This book is an outstanding reference tool for supervisors, managers, and executives. As a long time manager who dealt with organizational issues, growth, personnel matters, finance, and political influences, and one who teaches undergraduate and graduate school courses in management and leadership, I have experienced most of these issues. The author has done a remarkable job in the detail and accuracy of the work. The work is clear and understandable and organized in such as way as to allow easy access to information. To find such a compendium of information in one book instead of many is an additional benefit. Content is also ratified by the collective skills sets the authors bring.
I highly recommend this book as a desk reference for anyone in a leadership or management role, and highly recommend it for anyone aspiring to the job. The comprehensive nature of the material in the book provides the foundation for new managers. In addition, the reference material leads readers to many other sources, reducing the need for Internet surfing trying to find information, or visiting the local library. As a graduate school faculty member I would also state for the record that this would be a great textbook. The book is written by practitioners who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. This book is a must read. Well done to all the authors - you have provided a book any manager, supervisor, or teacher should have.
Successful Managers Handbook.......2006-02-27
This book is an outstanding reference tool for supervisors, managers, and executives. As a long time manager and one who teaches undergraduate and graduate school courses in management and leadership, I have experienced most of these issues. The author has done a remarkable job in the detail and accuracy of the work. I highly recommend this book as a desk reference for anyone in a leadership or management role, and highly recommend it for anyone aspiring to the job. I would also state for the record that this would be a great textbook. This is a must read. Well done.
Excellent content, very dry style.......2006-01-20
The content of the book is excellent. The authors have created a compendium of the knowledge and behaviors needed for a manager to be successful. One would be hard-pressed to find this much of content in one volume, at the price this book is sold at.
The bad news is that all of the content is in endless streams of paragraphs or bullet points. The total absence of a change in pace (no anecdotes, case studies, sidebars, pictures) makes this a very dry read. The book could be significantly enlivened by the addition of more diagrams that visually illustrate the principles being described.
To make the best use of this material, learn to Mind Map (see Buzan's The Mind Mapping book). As you read through the material, distill the content into mind maps. Continually refer to those mind maps as you practice the behaviors suggested by the authors.
In summary, the content is first-rate, the presentation is lacking.
Book Description
This updated best-selling, comprehensive resource book provides everything you need to create high performing teams. In addition, book purchasers will be able to download electronic versions of forms and templates found in the book for use within their organization! The third edition provides information on the context teams need to be successful. Organizations using teams to improve efficiency and better serve customers will find information on how to start quality initiatives such as Six Sigma or Lean. New information on different types of teams, and new tools and strategies for leading change are covered as well. Several new tools have been added to help teams work well together: affinity diagrams, prioritization matrixes, effort/impact grids, new planning tools, and additional information on effective presentations. The Team Handbook Third Edition contains a brief description of the Six Sigma improvement method DMAIC, and highlights the methods and strategies that are useful in Lean. Also included is a new strategy for using designed experiments to identify and control sources of process variation. The book includes tools and techniques that go beyond the basics such as creativity tools, force-field analysis, and information to help leaders manage project pipelines.
Customer Reviews:
Moderately useful book used in my MBA course!.......2007-01-16
Moderately useful book used in my MBA course!
Of Limited Use to Defense Industry.......2006-09-12
While this book contains a great deal of useful information on team dynamics and tools, it does not cover the Integrated Process and Product Development (IPPD) framwork which is the basis of co-located Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). Due to this omission, its applicability to the defense industry is very limited.
Dog-earred, highlighted, and still going strong!.......2006-08-27
Like all good improvement tools, this guide for teams has evolved over the years. I began with the original, moved to Edition Two and now have Edition Three. Along with THE LEADER'S HANDBOOK, the TEAM HANDBOOK is probably the most useful and used book I own. Whether you are leading a project team, facilitating your own workgroup, or just want to be a better team member yourself, THIS is the tool you need. Every chapter is jammed pack with helpful tips, traps to avoid, notes and templates to help you be successful. Invest in this book, invest in YOURSELF!
Cal Poly student review, Brian Leininger.......2006-06-03
This book was well written and easy to understand. It gave a lot of information that would be useful for anyone attempting to use teams for projects.
Cal Poly student review Ben Wallace.......2006-06-01
This book was very informative, it covered a wide range of useful information for anyone attempting to improve upon a process. It is well written and easy to understand
Book Description
What does it take to turn ideas into action? What are the elements of a perfect pitch? How do you win the war for talent? How do you establish a brand without bucks? These are some of the issues everyone faces when starting or revitalizing any undertaking, and Guy Kawasaki, former marketing maven of Apple Computer, provides the answers.
The Art of the Start will give you the essential steps to launch great products, services, and companies—whether you are dreaming of starting the next Microsoft or a not-for-profit that's going to change the world. It also shows managers how to unleash entrepreneurial thinking at established companies, helping them foster the pluck and creativity that their businesses need to stay ahead of the pack. Kawasaki provides readers with GIST—Great Ideas for Starting Things—including his field-tested insider's techniques for bootstrapping, branding, networking, recruiting, pitching, rainmaking, and, most important in this fickle consumer climate, building buzz.
At Apple, Kawasaki helped turn ordinary customers into fanatics. As founder and CEO of Garage Technology Ventures, he has tested his iconoclastic ideas on real- world start- ups. And as an irrepressible columnist for Forbes, he has honed his best thinking about The Art of the Start.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely the most useful book I've ever read.......2007-10-24
This is the most practical and inspirational business book I've ever read. It engages the reader with intuitively appealing and effective ways to create a meaningful and profitable venture. It's like having the world's best business coach on your team. Transforms the business planning process into an enjoyable and effective process.
Good, basic.......2007-10-20
This book covers the process of starting a business and raising money. Good basic tips and lots of the boostrapper philosophy. I love Guy's work.
The Art of the start.......2007-10-06
This book is great for getting anything started. Very easy to read and to the point. Anyone can use this book to start anything. Details to look for. I also liked that I could read the first chapter on line before purchasing it.
Great check-list for anyone starting a company........2007-09-07
A great checklist and lots of advice for anyone thinking of starting a company.
Nothing revolutionary, perhaps nothing you wouldn't have thought of yourself, but there is great value in having a well thought-out, complete, list like this.
Only 4 stars because the book seems biased towards venture-funded companies.
The Art of Living.......2007-08-30
Written like he was delivering a speech, Guy Kawasaki has made this an enjoyable and interesting read. All the time I was turning the pages, I kept feeling that much of what he wrote applied to life, and not just starting a business. When I got to the final chapter, "The Art of Being a Mensch", I discovered why I had gotten that feeling - much of Kawasaki's business approach emanates from his way of being in life. Read it for thoughts on how to live; read it for its humor, read it for advice - but do read it! Dennis DeWilde, Author of The Performance Connection.
Amazon.com
Imagine running into the ultimate management mentor late one night on an otherwise deserted commuter train, and walking away from the strange encounter with an encapsulated guide to success in the corporate world. That's exactly what screenwriter and business coach Patrick Lencioni has done in The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable, placing his tale in an easy-reading and thought- provoking kind of self-help novel.
Designed to be read in a single sitting, this book uses the unexpected meeting between troubled high-tech honcho Andrew O'Brien and a mysterious old man named Charlie to explore a series of common traps that can unwittingly ensnare any hard-driven executive. Lencioni hones in on the five "temptations" of the workplace: desires to jealously guard career status, consistently remain popular with subordinates, unfailingly make correct decisions, constantly strive for an atmosphere of total harmony, and always appear invulnerable. A discussion of the story's events and their real-world implications follows, as Lencioni shifts from screenwriter mode to business coach to help answer some of the questions he raises. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
Absorbing, compelling, and utterly memorable, The Five Temptations of a CEO is like no other business book that's come before. Author Patrick Lencioni—noted screenplay writer and sought-after executive coach -- deftly tells the tale of a young CEO who, facing his first annual board review, knows he is failing, but doesn't know why.
"This book provides extraordinary insight into the pitfalls that leaders face when they lose sight of the true measure of success: results. This model is required reading for my staff."
—Eric Schmidt, chairman of the board and CEO, Novell
Any executive can learn how to:
- recognize the mistakes that leaders can make
- avoid errors before they occur
- and much more!
Refreshingly original and utterly compelling, the story of this executive (written to be read in one sitting) will be enjoyed, remembered, and reread for years to come. It serves a timeless and potent reminder that success as a leader can come down to practicing a few simple behaviors—behaviors that are painfully difficult for each of us to master.
"Lencioni delivers a provocative message: CEOs mainly have themselves to blame when things go wrong. If you're a CEO (or any manager for that matter), do you have the courage to face the blame? Doing so could change your future-for the better."
—Dr. Jerry Porras, coauthor, Built to Last; professor, Stanford School of Business
You won't find any dry management rhetoric in this razor-sharp novelette. Apply these riveting lessons in leadership with the self-assessment at the end of the book. It will change your career!
Customer Reviews:
Five Behaviors of Effective CEOs.......2007-07-13
This is one in a series of "leadership fables" in which Patrick Lencioni shares his thoughts about the contemporary business world. His characters are fictitious human beings rather than anthropomorphic animals, such as a tortoise that wins a race against a hare or pigs that lead a revolution to overthrow a tyrant and seize control of his farm.
In his Introduction to this book, Lencioni observes that all chief executives who fail -- and most of them do at one time or another - make the same basic mistake: "Essentially what they are doing is putting the success of their organizations in jeopardy because they are unwilling to face - and overcome - the five temptations of a CEO." Briefly, here's the fictitious situation. Lencioni introduces Andrew O'Brien who is about to complete his first year as CEO of Trinity Systems, a position to which he was promoted after four years with the company. He is about to participate in the first board meeting in which he will be held accountable for the results of an entire fiscal year. "Those results, as he had grown accustomed to saying, were `unspectacular at best.'" He dreads the meeting. Almost immediately, it becomes obvious that Andrew's career is in serious jeopardy...and he knows it as he leaves the office shortly after midnight and takes a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) commuter train to return home.
What then happens allows Lencioni to dramatize for C-suite executives - and especially for CEOs - the importance of recognizing and then resisting the aforementioned temptations. Once aboard the train, Andrew meets and engages in a conversation with Charlie that continues when they are joined by the Bald Man, the Stylish Man, and the Tall Man. As a result of this extended conversation, Andrew has the business equivalent of a religious epiphany: he realizes why his leadership as CEO has been, until now, "unspectacular at best" and also realizes what needs to be accomplished during the board meeting the next morning.
Lencioni adds a nice dramatic touch when there is a brief encounter in the hallway after the board meeting. Andrew sees a maintenance man hanging a photograph, "wearing the same color shirt that Charlie wore the night before... Turning toward the end of the hallway, Andrew saw the old man turn the corner. He yelled `Sir?! Charlie?' The old man did not answer or reappear. Andrew sprinted to the end of the hall, turned the corner, and saw no one." The significance of this moment is best revealed within the narrative, as are the circumstances at Trinity Systems three years later, examined in the final chapter.
At least 8-10 years ago, Lencioni apparently made a conscious decision to address especially important business issues by creating a human context for each rather than merely offering answers to questions or prescribing solutions to problems. To me, this is one of the greatest benefits of a business narrative, in this instance of a leadership fable: Creating a series of real-world situations (albeit portrayed fictitiously) that readers can identify with emotionally as well as rationally. He is a brilliant business thinker but he also possesses the skills of a master raconteur as he introduces a cast of characters, develops conflicts between and among them, and then allows "rising action" to build to a climax that is also best revealed within the narrative. Unexpected plot developments engage the reader even more.
As is Lencioni's custom in each of the other volumes in the series of "leadership fables," he concludes with a section -- "The Model: A Summary of Why Executives Fail" (Pages 111-130) -- whose value-added benefits will help his reader to make effective application of the lessons learned from Andrew's experiences as he struggles with various temptations as well as with the consequences of his decisions...and non-decisions. The questions posed in the self-assessment section are especially well devised. Easy to ask, of course, but difficult to answer.
Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Patrick Lencioni's other "leadership fables" (especially The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive) as well as Ram Charan's Know-How, Adrian Slywotsky's The Upside, Michael Ray's The Highest Goal, David Maister's Practice What You Preach, Bill George's Authentic Leadership and his more recently published True North, James O'Toole's Creating the Good Life, and Michael Maccoby's Narcissistic Leaders.
Great lessons, terrible writing.......2007-05-30
The five lessons in this book are well worth noting, but getting there is extremely painful. The lessons in this book are thought-provoking and challenging. Looking at my career, I have falling into a few of these traps myself.
Unfortunately, it reads as if it were written by a 7th grader. Much of this book is painfully awkward dialog. Fortunately it is short so the pain doesn't last long. Just get a running start and plow through it as fast as you can!
The Five Temptations of a CEO.......2007-01-03
One of the best books I have ever read!!!!
A bland overview of the basics .......2006-12-28
Nothing succeeds like success in this follow up fable by Patrick. His books work best when they're relevant to your specific situation. In this case if you're in a leadership role and need a little shot in the arm to do the right thing (although I don't imagine many CEO's reading this book). Recommend passing on this rather light fare and looking over Patrik's "5 Dysfunctions of a Team".
Summary - A CEO has just completed a year with very average results. Staying late for the annual meeting he travels home on the subway and meets a homeless man who asks a few pointed questions...
The Five Temptations of a CEO:
1. The desire to protect their career.
2. The desire to be popular.
3. The need to make "correct" decisions.
4. The belief that it is better for people to get along then have conflict.
5. The desire for invulnerability.
Some additional nice quips from the book:
* Overcoming the 5 temptations: Choose results over status, choose accountability over popularity, choose clarity over certainty, choose conflict over harmony, and choose trust over invulnerability.
* Some exec's fear being wrong so much that they only make a decision when absolutely certain of the results.
* The best way to come up with the right decision quickly is to get everyone together and suck all the honest opinions out and come to consensus.
* If no one feels a little pushed out of place then we probably didn't put all of our issues on the table.
Another Lencioni Masterpiece.......2006-11-10
Once again Mr. Lencioni takes his expertise in leadership applications and combines it with his story telling style and produces a real "hands on" book for CEO's.
Book Description
In this first new and totally revised edition of the 150,000–copy underground bestseller, The E–Myth, Michael Gerber dispels the myths surrounding starting your own business and shows how commonplace assumptions can get in the way of running a business. He walks you through the steps in the life of a business from entrepreneurial infancy, through adolescent growing pains, to the mature entrepreneurial perspective, the guiding light of all businesses that succeed. He then shows how to apply the lessons of franchising to any business 執hether or not it is a franchise. Finally, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in. your business. After you have read The E–Myth Revisited, you will truly be able to grow your business in a predictable and productive way.
Customer Reviews:
Best yet!.......2007-10-20
This is simply required reading for anyone who is in business or is thinking about being in business for themselves. No-one tells a better business fable than Michael Berger and when you then add his expertise in the business arena, you have a winner. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It was an easy, fairly quick read with a powerful punch. Thank you.
Know Yourself.......2007-10-19
I have read and re-read this book (and the original) many times over the past 15 years.
With the first reading I was struck at how many people I knew that fit perfectly into the nutshell descriptions of individuals with locked in mind-sets presented!
The entrepreneurial seizure; The Fat Guy & The Skinny Guy; The Entrepreneur & Manager & Technician; customers Sam Tommy and Mary; Bookkeeper Harry; the suppliers, the improperly trained helpers, the desperate owner, and many others. I KNEW these people! Or at least the essence of them.
With later readings I became aware of ALL of them as being aspects of my own self, and the possibilities each offered. Attitude is Everything! Change the attitude, change the outcome!
For me, this is the main value of the book, learning to understand myself, and why I do the things I do.
I feel the overview presented by the E myth should be understood by each new business owner BEFORE making that first leap.
No one book can be all things to all people, but for those interested in starting or improving a business, this one comes close.
In my mind, there is only one minor failing in the book. It does not examine in great enough detail why people would want to work for you. Success comes from helping other people get what they want. What are their interests, dreams and goals? How can you help them reach what THEY want? Why would they want YOU to succeed?
Great businesses can only exist if they have great people.
All in all, this is my most valuable Business Book.
Grade School Lessons & E-Myth Acadamy Advertisement .......2007-10-04
This is, at best the beginning part of a working business solution. Yes, Gerber makes a valid point about the E-myth concept (read other reviews if you don't know the concept) but it's really for beginners (newbs). All his books are really just advertisements,for his E-Myth Academy consulting business in the back of all his books. There is nearly no practical information. He makes his point about the E-Myth, then masterbates it endlesly, re-making that point six ways to Sunday, add nausium and leaves you wondering, well, but what should I do? Well, little lost lamb (newb), go to E-Myth web site or call the 800 number where they have a fast talking sales crew and sign up for 2 years of 700 plus a month (I haven't checked lately) consultation/classes.
After you get the point that to make your technical skill pay/function as a business you need to have business skills/know how. You can sign up for the 700 plus per month for 2 years advertised in the back of his books. Start looking elsewhere for actual practical information. Because there are no E-myth books or tapes that have that information. You can do a lot for your business with that kind of money. I'm always shocked at how newbs starting businesses throw money around. Something to buy and a place to buy it, no matter how pretty it all is, doesn't make a successful business, In my observations, it's the major reason new businesses fail. I'm sure some of you with deep pockets or You corperate types who have never had to find the guts or earn the money to build a small business without Sugar Daddy Warbucks help will think I'm wrong. This E-Myth stuff is valid but it it's grade school lessons made to look like some kind of super-profound truth/solution. Well, it is, grade school true, now what Mr. Gerber, where's the solutions, spend, what, nearly 17,000 Sign up for what I thought I was getting when I bought the Books and tapes? What a greedy little tight wad! When are you going to write a book with substance? Hey Newbs! Trust me, yes you need real business skills, there are plenty of great business books out there, take some of that 17,000 and buy some and be careful with the rest you're going to need it.
One of the top business books.......2007-09-29
This book gives both inspiration and practicals to make any small business a successful venture. It certainly changed the course of my business and got me to work at making my business something that can be reproduced through the processes that I create.
A two-piece orange suite in a blue jacket.......2007-09-28
"And a silver belt buckle with his initials in green jade acrosss in face. ... Can you see it? Do you get the picture?" And no, he is not out of business.
For me it is a number of good ideas and a hard sales pitch. Next time less pitch more workout please.
Book Description
The national retail apparel business has grown to a $172 billion per year industry, and the employment rate for designers is expected to outpace that of all other occupations through the year 2008. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide is a must-have for the thousands of talented designers who want to see their dream of creating an independent fashion line become a reality.
Mary Gehlhar, author, industry authority, and consultant to hundreds of designers (including newcomers Alicia Bell, Keanan Duffty, and Milly), gives readers behind-the-scenes advice and essential business information on creating and sustaining a successful career as an independent designer. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide provides the necessary tools to get a fashion line or label up and moving on the right track, including: •Start-up costs and financing •Legal issues •Business plans •Public relations and sales •Marketing and manufacturing •Distribution-trade, trunk, and runway shows
This book also provides case studies from independent designers at different stages of their careers, including tough letdowns and exciting successes. Young designers weigh-in on topics important to them when they were starting out, while several top name designers offer personal perspectives on a single question, providing a window to their world and a variety of answers.
Designers are bursting with creativity but often fall flat going into business as an independent. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide provides designers with the one thing design school didn’t-intelligent and successful business practices.
Customer Reviews:
This book is a must have to start your own fashion line.......2007-10-10
It tells you step by step what to do and what not to do, it even gives you places to go so you can get started and gives you that extra push you need to make it
Everything you need to know and more.......2007-06-10
This book is the most concise source of information on how to mindfully start one's own clothing line. Detailed and clear, it outlines everything one needs to know from inseption and development through financials, incorporation, press, factory relations, shows and beyond. It is, by far, the most complete resource for any aspiring designer.
A must have.......2007-06-01
I f you are starting a business this is the best book you can find.
You ll find a lot of advices that will be very helpful.
Don't waste your time or money........2007-03-20
Ok I read this book and this other book called Fashion For Profit. This author obivously does not sound like she has really worked in the garment industry. It would be very scary to start a business taking advice from this book. It kind of reminds me of that old sewing lady professor you have in home economics class trying to tell you like you are a 4 year old trying to run a company, scary stuff if you ask me. I got all I ever needed out of Fashion For Profit. That book is strictly business. It's twice as much ,but you get what you pay for. Apparently the author of Fashion for Profit has been voted numerous times in the top 10 most influential in the California Apparel Industry by the California Apparel News. Bottom line you get what you pay for.
This book is absolutely fabulous! .......2007-02-13
I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting their own fashion design business. It answers any and all questions and best of all it provides resources that we all need (especially if we have no one to guide us). If you're a student of course you would have the resources provided to you by the school itself, but for someone who is doing this from natural talent and ideas, it's GREAT!!!
Book Description
This comprehensive handbook with companion CD ROM will clearly demonstrate how to set up, operate and manage a financially successful bed-and-breakfast or small hotel. Whatever your reason for wanting to open a bed and breakfast, keep in mind that at it takes more than dreams and rooms to achieve success, it is a business that must show a profit. This book will separate the romantic notions of owning a B&B from the business end.
While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through finding a location that will bring success, learn how to draw up a winning business plan (The Companion CD Rom has the actual business plan you can use in MS Word tm.), how to buy and (sell) a B&B, basic cost control systems, profitable menu planning, Reservation Systems, sample floor plans & diagrams, successful kitchen management, equipment layout and planning, food safety & HACCP, housekeeping, successful beverage management, reservation networks, legal concerns, sales and marketing techniques, room rate formulas, arrival, billing, departure, learn how to set up computer systems to save time and money, learn how to hire & keep a qualified professional staff, brand new IRS tip reporting requirements, managing and training employees, generate high profile public relations and publicity, learn low cost internal marketing ideas, low and no cost ways to satisfy customers and build sales, learn how to keep bringing customers back, accounting & bookkeeping procedures, auditing, successful budgeting and profit planning development, as well as thousands of great tips and useful guidelines.
There are literally hundreds of innovative ways demonstrated to streamline your business. Learn new ways to make the kitchen, bars, dining room, and front office run smoother and increase performance. Shut down waste, reduce costs, and increase profits. In addition operators will appreciate this valuable resource and reference in their daily activities and as a source of ready-to-use forms, web sites, operating and cost cutting ideas, and mathematical formulas that can be easily applied to their operations. The Companion Cd Rom contains all the forms in the book as well as a sample business plan you can adapt for your own use.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book and I am an Owner.......2007-08-07
As an owner of a Boutique Hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, Casa El Carretero www.CasaElCarretero.com I can say that this book was a great guide. However, the passion for the business is fundamental. Pay attention to the staff and level of service you plan to have in the hotel. That can make or break the business.
Helpful.......2006-08-08
I thought Lora did a great job with this book. It is well-thought-out and presented in a manner that the reader can easily grasp. I'd buy this book and "I'm Living Your Dream Life" by Michele Cozzens before going into the business.
A Truly Professional Approach.......2006-06-09
If you're planning to open a bed and breakfast as a hobby or with the notion that "you're not really running a business, you're just making profits in your free time," this is not the book for you. This book covers almost all potential areas that you'll need to know to run a professional B&B, and the level of detail will quickly dissuade anyone who isn't serious. That having been said, anyone who does want to run a professional bed and breakfast will find the information invaluable. The forms included on the enclosed CD pay for the book themselves--everything from employment applications to inventory forms, invoices, standard recipe cards, and kitchen safety inspection forms. The book covers all stages of the planning and setup process, including business plans, marketing and promotion, safety, and employees. Particularly useful is the section on marketing, something that most B&Bs that I've known tend to ignore. With a little creativity (and there are lots of suggestions contained in this chapter), your B&B can become part of the very identity of the neighborhood or city you live in, as in, "If you want to capture the flavor of X, go to this B&B!" The only change I would make to the book would be to make the section on writing business plans a more user friendly for those B&B owners who have never opened a business before. Nevertheless, the book contains lots of hardheaded business sense, presented plainly and clearly, with many good examples of existing B&Bs to illustrate the point. While you may not need all the information included when you first open your business, this book will provide you with lots of options for a time when you're able to expand. I recommend this book to anyone seriously considering going into the B&B business as a business, rather than just a way of pouring money down the drain!
A Great Introduction.......2006-05-08
"HOW TO OPEN A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL BED & BREAKFAST: OR SMALL HOTEL" by Lora Arduser and Douglas R. Brown
This book was a fascinating exploration of the intricacies involved with opening a Bed and Breakfast. The authors were able to provide a step-by-step process for the beginning B&B entrepreneur. The book guides you in the decision to own a Bed and Breakfast, helps you decide on a location or to buy and existing B&B.
The authors make a fantastic effort to include real life business information such as how to make your own business plan and laws that will relate to your Bed and Breakfast business. They give you several checklists to help you format your mode of attack when starting your own business.
With a whole chapter devoted to computers this book is cutting edge in the Bed and Breakfast industry. Today everyone needs to have a web presence in order to market his or her company.
Guest are not going to be interested in a business plan. So the authors have developed several chapters on the operation of the Bed and Breakfast. They skillfully guide the reader from decorating, setting policies, what food you should serve, housekeeping, and your day-to-day staffing requirements.
A bonus CD is offered with the book and provides valuable samples of over 30 forms that are needed when starting and opening your own B&B. The CD is simple to use and will save any entrepreneur tons of time.
This book is a great introduction to the world of Bed and Breakfast owning and operation.
A Dream to Own.......2006-04-19
The book is packed with valuable information for anyone who has ever dreamed of opening a bed and breakfast. The layout of the book is easy to use and simple to understand. The authors go into great detail on many aspects of the business. It begins with giving the reader a realistic look at the time and effort, as well as, the financial aspect of what goes into starting such a business so that the reader can decide whether or not it will work for them. It has details on everything from how to select a location to writing a business plan. Also has everything you need to know about hiring, laws, and even how much to charge.
The book comes complete with an easy to use CD-ROM which has many samples of business plans and forms needed to run the business. Complete and comprehensive, this book is likely to be a asset to anyone who wants to open a bed and breakfast, whether or not they have experience in it or not. Even those who already own one may want to read this book for new ideas and refresh on some subjects. Chocked full of plenty of information that is likely to be overlooked when first starting a business; this book will help any entrepreneur get their business off on the right foot.
Having worked in a bed and breakfast for several years, this book is sure to clearly help those who are thinking about starting their own bed and breakfast.
Book Description
Millions of Americans own their own businesses, and millions more dream of doing the same. But starting your own business is a pretty complicated matter, especially with all the legal issues and paperwork. This updated edition of the top-selling small business resource is chock-full of information, resources, and helpful hints on making the transition from a great idea to a great business.
If you’ve got a great idea for your own business, you need the kind of straightforward advice you’ll find here — the kind of advice you’d normally only get from business schools and MBA courses. Small Business Kit For Dummies, Second Edition covers all the basics on:
- Recent tax law changes
- Balancing your finances
- Hiring and keeping employees
- Effective management strategies
- Accounting fundamentals
In addition to the basics of business, you’ll also find top-class advice on more advanced business basics, like business plans, the ins and outs of contracts, and using the Internet to expand your business. For entrepreneurs large and small, this comprehensive resource offers authoritative guidance on all your biggest business concerns, and offers unbeatable advice on such topics as:
- Choosing your business structure — from LLCs to S corps
- How to develop and write a standard business proposal
- Going public, issuing stock, and keeping a stock ledger
- Raising capital and understanding securities laws
- Bookkeeping standard practices
- Tax basics for small businesses
- Handling the paperwork for new hires
- Designing employee compensation plans
- Working with independent contractors and consultants
- Patent and copyright protections
- Dealing with the Press
In addition, the book includes a CD-ROM full of helpful resources — forms, contracts, and even sample versions of the most popular software for small businesses. With Small Business Kit For Dummies you’ll find all the tools you need to get your small business up and running — and keep it running for years and years to come.
Customer Reviews:
Sucked.......2006-05-16
My husband came home with this book last week. I am considering buying a business of great interest to me, but I have next to no experience with retail. He has his doubts about the whole "dummies" series, but thought maybe it would help me. We both found the text to be vague, as I was looking for concrete definitions to some of the unfamiliar business terms which the book did not provide. At the same time, the suggestions for running a small business were ridiculously obvious and downright condescending. The book went back to the store, and I ordered a copy of Specialty Shop Retailing (How To Run Your Own Store) by Carol L Schroeder from my local library. I would HIGHLY recommend this book, and once I finish reading entirely I'll take the time to provide a thorough review. But really, the book has a great layout and it's enjoyable reading.
Small Biz Bible.......2004-12-22
This book has been very useful. The author gives practical tips, advice, checklists and forms - all in an easy to read format. He makes things that seem overwhelming at first suddenly seem manageable. The CD ROM saved me a bundle in legal fees. He seems to know what it is like to have been in the trenches.
Decent book but not for my cause.......2004-08-16
I was toying with the idea of creating an online based business selling educational material and decided to buy this book because I wanted to learn the specifics of running a homebased business. I was searching for facts about taxation, how to get a business liscense, and a directory to web resources. These were in here but with such little detail. Also the book does not tackle small business management like I thought. It explained how to set up a larger business with a board of directors and examples of balance sheets working with millions of dollars in transactions.
I'm just a bit disenchanted because it's not what I was looking for, however, it may be good for someone who is wanting to start a larger corporation. Should be titled something else.
Good, but slowly being replaced by online resources.......2004-01-27
This a good book, don't get me wrong. However, having been edited back in 1998, and being -as it is- largely focused on the documents that you, as a Small Business Owner, are likely to be in need of, it now seems a bit outdated and old-fashioned when you compare if with the ease with which you can get (for free) similar formats (business plans, marketing plans, invoices, etc.) online (in office.microsoft.com > Templates, for instance). It is a good reference of what to look for, though, which is why I give it 4 stars.
Great for those starting their business.......2003-09-27
It's great to see a book written by an attorney who also understands business.
Too many other books out there are written by amateur business people who's real business is in promoting and selling lousy books.
The CD-Rom will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars and time.
Also recommend "The Small Business Kit" and "How to Incorporate in any State" by J.W. Dicks, another attorney and businessman with real world knowledge.
Good luck with your business!
Book Description
You’re not alone if the thought of running your own business has crossed your mind. Even if your vision of a small business differs from your neighbor’s, you probably dream of being your own boss and of providing a needed service or creating a cool new product.
But your very first small-business decision may be to admit that you’re not ready for this career – at least not yet. If you’re straddling the fence, Small Business For Dummies will uncover whether this career works for you. You’ll also gain insight into getting your personal finances in order before exposing yourself to the risk of a new business, and discover how to draw a roadmap to reach your career destination. This easy-to-understand guide is also for those who want to
- Write a gang-buster business plan
- Create the right legal framework for your business
- Locate financing that suits your needs
- Develop and market your product
- Hire the right employees for the right jobs
- Build your business
You’ll also gain understanding of the tactical side of running a small business, from pricing, budgeting, business expansion, and complying with government regulations to operational issues including:
- Managing your time
- Collecting accounts receivable
- Understanding your financial statements
- Taking good care of your customers
- Locating new financing or revising existing financing
You don’t need to be a genius to run a successful small business, but you do need some help. And that’s exactly what this book is, a guide into the stimulating world of small business ownership and management.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource!.......2007-09-23
Small Business for Dummies is an excellent resource for those getting into small business or testing the waters before making that decision. Lots of great information and written well.
Great Review.......2007-01-26
This was my first order. The actual ordering was simple and easy...book was received as reported and was a complete pleasant experience. Thanks Amazon.
A book for all entrepreneurs.......2006-08-01
I think that before anyone becomes an entrepreneur they should read this book.
It is filled with facts and evaluations to help you. There are also some very important things to take note of.
I especially like the definitions of a small business, and what we need to look out for when thinking of venturing into a small business.
Chapters one to three are very important reading material.
A very useful book to have.......2006-05-12
I am quite happy with my purchase of this book and Eric Tyson has done a good job at giving us some very interesting alternatives.
However, I'd like to recommend that you also pick up a copy of Untapped Wealth Discovered by Jeff Marquis & Kerry Harrison.
This book gives us a fresh new approach to realism, has suggestions for reducing costs and increasing revenues, and has an eye for booming markets.
Hats off though to Mr Tyson.
Great Book for starting your own business!.......2005-08-20
There are so many great books on business out there and I have found this one called "The Wal-Mart Way" by Don Soderquist to be an invaluable tool when starting my business.
Book Description
Your shoes are charred from stomping out brush fires. You have nightmares about UFOs—Unreachable Financial Objectives. All-star interviewees turn into duds. Meetings cause more problems than they solve. The office is a ghost town at 5:01 p.m. Does this sound familiar?
Tom Gegax knows what that is like. Years after running his Tires Plus franchise by the seat of his pants, blissfully unaware of how little he knew about getting the most out of people and managing a world-class organization, Tom was faced with a cancer diagnosis and a business at the brink of disaster. Resolved to change things around, he improved his mental clarity, health, and relationships and noticed that the more he profited on a personal level, the more his company profited. Tires Plus grew into a $200 million business with 150 upscale locations. He had learned the first lesson in Enlightened Leadership 101: Focus on the well-being of your employees and customers—as well as your own—and success will follow naturally.
In The Big Book of Small Business, Tom shares his hard-earned lessons on how to become an enlightened, effective leader, and on how to do the small things right so the big decisions work. This all-in-one toolbox for small businesses is jammed with warm-hearted, tough-minded practices and street-smart tips, covering every aspect of a growing business:
- Starting, funding, and getting your new business off the ground
- Crafting a mission and growing a corporate culture that works
- Hiring the best people and maximizing their potential
- Communicating and negotiating with your employees, customers, and suppliers
- Creating processes for continuous innovation and growth
- Protecting your business from unforeseen dangers
- Planning for growth
- And much more . . .
As thorough as a textbook and as lively as a news magazine, The Big Book of Small Business is the most comprehensive and practical book on how to take a small business to the next level, and an indispensable slingshot for the millions of scrappy Davids taking on corporate Goliaths.
Customer Reviews:
The first "Cliff Notes" for how to run a business........2007-05-18
If you could take all the best practices of business today and consolidate them into one manual, you would have an invaluable book but it would be about the size of the average American house. I believe "The Big Book for Small Business" by Tom Gegax is the "Cliff Notes" version of these best practices, I found this guide to be extremely valuable as an entrepreneur who owns four businesses and have made it required reading for all my employees.
Since one of my businesses is in an emerging market, I have done the unthinkable. I have sent my competitors CEO's copies of the book as well because I also believe in what Tom so eloquently stated, "A rising tide raises all boats". If we as industry can all utilize the advice contained in this book, our industry will grow to its incredible potential.
This is the best business book I have ever read and find myself coming back to it time and time again for strategy and execution ideas. This is 100% meat and zero fluff. My sincere congratulations to the author for delivering a business book masterpiece.
Best Regards,
Brian Brasch, President
Branick Industries Inc.
A great "How To" Piece on Owning and Operating a Small Business.......2007-05-15
Tom Gegax has done it again with The Big Book of Small Business...an outstanding "how to" commentary on starting and running a small (or not-so-small) business. A "must read" for anyone looking for a ready resource and "kitchen helper" in owning, operating and otherwise "worrying" a closely-held business. As the previous head of the Private Company Practice Group in my law firm, I can see how this book would have been of great help to many of my clients. As a person who once taught a course in Business Planning, I wish that at the time I had had Tom's book in hand to help students learn many of the practical aspects of running a business: managing people, strategic planning, negotiating commercial relationships, compliance etc - the list goes on.
Again, congratulations to Tom Gegax.
William R. Hibbs, Retired Partner, Dorsey & Whitney, PLLP, Minneapolis
A wonderful source.......2007-04-10
Absolutely a fabulous book. Anyone who has ever run a business or plans to in the future will find this book a great asset. Tom Gegax delivers another winner.
William Cabot
The Big Book of Life.......2007-04-09
While I would love to write a review of how Tom's guidance has helped my business succeed (and it has!), the surprise beneift of his books is that they become a guide for your life, not just your business.
The Big Book of Small Business.......2007-04-03
This is THE book to learn by! It is challenging to run and keep a successful business on the right track, so reading Tom's words and learning by his trials and tribulations is educational. Anyone starting out with a new business would benefit by his words of wisdom. And anyone in business will learn something beneficial that they can put into practice!
Books:
- Teaching Children to Read: Putting the Pieces Together (4th Edition)
- Teaching What Matters Most: Standards and Strategies for Raising Student Achievement
- The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict
- The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
- The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!
- The Compensation Handbook
- The Complete ACOA Sourcebook: Adult Children of Alcoholics at Home, at Work and in Love
- The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying Foreclosures
- The Eagle Has Landed
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Global Sustainability: Bending the Curve
- The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World
- Managing Your E-Mail: Thinking Outside the Inbox
- Oscar Arias: Peacemaker and Leader Among Nations
- Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening, and Creating New Realities
- The Richest Man in Babylon
- The Genuine Article: A Historian Looks at Early America
- Empirical Issues in Raising Equity Capital
- Making the Information Society: Experience, Consequences, and Possibilities
- Nonvascular plants: An evolutionary survey
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Successful Executive's Handbook
Coaching for Performance, Third Edition (People Skills for Professionals)
The Power of Purpose: Creating Meaning in Your Life and Work (BK Life)
Leader As Coach: Strategies for Coaching and Developing Others
FYI: For Your Improvement, A Guide for Development and Coaching (4th edition)
