It’s not always easy to find resources that can help you in any meaningful way in running a business, especially if you are after more detailed industry specific information as well as the nitty gritty that all add up to the bigger picture (eg. Walking patterns are 45 degrees and peripheral vision is 60 degrees, so avoid forcing customers to turn corners at 90-degree angles - I only came across that tip for the first time last week). I’ve created a list of resources that I have found useful over the years, great for those already in businesses, and for those thinking about getting into business for themselves.
Please feel free to add to the list as I’m sure there are plenty out there I’m yet to get to. Some of these will have been mentioned in other threads, but I still wanted to start a thread specifically to help with business.
BUSINESS SYSTEMS
“McDonalds: Behind the Arches” – by John F. Love
“It’s Not About the Coffee” – by Howard Behar
“The Starbucks Experience” – by Joseph A. Michelli
“Small Business, Big Opportunity” – by Rob Hartnett in partnership with Sensis
RETAILING
www.dmsretail.com – series of books/manuals, specific to retailing, customer service and general business operations.
www.insideretailing.com.au & Inside Retailing Magazine – free articles online on industry info, merchandising advice, customer satisfaction etc.
www.inspire.bc.ca – website and blog with visual merchandising tips and advice. (still exists, although she seems to have stopped the free newsletters)
www.retailsmart.com.au - retail blog with tips and ideas
MINDSET
"Think & Grow Rich" – by Napolean Hill
"The E-Myth Revisited" – by Michael Gerber (great for those who haven’t started the business yet)
“E-Myth Mastery” – by Michael Gerber (more practical application than the original)
“Trump: The Art of the Deal" – by Donald Trump (as well as his other titles, I won’t list them all)
“Why We Want You to be Rich” – by Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki
“How to Win Friends & Influence People” – by Dale Carnegie
“Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” – by T. Harv Ecker
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” – by Stephen R. Covey
“The Magic of Thinking Big” – by David J. Schwartz
“The Millionaire Next Door” – by Thomas J. Stanley
INSPIRATION
“McDonalds: Behind the Arches” – by John F. Love (repeated from above, but well worth it)
“Virtual Murdoch” – by Neil Chenoweth
“Murdoch” – by William Shawcross
“Fantastic; The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger” – by Laurence Leamer
“Losing My Virginity” – by Richard Branson
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC
Lastly and perhaps most importantly, one of the most useful places I’ve found to get industry specific information and ideas from is by observing competitors innovations and experiences. Apart from looking at competitors stores and websites (better for local info. happening right now), one of the greatest ways is to find a business in your field that is listed on a stock exchange somewhere in the world. If you can find a company in your industry listed in the US, Europe or elsewhere (hard to find a lot of specific industries listed in Aust.) – you can sift through their annual reports, analyst presentations, imagery and press releases. Here they’ll detail their successes and failures, future strategies, as well as how they see the industry evolving.
Please feel free to add to the list as I’m sure there are plenty out there I’m yet to get to. Some of these will have been mentioned in other threads, but I still wanted to start a thread specifically to help with business.
BUSINESS SYSTEMS
“McDonalds: Behind the Arches” – by John F. Love
“It’s Not About the Coffee” – by Howard Behar
“The Starbucks Experience” – by Joseph A. Michelli
“Small Business, Big Opportunity” – by Rob Hartnett in partnership with Sensis
RETAILING
www.dmsretail.com – series of books/manuals, specific to retailing, customer service and general business operations.
www.insideretailing.com.au & Inside Retailing Magazine – free articles online on industry info, merchandising advice, customer satisfaction etc.
www.inspire.bc.ca – website and blog with visual merchandising tips and advice. (still exists, although she seems to have stopped the free newsletters)
www.retailsmart.com.au - retail blog with tips and ideas
MINDSET
"Think & Grow Rich" – by Napolean Hill
"The E-Myth Revisited" – by Michael Gerber (great for those who haven’t started the business yet)
“E-Myth Mastery” – by Michael Gerber (more practical application than the original)
“Trump: The Art of the Deal" – by Donald Trump (as well as his other titles, I won’t list them all)
“Why We Want You to be Rich” – by Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki
“How to Win Friends & Influence People” – by Dale Carnegie
“Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” – by T. Harv Ecker
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” – by Stephen R. Covey
“The Magic of Thinking Big” – by David J. Schwartz
“The Millionaire Next Door” – by Thomas J. Stanley
INSPIRATION
“McDonalds: Behind the Arches” – by John F. Love (repeated from above, but well worth it)
“Virtual Murdoch” – by Neil Chenoweth
“Murdoch” – by William Shawcross
“Fantastic; The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger” – by Laurence Leamer
“Losing My Virginity” – by Richard Branson
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC
Lastly and perhaps most importantly, one of the most useful places I’ve found to get industry specific information and ideas from is by observing competitors innovations and experiences. Apart from looking at competitors stores and websites (better for local info. happening right now), one of the greatest ways is to find a business in your field that is listed on a stock exchange somewhere in the world. If you can find a company in your industry listed in the US, Europe or elsewhere (hard to find a lot of specific industries listed in Aust.) – you can sift through their annual reports, analyst presentations, imagery and press releases. Here they’ll detail their successes and failures, future strategies, as well as how they see the industry evolving.
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