New Suggested Readings

The E-Myth Revisited
Reviewed by: Cliff Spyker

The E-Myth Revisited
by M. Gerber

This book is a must read for all entrepreneurs and "thinking about entrepreneurs". It would certainly be in my top ten of business books all-time. This book has created a whole industry of coaches and business advisors using Gerber's thoughts to assist small and micro business owners to move forward in their own enterprises.

The general concept is "working on your business" versus "working in your business". The book focuses on the concept that the majority of entrepreneurs start a business in a moment of "entrepreneurial brilliance" and then end up being the "worker bee" or employee of the business rather than the owner. As such most business owners can never grow their business to be independent and self sufficient, but rather end up with, what MKS calls, a "job business". For many it can end up to be a rather poor paying "job business" also.

Go to any used book stare and purchase a copy of any edition of this book and you will have started to take better control of your personal achievement.

The Power of Focus
Reviewed by: Cliff Spyker

The Power of Focus
by Les Hewitt

This book is certainly on my top ten book list for entrepreneurs. Maybe even my top five right now. While the Chicken Soup guys are listed as authors, the real creative mind is Calgary’s own Les Hewitt. Les lives and works in Calgary and has created a brilliant focusing process useful for any business owner.

It took me weeks to read this book because every few pages I had to stop and think then reflect and re-think about what I have been doing. It is not for the faint of heart. Only read this book if you are truly interested in changing your own personal habits.

The Tipping Point
Reviewed by: Cliff Spyker

The Tipping Point
by Malcolm Gladwell

Not sure if the writer knows how important a marketing book he wrote. This would be my current Number One Business Book for Entrepreneurs. I liked this book so much that I read it twice in a row, back-to-back with nothing else in between, which I have never done before. I also sent the book to my daughter in Vancouver who was taking fashion merchandising at the time and begged her to read it.

There are too many social science examples for my taste but the cross-over to marketing has brilliant implications for micro business owners.

The general concepts are the three Laws of "The Tipping Point"
The Law of Few- I love the concept of "Mavens",
The Stickiness Factor
and The Power of Context

I have embraced these marketing concepts to the extent that I have immediately undertaken some actions in our own marketing.

Gladwell has a brand new publication “Blink” that is on my list to read in March.

The Innovator's Dilemma
Reviewed by: Cliff Spyker

The Innovator's Dilemma
by J. Christenson

This is a very good book with respect to understanding growth and innovation in larger businesses. If you have a larger business and your goal is to innovate then you may have a huge issue. It is similar to the comments I hear often from business owners with respect to their "desire to be creative but no will to implement change".

The dilemma is that as companies grow they tend to develop structure in such a manner that creativity is discouraged by management.

Great read.