Reviews (1)

Reviews (6)

Informative, hard to plod through in places
The book has a lot of useful information about setting up and running small corporations.

Never Judge a Book by its Cover
This book provides vital information not usually covered in most self-publishing books and is a solid resource guide. Another confirmation that you need to read many books on your subject to familiarize yourself with the business. Areas such as how to protect your inventory by filing a UCC in the state the distributor is based, understanding the ins and outs of how distributors work, how to establish discounts and payment schedules that protect your financial structure, how to properly set-up your Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable,taxes, LLC's, S Corporations,etc. Peter Hupalo's only weak area is his cover design.Anyone this intelligent should know their strengths and weakness's, and graphic design/layout is his. His book deserves better and would appeal to more buyers if it was redesigned.

Reviews (32)

Small Time Operator
"Small Time Operator" by Bernard B. Kamoroff makes you wonder if he ever made it big or just remained small. I agree this is not the bible of business practices. However, the info isn't all that bad. It just lacks real meat.

Not particularly helpful
There are better books on how to start and run a business. This one is long on words and short on useful, practical information. Reads more like an accountant trolling for business by harping on complications than a genuine self-help book.
I bought based on the recommendation of a (well-written) book on self-publishing. Wish I'd read Amazon's comments first and spent my money elsewhere.

Not a BIBLE but a decent start.
First of all, let me say that I do not agree with the five star reviews nor do I agree with the 1 star reviews. That said, I feel this book is smack in between and does offer some useful information, especially for the newbie to business.

Five stars reviewers are too generous and 1 star reviewers are way too critical.

Reviews (6)

A must read for existing and future biz owners
Finally a book written on entrepreneurship that has so much to offer! A guide for fledgling IT entrepreneurs as well as a resource for those faced with the myriad problems of the modern business environment. It is also an introduction to computer consulting and building a multimedia company. Readable, concise, precise, and pragmatic. The in-depth coverage and sound counsel make this a book that should be in every business person's library. I've read my copy twice. It's twenty-seven chapters of very good, easy-to-read inspirational reading. A must read for anyone thinking about starting or expanding their existing business. Highly recommended!

Entrepreneur Highly Informative
This book's got a lot of good stuff in it--those critical factors that help contribute to making good business decisions.I've already seen some improvement in business growth.In fact, the usefulness of Entrepreneur's information is a lot like Guerilla PR: Wired:both have tons of really useful info to entrepreneurs on how to build their business.

Great for [inexperienced] and veteran entrepreneurs
Peter Hupalo has written a unique book for Entrepreneurs.I've read a lot of books about business and entrepreneurship, but this one is different.It speaks to people just thinking about starting a business and yet it has a lot to offer to the veteran entrepreneur.

If you're thinking about starting a business, the first few chapters will do a great job of helping you think about the risks in quitting a "safe" job and starting your own company.It's not as risky as you might think. This isn't the book to read about business licenses or accounting systems - it is much more important than that!It really is as the title suggests a book about thinking like an entrepreneur.

I've been in business for more than 10 years, but I'm still making mistakes and trying to learn new things.A mark of a good book for me is the number of pages that I dog-ear to mark interesting ideas.My copy of Thinking Like an Entrepreneur has at least 20 pages marked, and I've referred back to it many times since I finished reading it.It will definitely go on my favorites shelf of business books.I've already recommended it to my entrepreneur friends.

The author's style is to mix stories about experiences from actual entrepreneurs with good step-by-step walkthroughs of "thinking like an entrepreneur".It is 272 pages with 27 chapters.Each chapter can stand alone, making it easy to focus on the areas you're really interested in while skimming the ones that don't apply so much to your business.Peter seems to have a technology background, but I think any businessperson will find a lot to learn in this book.

My favorite chapters include:

* Don't Get Bournouillied - an interesting discussion of risk

* Men are cheaper than guns

* The importance of margins - Most books don't cover this VERY important topic

* Expectation Values and Decision Making

* Personality and Business Choice

* You Know Enough, But Keep Learning Anyway

* The Role of Luck in Business

* An introduction to the Nature of Compounding and the Time Value of Money

* Relationship Marketing - The cost of losing clients

* The Value of Time

Reviews (12)

Good book for aspiring business people
If you aspire to start your own business or are already in one, you will find a wealth of information in this excellent book by Tyson.

Even experienced business people will find an idea or two.

Excellent Book
Great book for a novice like me in conducting real world business. It starts for the basics which I needed. Worth more than the money spent.

Good Book For People New To Business
"Small Business For Dummies" is a good book to introduce people to the world of small business. The book is filled with solid business advice and information which runs the gamut from managing employees to controlling inventory to building customer relationships.

The bookstarts with a short chapter asking, "Is Small Business For You?" The authors discuss reasons to start a small business and reasons to remain an employee working for someone else. There is a short aptitude test to see if you have the characteristics to be successful as an entrepreneur.

Tyson and Schell define a small-business owner as a person who owns a business with 100 or fewer employees. To reduce the risk of starting a business, the authors suggest you consider starting a part-time business.

I especially like how "Small Business For Dummies" addresses the issue of risk in starting a small business. When an entrepreneur starts a larger company, the founder might collect $150,000 a year in salary, have a great severance package, and even if the company fails, there probably won't be any personal stigma for the founder. On the other hand, small business failure is much more painful, carrying not only the stigma of personal failure, but also dire personal financial consequences.

The second Chapter, "Laying Your Personal Financial Foundation," gives new entrepreneurs a quick course in personal finance, Tyson's specialty. Some entrepreneurs fail to get their personal finances into shape before launching their business.

Tyson and Schell point out, the more financially sound you are, and the more fully aware you are of your spending and financial needs, the more likely you are to succeed in business. A common cause of business failure is running out of money while trying to establish your new company.

Tyson and Schell suggest building up your cash reserves (or a "war chest") of about three to six months of living expenses before starting your company. The authors also discuss the importance of disability, health, and term life insurance in protecting yourself and your family.

Chapter 3, "Finding Your Niche," dispels the common myth that your "niche" is the key to success. Tyson and Schell write: "[T]he niche or idea won't ultimately make or break your business; the day-to-day running of the business itself is what ultimately determines success- or failure. Stated another way, you show us a crackerjack business person, and we'll show you someone who can get rich in the cookie business whether or not he or she has the foggiest idea how to bake the darn things."

"Small Business For Dummies" gives us the valuable tip that trying to be a low-cost player is likely to lead to failure. Small businesses can't compete on price. They must compete on quality and service.

Tyson and Schell also unveil your most valuable business asset- you. After telling us a short story about Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart) borrowing $1,800 to buy an ice cream machine, Tyson and Schell write: "And so it will be with the rest of us who follow in Sam Walton's footsteps- we alone will either make our company, or we will break it. Sure, the niche will be important but we will select it. And certainly our employees will be important, but we will choose the people we hire (and the people we fire). And, of course, our products (or services) will be important, but we will have the final word in defining them. Everything that happens within our business will have our own personal stamp on it. Nothing will be outside of our grasp."

One option to creating a company from scratch is buying an existing small business. Small Business For Dummies devotes two excellent chapters to buying a business.

The book has an excellent discussion of due diligence and evaluating a business to buy. Some of the suggestions include:

~ Examine the business's tax returns. While many small business owners trying to sell a business will try to overstate earnings and the potential of the business to a potential buyer, the owner will likely try to minimize the profits reported to the IRS to save money in income taxes.

~ Talk to key customers, employees, and other companies in the industry. Try to get a feel for the level of ethics and reputation of the company you consider buying. People of low ethics are more likely to try to sell you a bad business for an inflated price and not care about your future success or happiness with the business.

~ Consider hiring a business appraiser, so that you have information about the prices for which comparable businesses are selling.

~ Get proof showing that all business taxes are fully paid to date. And, make sure that the seller is liable for any existing, undisclosed liabilities.

Many people can't afford to purchase an existing business. How do the cash starved build a company? Bootstrap. The Book points out that one Inc. Magazine survey showed that about 79% of the fast-growing Inc. 500 companies relied upon the founder's personal savings and 16% relied upon financing from family members for funding. In contrast, only 7% received bank loans, 5% received angel investments, and 3% received venture capital.

Tyson and Schell write: "The fact that bootstrapping is so pervasive and works so well makes sense if you think about it. First, what better way to instill discipline and to make things work efficiently that to have a limited supply of funds? Second, because you care deeply about risking your own money or that of family or friends, you have a powerful incentive to work hard and smart at making your business succeed. ... Bootstrapping is the unchallenged king of start-up financing."

Small Business For Dummies is worth reading. It is also available at many public libraries.

Reviews (4)

You know you have to get started, so get rid of the excuses!
Feeling job stuck and investigating the need to go out on your own? It's time to just stop all the theorizing and get started... Over the years I have bought scores of entrepreneur/business books and most of them, more or less, teach what they claim. Additionally, I rarely ever write reviews. However it would have been very selfish of me if I didn't write one for this book - learning so much from revewers on amazon every day. This concise, inspiring book is yet another commendable effort from these authors. The book is a fantastic resource for any self-motivated budding businesss person who has ever been stuck, for any reason, in the bringing to life of their business idea, it contains very relevant and practical advice. Get this book and you should have no more excuses. I certainly now don't.

Excellent book
I am very happy with the book!It really inspired me.It took me less than a week to read the whole thing.

The Gurus of the Working From Home Revolution Strike Again!
Paul and Sarah Edwards founded the Working From Home Forum on CompuServe back in 1983 (that's 20 years ago, folks!) and they have been going strong ever since! Not only were they the first to spell out the necessary steps to start and run your own home business, but they have also proven to be the far and away leading mentors in pursuing a dream to become your own boss. They meticulously detail steps you need to take, questions to honestly ask yourself, and strategies to ensure your success. And, as with every book they have written, they include many interviews with people who have gone through the rigors of self-employment and pass along advice to those just starting out.

Reviews (2)

Eye Opening!
I would highly recommend picking up this book to anyone contemplating opening a small business or maybe struggling with an existing one. It is an easy read and reminds you of the common pitfalls, at the same time motivating for success...

Reviews (5)

Unique, comprehensive, motivational gem
"Starting on a Shoestring" is an entirely non-bs, straight-to-the-point primer on all the possibilities available to the entrepreneurial dreamer, many of which he or she would not evenhave imagined possible. In short, there's a lifetime's worth of knowledge and wisdom in here. You don't need to learn the hard way though;read this book, expand your horizons,and gain a new outlook on the world of business.There is no such thing as a how-to guide for business sucess, but this book is as close as you'll likely get to it.

An Indispensible Practical Gem!
This book was far beyond my expectation. It is not simply just a book on giving advice of how to start small, it is a book that teaches you all facets of how to build a business from the ground up! Not only that, it does so systematically, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages in a straight forward manner. No sound bytes, no big words, and no hype. This book is like having a no-nonsense advisor by your side every step of the way. Please browse through the table of contents. There aren't a lot of books that tell a beginner what to look out for if you are looking for a partner or what to look out for when you are paying your creditors, to name only a couple. For a budding entrepreneur who wants sound and practical advice, this book is a must read.

Editorial Review

Reviews (13)

Save your money; don't buy this book.
Considering the high cost of this book, it was definitely not worth it.Most of the information in this book could have been accessed for free through the IRS.I should have paid attention to the negative reviews that were written by other people to not buy this book.In addition, the entire book deals with single-entry bookkeeping.It tells you that you should hire an accountant or a professional payroll firm to do other types of bookkeeping.Most people like myself, who buy self-help books, are financially challenged, and buy these books to learn how to do everything themselves.We cannot afford to hire outside help.

Not that much information
Based on some of the glaring reviews, I was really expecting a superior book here. What I got wasn't even good for the green as green novice.

I was anxious to read the tax information since some reviewers had noted how great that was, but alas, I found it to be note much different from what I get from the IRS or even by reading basic tax forms...FOR FREE!

I'd pass on this one.

Reviews (10)

Very Good book for Financial and Mangerial Accounting
This is a great book for a person to use to suplment what is learned and practiced in Both entry level college accounting classes. It really will help you get a better grade in the class by reinforcing and explainations that are different then your typical college textbook. I highly reccomend this book for any college student that will be taking accounting, it is well worth it's price and I believe if read during the semester along with the practice in your class you will get a better grade. I did.

Not for people who want to learn how to crunch some numbers.
If you are looking for a book that actually gives you good examples that will teach you to crunch some numbers on your own and prepare accounting statements and such, then this is NOT the book for you.It has a lot of writing about the different areas of accounting, but it did little for me.I was looking for a book that gave me real life examples that could help me understand how to do minimal accounting for my smal business.Some of the other introduction to accounting books are much better in this regard.

Isbn: 0764552627
Sales Rank: 205950
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Career/Job    4. Careers - General    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Management    7. New business enterprises    8. Business & Economics / Entrepreneurship   

Reviews (5)

Great book
This book saved me a lot of money by allowing me to form my own one-owner California corporation.I liked the fact that it explained why it wasn't recommending certain things so that you could decide whether it was worth it to you or not.

The only area that I felt it could have explained things more thoroughly was that while it explained how to issue initial shares, it didn't explain at all how to issue any subsequent shares (e.g., in case your corporation was about to run out of money and you (the owner) wanted to buy more shares to inject more capital).It just said to consult a lawyer.So I had to inject more capital via a loan instead. If it's that complicated, then perhaps the author should warn people to slightly overcapitalize the corporation initially.

excellent for starters
This book is easy to read and follow. It has a complete list of things you need to do to set up your own business and some good advices. Highly recommended!

Excellent tutorial and reference
Everything you need to know about starting a small business in California is in here.What legal structure to choose, which agencies you need to deal with, what forms you need and where to get them, web addresses, phone numbers, and all the details.

It also has a wealth of information on running a business, including information on accounting, taxation, and employees.It's well organized and easy to read.

Reviews (83)

Best book there is on real estate
Alot of those get rich quick gurus do not tell you about the technical analysis that is covered in this book.They just paint pictures of them buying and flipping and making 40,50,60 thousand dollars and its easy.If it was so easy, then we'd all be millionaires.There is risk involved and this book lets the reader know that, along with the rewards.

look elsewhere
The book doesn't help you learn real estate at all.The book just gives you pros and cons against investing in stocks.

Reviews (83)

Gung Ho
This book was a fast and easy read. It gives great tips on how to keep a company interested and in a happy workplace. The three concepts of the squirrel, beaver, and goose, give great insight into how the authtor's use their unique technique to produce a happy working community.

You may be able to take something from it
Managers may not be able to enact all of the principles of Gung Ho, but they will be able to walk away with some valuable insight in the world of motivation and performance.If your not sure if you really want this book or not I would recommend that you go for it.There is truly nothing to lose and the reading is entertaining and informative. Every person will be able able to take something from this book and be able to apply it to their work environment.

Reviews (72)

Perhaps too simplistic, but helpful
Raving Fans is helpful in making you step back and think about your customer's wants and how to best address them.Told in the form of a novel, an "area manager" is visited by his fairy god-mother "Charlie" who proceeds to provide him with examples of "Raving Fan" service.This is then applied to his own job and the unique challenges the area manager faces daily with providing customer service.

Though not all the ideas in "Raving Fans" seem plausible or reasonable, it atleast draws the reader into asking the questions that all good managers should ask.What would Raving Fan service be in my business or organization? How would I know when we are providing "raving fan" service?

Not a heaveyweight book on management, it is never the less a good means of stepping back and asking the big questions about customer service.Not a bad book to give to managers to read and evaluate their own organization.

A quick read towards better service
I was given this book several years ago and read it a few times. I gave it to a client and have missed my copy so I will be buying another copy. Sure, the examples such as the service station and grocery store scenarios are simplistic and may be unrealistic, but they make you think about how you could improve your business. I have conducted my business on the principles in the book and I see the positive growth. Every business should have this book and make it available to every employee.

Reviews (22)

The Best Book for New Business Person
I just sold my company and, looking back over the ten years it took to build, this book was the BEST resource and touchston I had.I bought a copy for each new employee.And each one loved it.Written in a non-MBA tenor, this book is for everyone.I only wish the accompanying PBS sereis was still around because it was a fantanstic companion to the book.

Ten years after starting, I can honestly say, Mr. Hawkin was right.And thankfully, I made my money the RIGHT way.No regrets.

Valuable
I read this book and watched the TV series around 1990.I credit Growing a Business, as much as anything I ever read or heard, for the success of my company today.

In 1992 a group of first-time entrepreneurs started a company together.Some of the group had a blueprint of how a company is supposed to start.Get capital.Build something.Launch it.Succeed.They had not read the book, or they had but did not believe it spoke to us.

Some of the group had a more organic idea, inspired in part by this book.Each company has its pace, its flow, its learning curve.The CEO is the clock, the pacer, the navigator.There is a constant calculator going on each decision, each day, extrapolating payoffs, comparing the costs and benefits.And there is a recognition of what we are going into business for and structuring the business to support those objectives.

For example, we wanted a great place for employees.Each employee would share the experience and benefits.The "Startup 101" types of books treat this topic as an add-on after you do all the important things.Hawken makes it primary.It is primary if you want a place for the best people to do their best work.Structure your company around the employee experience and all else falls into place - if that is the kind of company you want.

An important lesson from this book is serious initial capital for inexperienced entrepeneurs can be a mistake.Hawken describes this.So important.So easy to overlook.

Large amounts of startup capital allows you to outsource parts of a company you may not totally understand yet.It makes some mistakes very expensive.It dulls the creativity at times, the innovation to do more with less.It might encourage one to do things just because you see other companies doing them.It tempts you to make large steps, when it is critical in modern markets to learn to make many smaller steps.

And so on.This book may not fit every entrepreneur.It certainly does not provide all the information you need for growing a company.But for some of us it describes a pattern for growing a good company.

If you are thinking about starting a company, or are in the early stages of a startup, I recommend this book.It might change how you do things, and you might get more satisfaction from the adventure as a result.

Reviews (3)

Pretty basic
Good starter book especially if you don't have a business background or education, but if you have those things you may want something a little more robust.

Not Quite "Everything," But A Very Good Start
"The Business Start-Up Kit: Everything You Need To Know About Starting And Growing Your Own Business" by attorney and small business columnist Steven Strauss is a solid introduction to starting a new business.

Strauss covers these topics very well:

* Buying A Franchise Or Other Business
* Planning Your Business
* Laws, Taxes, and Insurance (A Brief Overview)
* Bootstrap Financing

Strauss tells us that one million new home-based business start-up every year and that as many as 15-40 million home-based businesses exist in the United States. Quoting an SBA survey, we learn that almost 25 percent of all home-based businesses have a yearly gross income between $100,000 and $500,000.

Strauss says home-based businesses have a big advantage-low overhead. And, some home-based businesses grow into much larger endeavors. We learn that Disney, amazon.com, and Microsoft are among some businesses that originated as home-based businesses.

Strauss writes: "Maybe your dream is to be a multimillionaire. That's fine. But so too is a dream to create a business that makes enough money to allow you to stay home, play with the kids... and shoot a round of golf on Friday afternoons. That's fine too. That you are the boss and can do what you want is one of the best things about starting your own home-based business. Doing what you want-that's the whole idea."

"The Business Start-Up Kit" emphasizes that industry research, planning, and letting the numbers do the talking are crucial to success.

Strauss writes: "For example, assume that your business is looking to add a new product line. How do you know if it will work? Such an important decision should not be based on guesswork or hunches. Instead, you have to let the numbers do the talking. Knowing how to crunch the numbers-figuring out what it will cost you to launch the new line, how much you can expect to make, and how quickly you can reasonably expect to make it-will make the decision easy for you. Can you afford a new product line? Will your cash flow allow you to afford it? What kind of return on this investment of capital and time can you expect? Let the numbers do the talking."

Throughout the book, Strauss encourages the reader by interjecting interesting tidbits about successful entrepreneurs. And, Strauss tells those who fear failure to let fear motivate them and not to give up easily.

We learn that Microsoft had only $16,000 in revenue and three employees in 1975. In 1976, Microsoft had $22,000 in revenue and six employees. It lost money both years. Strauss says that many entrepreneurs might have been tempted to give up after two dismal years.

To help entrepreneurs stretch their initial investment, Strauss suggests: "You must invest your time, money, and energy in only your best, most profitable ideas."

Strauss says entrepreneurs should enter a field they feel passionate about and an area where they see a need or an opportunity.

For example, Strauss writes: "...when Chris Haney and Scott Abbot got together to play a board game one night, they choose... Scrabble. As they pulled out Chris's Scrabble game, the two friends discovered that some of the tiles were missing. As they went out to buy another Scrabble game, Chris thought: This was the sixth game of Scrabble he'd bought in his life. The two friends decided then and there to start a business and invent a board game. ... the two friends sold more than 20 million copies of Trivial Pursuit within three years."

Strauss also discusses legal mistakes to avoid when starting your business. Strauss says many entrepreneurs will need to learn some basic law about:

* Contracts
* Avoiding negligence
* Protecting your ideas and products with copyrights, trademarks, and patents
* Basic employer-employee law
* Laws regulating your industry

Strauss says one of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make is to operate as a sole proprietorship or as a partnership, which can put your personal assets at risk. Strauss writes: "If instead of a sole proprietorship or partnership, you start the business as a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership, you avoid that possibility [not always] and thereby greatly reduce your risk." (Aside: In another chapter, Strauss correctly discusses the limited partnership in detail. But, this paragraph is a bit awkward. A limited partnership itself provides no protection to the general partners. Those with limited liability are typically the investors, who aren't active in the management of the business. Sometimes, another business structure, such as a corporation serves as the general partner. But, a limited partnership, itself, doesn't provide full liability limitation to the entrepreneur.)

In addition to providing encouragement and help with developing a business strategy, Strauss also provides a list of books, websites, and other resources for more information at the end of each section.

I highly recommend "The Business Start-Up Kit: Everything You Need To Know About Starting And Growing Your Own Business" to new entrepreneurs.

Peter Hupalo, Author of "How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation"

Quite Excellent
The title of this book indeed says it all - in it I found "everything I need to know" about starting a business - and then some! Strauss writes in a friendly, entertaing way that made even complicated subjects (finances, yuch!) pretty easy to understand. Another thing I liked about the book was the section on the "Shoestring Entrepreneur" - how to start and grow a business without a lot of money.

Reviews (47)

The leading change process model
Organisations need change. We all know that. But how can an organisation adopt great ideas, tools, and methods, absorbing them in a way to stimulate change and get superior results?

Harvard-professor John P. Kotter has been observing this process for almost 30 years. What intrigues him is why some leaders are able to take these tools and methods and get their organizations to change dramatically - while most do not.

How many times have we not seen somebody get very excited about some new tool (CRM, e-business, etc.)? Yet two years later there is no performance improvement at all. Often because most of the organisation has rejected the change needed to make it happen.

When people need to make big changes significantly and effectively, Kotter finds that there are generally eight basic things that must happen:

1. INSTILL A SENSE OF URGENCY. Identifying existing or potential crises or opportunities. Confronting reality, in the words of Execution-authors, Charan and Bossidy.

2. PICK A GOOD TEAM. Assembling a strong guiding coalition with enough power to lead the change effort. And make them work as a team, not a committee!

3. CREATE A VISION AND SUPPORTING STRATEGIES. We need a clear sense of purpose and direction. In less successful situations you generally find plans and budgets, but no vision and strategy; or the strategies are so superficial that they have no credibility.

4. COMMUNICATE. As many people as possible need to hear the mandate for change loud and clear, with messages sent out consistently and often. Forget the boring memos that nobody reads! Try using videos, speeches, kick-off meetings, workshops in small units, etc. Also important is the teaching of new behaviours by the example of the guiding coalition

5. REMOVE OBSTACLES. Get rid of anything blocking change, like bosses stuck in the old ways or lack of information systems. Encourage risk-taking and non-traditional ideas, activities, and actions. Empowerment is moving obstacles out of peoples' way so they can make something happen, once they've got the vision clear in their heads.

6. CHANGE FAST. Little quick wins are essential for creating momentum and providing sufficient credibility to pat the hard-working people on the back and to diffuse the cynics. Remember to recognize and reward employees involved in the improvements.

7. KEEP ON CHANGING. After change organizations get rolling and have some wins, they don't stop there. They go back and make wave after wave of other actions necessary for long-term, significant change. Successful change leaders don't drop the sense of urgency. On top of that, they are very systematic about figuring out all of the pieces they need to have in place before they declare victory.

8. MAKE CHANGE STICK. The last big step is nailing big change to the floor and making sure it sticks. And the way things stick is through culture. If you can create a totally new culture around some new way of managing, it will stay. It won't live on if it is dependent on one boss or a couple of enthusiastic people who will eventually move on.

We can divide these eight steps in three main processes. The first four steps focus on de-freezing the organization. The next three steps make change happen. The last step re-freezes the organization on the next rung on the ladder.

I've personally used Kotter's change process in several e-business projects. It has helped me a lot. I highly recommend that you buy this easy-to-read and affordable book. Alternatively, read his Harvard Business Review article from Mar/Apr 1995 on the same subject.

Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

One of the Best
I agree with some of the earlier reviews that recommend this book along with "Execution" by Bossidy & Charan, "Strategic Organizational Change" by Beitler, and "Good to Great" by Collins.

This book is a little light on practical tools, but it does offer a good overview for managers who are dealing with change.

Editorial Review

Disciplines like strategy, leadership development, and innovation are the sexier aspects of being at the helm of a successful business; actually getting things done never seems quite as glamorous. But as Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan demonstrate in Execution, the ultimate difference between a company and its competitor is, in fact, the ability to execute.