Business Plans That Work: Why Some Do and Most Don't, Cynthia Kocialski, 2013, Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Writing a business plan is a necessary part of starting a new business, because all of the how-to-start-a-business books say that it is. Even the best business plan is little more than fiction. There is an alternative.
A concept plan helps to identify the guesses and estimates in the average business plan, and helps to eventually turn them into facts. The idea is to help discover the right business model and right product. Find a way to test your product before actual customers, so that you will have something factual to show to potential investors. If your product, or your whole business idea, neeeds major changes, it's better to find out now, instead of after several years of struggle and money losses.
When it comes to deciding on a purpose or vision for your company, please come up with something better than "the leading supplier of (your product)." What business or consumer problem does your product solve? Do some consumer research to find out what sort of actual problems your product can fix. Are you ready to sell this product, and remain passionate about it, for the next 20 years? What will the product look like? Doing a demo with an actual example of your product will help greatly. Who is your customer? Why should they buy from you, a start-up, instead of an established company? Who are your competitors?
It's never too early to start marketing. How will you make your money? There are many different ways to do it. What is your pricing strategy? How will your product actually be made? If overseas, how will it be shipped from there to here? What about all the other parts of running a business, like accounting, HR and funding?
This book is short, and it is excellent. Written by a Silicon Valley veteran, it is full of information for start-ups of any kind. This easily reaches the level of Must Read for entrepreneurs.
Welcome!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Conversations on the Bench: Life Lessons From the Wisest Man I Ever Knew
Conversations on the Bench: Life Lessons From the Wisest Man I Ever Knew, Digger Cartwright, Xlibris Corp., 2013
Inspired by actual events, this book is about two men with a bond closer than that of brothers, though they could not be more different.
The author is invited to a high-class country club in South Carolina, to a meeting of Thinking Outside The Boxe (with an "e"). It's a non-partisan think tank with the intention of coming up with real, not "liberal" or "conservative," solutions to America's problems. The two people behind it are Robbie, a serious younger man who is always seen in a black three-piece suit, even while playing billiards at the local sports bar, and Sebastian, a very obese older man who knows everyone, and is the epitome of "larger than life." During a private round of golf, Robbie asks Cartwright to write a book giving Sebastian's view of life, without tellin Sebastian.
The book consists of a number of short stories, with Robbie and Sebastian at their local bar, having dinner, playing billiards and solving the world's problems. If you are not satisfied with the current condition of your life, are you going to do anything about it, or just whine and complain? Don't be upset if you can't be a whatever-you-studied-in-college; the world will always need plumbers and bartenders. Always give your personal best, no matter what; don't fear failure. Some things, and some people, in this world just can't be explained. If you ever find yourself in a position of strength, don't let go; you will never get it back. There will always be negative people in this world; don't let them drag you down. Showing anger toward others is a sign of weakness.Sometimes, it's best to swallow your pride. Never live your life for someone else, no matter who it is, but live it for yourself.
I know what you are thinking: not another self-help/motivation book! This one is different, and is much, much better than the average book. Instead of trying to tell the "right" way to live, Sebastian shows just how to do it. This is extremely highly recommended.
Inspired by actual events, this book is about two men with a bond closer than that of brothers, though they could not be more different.
The author is invited to a high-class country club in South Carolina, to a meeting of Thinking Outside The Boxe (with an "e"). It's a non-partisan think tank with the intention of coming up with real, not "liberal" or "conservative," solutions to America's problems. The two people behind it are Robbie, a serious younger man who is always seen in a black three-piece suit, even while playing billiards at the local sports bar, and Sebastian, a very obese older man who knows everyone, and is the epitome of "larger than life." During a private round of golf, Robbie asks Cartwright to write a book giving Sebastian's view of life, without tellin Sebastian.
The book consists of a number of short stories, with Robbie and Sebastian at their local bar, having dinner, playing billiards and solving the world's problems. If you are not satisfied with the current condition of your life, are you going to do anything about it, or just whine and complain? Don't be upset if you can't be a whatever-you-studied-in-college; the world will always need plumbers and bartenders. Always give your personal best, no matter what; don't fear failure. Some things, and some people, in this world just can't be explained. If you ever find yourself in a position of strength, don't let go; you will never get it back. There will always be negative people in this world; don't let them drag you down. Showing anger toward others is a sign of weakness.Sometimes, it's best to swallow your pride. Never live your life for someone else, no matter who it is, but live it for yourself.
I know what you are thinking: not another self-help/motivation book! This one is different, and is much, much better than the average book. Instead of trying to tell the "right" way to live, Sebastian shows just how to do it. This is extremely highly recommended.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb
The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb, Michael B. Hickland, Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2013
This novel is about an 800-year-old treasure that comes very close to starting a third World War.
In an isolated bit of Mongolia, Genghis Khan buried the spoils from his years of plundering and pillaging across Asia. Over the centuries, many diligent attempts were made to find the treasure, especially during World War II, but without luck.
Kate Barrows is an English paleontologist leading an expedition in present-day Mongolia looking for dinosaur fossils. One day, she stumbles aceoss a very old child's hunting bow, which, through satellite phone calls, is verified to be Khan's childhood bow (the treasure must be somewhere nearby). Russia and China are listening in on the phone calls, so they both amass troops on Mongolia's borders, along with sending "mining equipment" to the area.
Drew Moss, Kate's financial backer and an ex-Navy SEAL, heads to Mongolia with a group of CIA personnel, to take over security for the camp. Kate does not know about Khan's treasure, until now. Attempts are made by Russian and Chinese Special Forces personnel to infiltrate the camp. It becomes a race to see who can first open the underground storehouse. The Americans unearth the front door; of course, Khan thought to include a few booby traps. Who reaches the treasure first? Is World War III prevented?
This one is really good. It has plenty of action and political intrigue. It's plausible, and it's also short, and easy to read. It is very much recommended.
This novel is about an 800-year-old treasure that comes very close to starting a third World War.
In an isolated bit of Mongolia, Genghis Khan buried the spoils from his years of plundering and pillaging across Asia. Over the centuries, many diligent attempts were made to find the treasure, especially during World War II, but without luck.
Kate Barrows is an English paleontologist leading an expedition in present-day Mongolia looking for dinosaur fossils. One day, she stumbles aceoss a very old child's hunting bow, which, through satellite phone calls, is verified to be Khan's childhood bow (the treasure must be somewhere nearby). Russia and China are listening in on the phone calls, so they both amass troops on Mongolia's borders, along with sending "mining equipment" to the area.
Drew Moss, Kate's financial backer and an ex-Navy SEAL, heads to Mongolia with a group of CIA personnel, to take over security for the camp. Kate does not know about Khan's treasure, until now. Attempts are made by Russian and Chinese Special Forces personnel to infiltrate the camp. It becomes a race to see who can first open the underground storehouse. The Americans unearth the front door; of course, Khan thought to include a few booby traps. Who reaches the treasure first? Is World War III prevented?
This one is really good. It has plenty of action and political intrigue. It's plausible, and it's also short, and easy to read. It is very much recommended.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Hey, Joe (Jamaica Series)
Hey, Joe (Jamaica series), Jerry Beller, Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2013
This novel is about a man who discovers himself by moving to a different part of the world.
Set in the 1980s, River is a high-level Congressional staffer in Washington. Suddenly, he quits his job and sells his car. He packs up his possessions, and hops a plane to Jamaica. He had visited the island in the past, and fell in love with the scenery.
He intentionally bypasses Kingston, the capital, which is full of tourists. His intention is to stay in Jamaica, longer if possible, while he writes a novel set during the Vietnam War. He finds a place to live near the town of Port Antonio. He does not tell anyone back home where he is living, not wanting to deal with people who invite themselves for a visit. He meets a number of decent, reasonable people in his travels, along with people who are best avoided as much as possible. Like it or not, Jamaica is still a Third World country, with a huge gap between rich and poor. Hurricane Gilbert hit the island a few weeks previously, causing a lot of damage.
River's ultimate intention is to be accepted as a Jamaican, not as some rich white tourist just passing through. He writes for several hours a day, as if the story is just pouring out of him. He spends the rest of each day enjoying the scenery and ocean views. He is very uninterested in several romantic offers from female tourists who make it to that part of the island. One day, in a local park, he spots a young woman who, emotionally, knocks him on his rear end. He has no idea who she is, or where she lives, but he can't get her out of his head. Does River finish his novel? Does he speak to his mystery woman?
Here is a very quiet, but beautifully written novel. The scenery of Jamaica is just as much a character as any of the natives, who speak in actual Jamaican patois. For anyone who has visited, or wants to visit, Jamaica, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
This novel is about a man who discovers himself by moving to a different part of the world.
Set in the 1980s, River is a high-level Congressional staffer in Washington. Suddenly, he quits his job and sells his car. He packs up his possessions, and hops a plane to Jamaica. He had visited the island in the past, and fell in love with the scenery.
He intentionally bypasses Kingston, the capital, which is full of tourists. His intention is to stay in Jamaica, longer if possible, while he writes a novel set during the Vietnam War. He finds a place to live near the town of Port Antonio. He does not tell anyone back home where he is living, not wanting to deal with people who invite themselves for a visit. He meets a number of decent, reasonable people in his travels, along with people who are best avoided as much as possible. Like it or not, Jamaica is still a Third World country, with a huge gap between rich and poor. Hurricane Gilbert hit the island a few weeks previously, causing a lot of damage.
River's ultimate intention is to be accepted as a Jamaican, not as some rich white tourist just passing through. He writes for several hours a day, as if the story is just pouring out of him. He spends the rest of each day enjoying the scenery and ocean views. He is very uninterested in several romantic offers from female tourists who make it to that part of the island. One day, in a local park, he spots a young woman who, emotionally, knocks him on his rear end. He has no idea who she is, or where she lives, but he can't get her out of his head. Does River finish his novel? Does he speak to his mystery woman?
Here is a very quiet, but beautifully written novel. The scenery of Jamaica is just as much a character as any of the natives, who speak in actual Jamaican patois. For anyone who has visited, or wants to visit, Jamaica, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Daughter of the Sun
Daughter of the Sun, Three Phoenix, Capital Apple Press, 2012
The people of the valley of East Mountain are looked after by Elana, the Daughter of the Sun. Whenever she smiled, the sun would join in and spread happiness and joy over the whole valley. The people thought she was magic.
For unknown reasons, a feeling of unhappiness has come over the people. AhMun, the corn grower, and a couple of his friends decide to visit Elana and ask for her help.
Naturally, getting to Elana is not easy. When they reach her, AhMun receives a beam of sunlight from her, and imagines that the bad feelings in the village have disappeared. He gives a big smile back to Elana, who relays it to her father, the sun. AhMun and friends return to the village and everyone is happy. One day, a thundercloud comes by and learns that Elana has a very different interpretation of her dealings with the villagers than do the villagers.
This book is made to be read to children under 10 years of age. Older children will also enjoy it. Yes, it is worth the time.
The people of the valley of East Mountain are looked after by Elana, the Daughter of the Sun. Whenever she smiled, the sun would join in and spread happiness and joy over the whole valley. The people thought she was magic.
For unknown reasons, a feeling of unhappiness has come over the people. AhMun, the corn grower, and a couple of his friends decide to visit Elana and ask for her help.
Naturally, getting to Elana is not easy. When they reach her, AhMun receives a beam of sunlight from her, and imagines that the bad feelings in the village have disappeared. He gives a big smile back to Elana, who relays it to her father, the sun. AhMun and friends return to the village and everyone is happy. One day, a thundercloud comes by and learns that Elana has a very different interpretation of her dealings with the villagers than do the villagers.
This book is made to be read to children under 10 years of age. Older children will also enjoy it. Yes, it is worth the time.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
GPS Your Best Life
GPS Your Best Life: Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style, Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski, Bettie Youngs Books, 2012
This book compares the journey through life to going on a trip using your car's GPS system.
When using a GPS, you need to start with entering your present location. The book has a questionnaire to help determine where you are now, emotionally and psychologically. Then you can enter your destination, or your ultimate goal (it can range from losing a few pounds to starting your own business). Your journey will be difficult if your windshield is dirty, or covered with bugs. Make sure your goal is clear and attainable, and regularly evaluate yourself to make sure you are still on course.
How do you get from here to there? Start a vision board to show what your ideal life looks like. Visualize your best life; it will help you focus. Resolve to do five GPS actions every day. It does not matter how small they are; after a week, a month, or a year, you will be that much closer to your destination/goal.
Make sure there is nothing holding you back, like forgetting to release the parking brake. Fear, worries and excuses are like radio stations on your car radio. Just as you can change to another radio station, you can stop listening to the negative internal chatter, and replace it with positive thoughts.
Roadblocks and potholes are a part of life. Are you going to give up on your goal because the road has gotten bumpy, or are you going to find a way around it? Having a backseat driver in your car is never fun. How do you deal with an emotional backseat driver?
When you reach your destination/goal, go right ahead and celebrate. Send yourself an e-card of congratulations, take a picture of the "new" you, take a day off with no cell phone or computer to distract you, look yourself in the mirror and say "Thank you." Now, it is time to start thinking about your next goal.
This is a really good, and really easy to read, piece of writing. It is better than most self-help books in that it explores the journey to an emotional goal in terms that anyone can relate to, using a car's GPS system. It's short, and it's recommended.
This book compares the journey through life to going on a trip using your car's GPS system.
When using a GPS, you need to start with entering your present location. The book has a questionnaire to help determine where you are now, emotionally and psychologically. Then you can enter your destination, or your ultimate goal (it can range from losing a few pounds to starting your own business). Your journey will be difficult if your windshield is dirty, or covered with bugs. Make sure your goal is clear and attainable, and regularly evaluate yourself to make sure you are still on course.
How do you get from here to there? Start a vision board to show what your ideal life looks like. Visualize your best life; it will help you focus. Resolve to do five GPS actions every day. It does not matter how small they are; after a week, a month, or a year, you will be that much closer to your destination/goal.
Make sure there is nothing holding you back, like forgetting to release the parking brake. Fear, worries and excuses are like radio stations on your car radio. Just as you can change to another radio station, you can stop listening to the negative internal chatter, and replace it with positive thoughts.
Roadblocks and potholes are a part of life. Are you going to give up on your goal because the road has gotten bumpy, or are you going to find a way around it? Having a backseat driver in your car is never fun. How do you deal with an emotional backseat driver?
When you reach your destination/goal, go right ahead and celebrate. Send yourself an e-card of congratulations, take a picture of the "new" you, take a day off with no cell phone or computer to distract you, look yourself in the mirror and say "Thank you." Now, it is time to start thinking about your next goal.
This is a really good, and really easy to read, piece of writing. It is better than most self-help books in that it explores the journey to an emotional goal in terms that anyone can relate to, using a car's GPS system. It's short, and it's recommended.
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