Innovator's Dilemma

The Innovator's Dilemma is a book about disruptive technologies and how companies either adapted or not. Some companies go out of business because they either failed to recognize a new technology or because they fail to act on a new technology. Other businesses succeed because they do adapt quickly. So what is the dilemma? Company owners and managers have to make decisions about new investments and it can be difficult to know when and how much to invest. It's those decisions that lead to success or failure.

The author, Clayton M. Christensen, examines a few case histories exploring this dilemma. He tries to provide examples and perspective so that company owners can be a bit more aware of their business and new technologies. The most interesting case history was the study on hard drive manufacturers. Moore's law comes into focus and new hard drives became more powerful and smaller. Companies that adapted quickly did well, others did not because they could not see ahead. This case history was interesting to me because I have a fascination with computer history.

Another example was the evolution of the typewriter versus word processing on computers. If I remember correctly, the example compared the actions of IBM to Smith Corona, with IBM eventually coming out on top.

Aside from those two examples, the rest of the book was fairly boring and a bit out of date. I don't feel the book provided all that much help in trying to deal with disruptive technologies. It is a dilemma and the marketplace is constantly changing as new technologies are developed. I'm not sure there is much that can be done to prevent a business from failing. It takes an insightful owner who is willing to risk that a business has a chance of both surviving and succeeding long term.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I may earn a small referral.

Getting to yes

The version of Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher that I read is a revised and updated version to a book published 30 years ago. This is a self-help book to help you learn how to negotiate without giving in. The main principle of the book is to help you find a win-win solution so everybody is happy.

I read this book a few years ago and I honestly cannot remember all that much about it. It may be worth a re-read. Based on the reviews on Amazon it appears the book is often used as a college text to teach the principles of negotiation. I do vaguely remember thinking the book was very practical. At the end of the day, it may not solve all disagreements, but it probably is useful in many business situations.

Give and take

How do you achieve success? What qualities and characteristics do successful people possess? And if you consider yourself successful, do you still like yourself? These are all worth while questions that we need to ask ourselves as we strive to become better. Adam Grant takes the reader through a study on success, well, rather successfully.

The larger question that Grant deals with is how do people succeed? Do people succeed by taking advantage of other people or situations? These kinds of people recognize opportunities to learn something from others and using that knowledge to further their careers. Sometimes the taker is malicious in their taking, sometimes not. The other side of the question is can you succeed by giving? Givers tend to mentor others or give knowledge away for free at their own financial detriment.

Without giving too much away, the answer to Grant's question is not so clear cut. There appear to be advantages and disadvantages to both sides. This book helps the reader to look internally to see if they are a giver or taker, or if they cross back and forth. Grant helps the reader to see what kind of person they become as they reach for success.

I really liked this book. It made me look at myself and success in a new way. Grant does not try to judge givers or takers - at least not too much. He leaves the path to success up to the reader. He favors one side over another, but even he admits it is not always clear cut. This is not a self-help book per se. Rather, it is just an attempt to understand something that is often grey.

Book Rating: 5 stars, a must read business book.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Craft Inc.

So, you want to start a business based on a craft? Meg Ilasco put together a creative business guide to get you started. She covers all the basics of how to start a business, from the plan to marketing to taxes. She doesn't mince words that to really earn a living selling crafts, you need to think bigger. How do you transition from micro-manufacturing where you make one item at a time to a large, recognizable brand? She provides examples throughout the book of individuals who have done this. This book would appeal most to those who can build a brand around their product that can transition to a range of products. The revised edition discusses the use of social media and online marketplaces like Etsy.

The book provides basic business information that can be found in just about any business how-to book. The focus on creative businesses will appeal to designers, crafters, etc. The information is not unexpected and fairly straight forward. The section on how to protect your idea does create a bit of paranoia that all ideas out there should be protected. Perhaps, but not all ideas are worth the time and expense of protecting to the extreme of lawyers and patents. In other words, do not rely on this book solely on how to proceed.

The book is printed with blue text in a relatively small font which makes the book difficult to read.

Book rating: 3 stars - the color and size of the font is a bit of a turn off, otherwise a basic how-to book.


The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Career Match

Career match by Shoya Zichy is a variation of the personality profiles created by Myers-Briggs. In this case, Zichy assigns colors to personality profiles and then links them to possible careers. You take a quiz which helps you identify your dominant personality and a second. Because the author does base her information a pretty strong foundation (Myers-Briggs), the career matches are surprising accurate - at least for me. My interests matched my personality profile very well. They also did when I took a Myers-Briggs evaluation. Zichy's presentation may be more approachable than others.

The book takes very little time to use. You only read the sections which apply to your personality. The book may be useful to someone in school or to someone who wishes to connect to a career they truly love. The book is nothing special though and similar advice can be found elsewhere.

Quitter

 

Are you tired of your day job? Ready to start your own business or move on to a new career? Jon Acuff gives some guidelines on how and when to quit your job. The book is heavily promoted by Dave Ramsey, who is involved in publishing it.

Jon Acuff has had many jobs in his relatively short career. Each time he was ready to transition from one job to another, he learned something about himself and how to smooth the transition. He shares many personal stories along the way in the hopes he can guide you through the same transition.

The book has its positive qualities. There is a lot of helpful, practical advice like don't quit your job without another job already in the works. Have a plan. Don't go into debt to finance your dream and other nuggets of helpful advice.

I did have trouble reading this book because I felt like the author lacked a depth of maturity and experience. It is true Jon Acuff has had several jobs and lots of experience of quitting, but there was something missing that could have made the book so much better. Nearly all of the anecdotes come from Jon Acuff's personal life. It would have helped tremendously if he had filled in with stories from other people who have transitioned from one job to another. One huge annoyance was Jon Acuff's bragging about his current job with Dave Ramsey. He didn't do this just once, but multiple times in each chapter about how his job with Dave Ramsey was his dream job. This is all well and good but rather annoying to the reader who may not have the same aspirations.


The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Before you quit your job

Robert T. Kiyosaki is the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I listened to the abridged audio version of Before You Quit Your Job.

There is maybe one chapter's worth of information in the book that is really helpful to individual's who wish to quit their day job. The book is primarily targeted to people who want to make the leap into entrepreneurship. Kiyosaki intersperses personal experiences of his ups and downs in business. It may be worth reading to learn about his experiences so that you can avoid them yourself. BUT, if you are looking for guidance, you will have to weed through the stories to get to the meatier info. The audio book summarizes the essential steps of what to do before quitting in just a few minutes at the end of the book.

There is one confusing thing and perhaps it's because it was audio and not print. Kiyosaki takes you through a personality profile to see if you are a likely candidate for entrepreneurship. The problem is he assigns letters to the various profiles and then uses those letters throughout the text. I didn't really get it and couldn't really refer back to them as I listened. So in that sense, the audio book is not very good.

48 days to the work you love

48 Days to the Work you Love is an oft recommended book by Dave Ramsey. Dan Miller takes you through the process of helping you find work that you will love, or at least that is the hope. There is the usual career and resume advice that is found in other books. The updated edition adds additional information on how to find work in our current economy - and it's not about having the right resume. He includes some advice on starting your own business - though not a lot.

Dan Miller's book is written by a Christian for Christians. There are scriptural and inspirational quotes throughout. The 48 days concept is that within 48 days - the length of time needed to work through his self-evaluation plan - you will have your own plan or will have achieved finding the work you love. Some may find the Christian point of view off-putting, though it didn't bother me. The career advice is useful to anyone who wants to make a change.

1,000 dollars and an idea by Sam Wyly

Who is Sam Wyly? The title gives you a few hints. He had $1,000 and an idea that eventually made him a billionaire. I had no idea the impact his one idea had on American business. It wasn't this one idea that made him a billionaire but it set him on the road to his wealth.

The title implies that Wyly's road to wealth was simple and that he's going to tell you how to do it. It really wasn't simple and you will have to read between the lines to figure out exactly how he did it. Wyly is the type of entrepreneur that has a tendency to buy companies, build them up and sell them just before the markets take a turn. His original idea gave him the ability to follow this path. Wyly has an uncanny ability to recognize the right time to buy and sell. His business life has many successes but also some failures.

The strength of 1,000 dollars and an idea is it's retelling of the history of the business of computer mainframes, and business software. There is also history of Michael's, Bonanza restaurants, and Maverick hedge funds. The book tends to meander in the last few chapters as Wyly explains current financial markets and the economic downturn while mixing his own political views. His contribution to our economy is without question and it may be worth your time to read it.

Book rating: 3 stars

Selling in Tough Times

Who doesn't want a business book to help you sell when the economy is tanking? Tom Hopkins, a salesman with many years of experience, wrote Selling in Tough Times. The subtitle of the book, "Secrets to selling when no one is buying" really made me hope for some insider information.

The book suffers a little from a split personality. Is it a book for business owners looking for help in sales? Or is it a book for sales professionals trying to improve the bottom line? 90% of the book is directed to the sales professional, with one chapter devoted to how one should present oneself.

Small business owner's may find some of the information useful. There are several sections in which Hopkins provides a script of how to talk to a client or potential client. There are tips on screening and evaluating potential customers. All of these things may be helpful to a small business owner who struggles in these areas.

Overall the book was not what I expected. Perhaps a more informative subtitle would have helped. Something along the lines of, "Secrets for the sales professional to improve sales when no one is buying," which is probably too long. Anyway, if you are willing to wade through information directed strictly to sales professionals, you may find some useful information.

Book Rating: 3 stars

Successful Family Businesses

The Idiot's Guide to Successful Family Businesses was not what I expected from a how-to business book. Many business how-to books examine how to write a business plan, market, and promote. This book did not really do any of that. Instead the authors, who have personal experience in family businesses, examine  internal family/business relationships and business structures.

The authors explore nepotism, succession, business type, entrepreneurship, profit sharing, and other nitty-gritty topics. These things can make or break a business and more importantly break a family if not dealt with properly. I have been employed both by large corporate businesses and family-owned. I much prefer the family-owned businesses but there is little room for growth, in income or managerial experience.  I do like the friendlier, more relaxed, family friendly atmosphere, so it was worth compromising for that. As an employee I could relate to some of the experiences outlined in the book in regards to employee issues. As I have started my own business, I could use some of the advice found in the book.

The only difficulty I experienced with the book is that some topics were repeated throughout the chapters, especially succession and nepotism. I am not sure how I would rewrite the book, so maybe it's not a fair criticism. Still, I would start reading a new chapter and the authors would again discuss the same topics from a slightly different perspective. Perhaps they had personal experiences that made certain topics bubble to the surface so frequently. Even so, their perspective gave me many things to consider. If you are involved in a family business, this book may give some insights.

The Accidental Startup

The Accidental Startup is another book on starting a business. Danielle Babb reviews the same advice in most how-to books. She sets herself apart by giving some solid advice on how to take your business to the web. It made her book more up to date than others of the same subject. The back of the book includes some basic forms, though not in an easy to use format. Those two pluses don't necessarily justify buying the book, as similar information can be found easily elsewhere. Even so, for a basic, up-to-date handbook, this may be a good start for those who have found themselves in business.

This book was much better for basic how-to stuff than Start-up Nation.

Startup Nation

I like reading a good book on how to start up a business. I had hopes that this book would provide lots of inspiration and motivation. Startup Nation is written by Jeff and Rich Sloan who have successfully started up several businesses.

The book works primarily from the perspective of creating a product and then licensing it. This includes patents, trademarks, and copyrights. The Sloan brothers did this with their successful battery buddy (for cars) jump starting system. I suppose for those who are intent on following this type of product development, then this book may be for you. There are probably lots of products in which you don't want to be involved in the daily manufacturing and delivery issues. And while this process made sense for the Sloans and their product, I don't believe it is for everyone. There is a lot of investment before you see any ROI.

This form of product development is not for every product, especially apparel or soft goods. So I guess the first thing to learn is not every book is going to address every form of product out there. The book does cover some basic business planning concepts. But for that, there are much better books out there.

The book does provide some case stories of successful entrepreneurs, so some may enjoy reading that. As an overall business self-help book it is only so-so.

Working for Yourself

Once again, NOLO has written another easy to read, how to guide. If you want to start a business and work for yourself, Working for Yourself is a great guide to get you started. My library had the 2004 edition, which was not too out of date.

The book includes sample work agreements, NDA's, and amendments. Although you could find similar information in other law books, Stephen Fishman takes the time explain each section. Find information on which business entity to select and how to determine how much to charge. Great, great information.

There are brief chapters on business deductions and copyright, trademark, and patent information. There are other NOLO books that cover those topics in depth and it is worth picking those up too.

Even if you never start your own business, this kind of information is worth having.

Book Rating: 5 stars

Travels of a t-shirt

Travels of a T-shirt in a Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli is an interesting look at the complete product cycle of a common item of clothing. Many of us own and wear t-shirts. They are screen-printed with catchy phrases, trimmed, embroidered, or even stained. T-shirts are a commodity nearly equal with toilet paper. I leave the statistics to the author, but I think you get the idea.

The author traces aspect of the birth, life, and eventual death of a t-shirt. From the farming and harvesting of the cotton fiber, spinning the yarn, knitting the fabric, sewing, retailing -- the author leaves no step untouched. I was already familiar with most of the topics covered in the book. What I didn't know was how much government (Global, not just US) is involved in cotton production. There are quotas, laws, regulations, and an amazing amount of government farm subsidies. In other words, US taxpayers own a large portion of US cotton production - of course it only enriches certain individuals.

Another interesting exploration comes at the end of the t-shirt's life. I was fascinated by the textile product recycling industry. The free market found a way to move a large amount of unwanted, by some, material that finds a still useful life.

Anyway, an interesting book.

Your Marketing Sucks

Your Marketing Sucks and so does the book by Mark Stevens. I listened to the audio book because I wanted a little motivation to improve my marketing. Stevens spends most of the book ripping apart every marketing plan that he didn't create himself. Most of the ideas in the book are not new, so I didn't really gain any new insight. The book was not geared toward small business owners. I was looking for micro-marketing ideas for micro-budgets. Instead, he focuses on large companies that can buy client lists from customer data banks. The author encouraged sleazy tactics like SPAM and other unethical practices. It read like a manual for snake oil salesmen. This is a business book that could easily be skipped.

Book Rating: No Stars

The Tipping Point

Most business related books can be classified as how-to's. How to start and run a business is a popular topic. Very few business books teach principles with clarity. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell teaches business principles with clarity. The sub-title of the books explains the book very well "How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference".

The books is full of examples, which come from many different sources. Regardless of whether the example come from a business, social, or political source, they all have something to teach a business student. One event, person, or set of circumstances can tip something toward success or failure. If one can understand how something tips, then perhaps you can apply the right ideas to your own business.

Gladwell's book is not a how-to business book. The reader is left to analyze their own business and discover their own tipping point. This may frustrate business readers who are searching for the magic formula that leads to success. His book makes you think, which is more revolutionary than the traditional business book. There are no lists to check off, no step-by-step instructions. Instead he instructs you to find Mavens and Connectors and teaches the reader The Law of the Few and Stickiness.

I haven't read his other book, Blink, but I will add it to my reading wish list. His book is incredibly easy to read. There were a few ideas that I disagreed with, but overall the book changed how I think about business. Gladwell could be considered a macro-economist, but I am not sure that classification fits well. He is a genius, though, and we will definitely hear from him again.

Book Rating: 5 Stars

My Start Up Life

My Start Up Life is unlike the typical business book. This book details the experience of a teenage entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. The book is full of sage wisdom that much older and more experienced business professionals take years to learn.

It would be unusual for the average teenage boy to succeed in a similar endeavor. Ben Casnocha had numerous advantages that made it possible for him to succeed. He had supportive parents, with deep pockets. He attended a private school with supportive teachers. He lived in the heart of Silicon Valley. His parents had the right connections for networking. He had the basic technical skills. What he had more of was drive, ambition, and persistence. He was willing to outsource the things he didn't know.

There are a lot of little lessons in the book that any small business owner can learn from. I don't think we have seen the last of Ben Casnocha. Now that he is off to college, I expect he will continue to make waves in the tech industry.

Book Rating: 4 Stars