New Business Book Summary Available for Big Bang Disruption

Disruptive innovation is not new, but it is taking on a new form. In an environment of continual disruptive technology fueled by the proliferation of the Internet, ubiquitous computing, and mobile devices, Big Bang Disruption can overtake markets and devastate competitors with lightning speed. Unlike its disruptive innovation predecessors, it attacks existing markets from all sides, leveraging inexpensive technologies and crowdsourcing abilities to rapidly bring new products and services to the market that the competition might never see coming. In Big Bang Disruption, industry analysts and researchers Larry Downes and Paul Nunes explain this phenomenon, as well as how incumbents and entrepreneurs can apply the 12 rules of Big Bang Disruption to compete in this new environment.

New Business Book Summary Available for Content Inc.

Traditionally, entrepreneurs have launched products or services in order to start businesses. Today's world is different--successful businesses can be based on creating and distributing information that audiences love. In Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi presents a new business model that is focused on building loyal audiences through valuable content.

New Business Book Summary Available for Fail Fast or Win Big

In Fail Fast or Win Big, Bernhard Schroeder provides readers with a detailed approach for succeeding in today's changing business world. Schroeder reviews the components of traditional business plans, outlines comprehensive reasons for why they are outdated, and presents his new LeanModel Framework for failing fast and winning big.

New Business Book Summary Available for Future Smart

In Future Smart, author and futurist James Canton provides readers with an in-depth understanding of the technological, social, and environmental trends that are shaping the future. With knowledge of the future, Canton argues, entrepreneurs can start producing forward-thinking, actionable ideas that will ensure the success of their organizations. A guidebook to the business risks and opportunities of the future, Future Smart illustrates the importance of designing game-changing innovations, plans, and strategies today to ensure a successful tomorrow.

New Business Book Summary Available for Screw the Valley

Screw the Valley is Timothy Sprinkle’s take on the tech startup boom in places outside of the California Bay area. He encourages entrepreneurs to look at other regions of the country when locating their businesses. Sprinkle visited seven different areas and interviewed leaders at all levels, from new entrepreneurs to seasoned tech veterans to venture capitalists. He shares his findings about each city and its appeal to tech startups and their employees.

New Business Book Summary Available for The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster

In The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster, Darren Hardy distills what he has learned from studying successful entrepreneurs. Starting a business—riding the entrepreneur roller coaster—starts out with great excitement and expectations, but eventually entrepreneurs encounter failures and setbacks. While battling uncertainty and disapproval can help them become stronger and better skilled, entrepreneurs need guidance, clarity, and support to ride out the tough times. Hardy’s goal is to help new entrepreneurs overcome their fears, gain confidence, and achieve more than they ever imagined.

New Business Book Summary Available for Just Run It!

The many books written by CEOs of Fortune 500 companies about running a business actually have little to do with what it takes to run the typical small business. In Just Run It!, turn-around specialist Dick Cross explains that running a business is not nearly as complicated as most people think. Armed with a “back of the envelope” outline that addresses a business’s core competencies, market position, and customers, a company can determine how to best serve customers’ needs. A company should create a vision that draws people toward it, and then develop the strategy to execute effectively on that vision. Cross addresses practical considerations ranging from how to communicate effectively to how to read a balance sheet. He examines how work fits into a larger approach to the world, one that values others and thereby ensures their loyalty.

New Business Book Summary Available for The Creator’s Code

Creators, extraordinary entrepreneurs who have built hugely profitable businesses, share some common traits and practices. Amy Wilkinson has codified these into six essential skills she calls the creator’s code. She identified a select group of creators who have massively scaled their businesses to at least $100 million in annual revenue, then conducted qualitative studies of these entrepreneurs to identify the skills and traits that set them apart. In The Creator’s Code, Wilkinson posits that extraordinary entrepreneurs share an ability to identify unmet needs, to keep focused on the long term, to make fast decisions, and to learn from failure. They solve problems with diverse teams and are unflagging in their generosity. In short, the book provides the template for entrepreneurial success that the author’s research subjects never had.

New Business Book Summary Available for Mighty Midsized Companies

In Mighty Midsized Companies, consultant and former midsized company CEO Robert Sher discusses the seven “silent growth killers” that can derail or even destroy midsized companies, especially since these growth killers tend to occur together. He explains that midsized companies (those with revenues between $10 million and $1 billion) have issues specific to them that are seldom discussed in business schools or in the media. He discusses practical strategies that enable company leaders to recognize and avoid the following seven growth killers of midsized companies: (1) letting time slip-slide away, (2) strategy tinkering at the top, (3) reckless attempts at growth, (4) fumbling strategic acquisitions, (5) operational meltdowns, (6) liquidity crashes, and (7) tolerating dysfunctional leaders.

New Business Book Summary for The Naked CEO

Who would have thought a successful leadership career would stem from a high school suspension. But that is what happened for Alex Malley. His school suspension is just one experience in a line of missteps that yielded important learnings that led him on a path to become a successful CEO, television host, educator, and mentor. All of these experiences inspired him to write The Naked CEO, a compilation of the learnings he has accumulated and shared over the years with young people preparing to leave college and enter the business world. Malley's key message is to never let fear or embarrassment hold people back from pursuing their dreams. Unless individuals are comfortable with their own journeys, they are unlikely to truly help others on theirs.

New Business Book Summary Available for Moms Mean Business

In the United States alone, women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men, and many of those women are moms. In Moms Mean Business, Erin Baebler and Lara Galloway target moms who want to be entrepreneurs—and those with businesses already underway—who need support and advice on how to optimally juggle family and business concerns. The authors discuss the importance of a relatable business plan, realistic time management, continued self-care, and identifying and staying true to one’s authentic self. They provide clear, practical strategies for all phases of starting up, nurturing, and running a successful business.

New summary available for Find Grant Funding Now!

More and more businesses are seeking alternate forms of financing, including through government and foundation grants. In Find Grant Funding Now!, Sarah Beth Aubrey shares her winning strategies for securing different types of grant funding. Every year there are hundreds of billions of grant dollars aimed at promoting business activities, and Aubrey explains how entrepreneurs and businesses can take their ideas, develop them into fundable projects, and find the right grants. 

New summary available for Start at the End

When entrepreneurs launch their businesses, they are highly motivated by the prospect of making and keeping them successful. However, initial visualizations of success can quickly give way to a host of day-to-day concerns. Business owners easily become trapped in short-term managerial concerns and lose sight of the long-term visions that first inspired them. In Start at the End, Dave Lavinsky offers entrepreneurs and business owners a new approach to drafting business plans that keeps their focus on the end vision. Only after crafting a detailed exit strategy should they work backwards to create a short-term strategic plan that dictates their day-to-day tasks.

New Summary Available for Standing on the Sun

The world is constantly evolving and, along with it, the capitalist system is also changing. In  Standing on the Sun, Christopher Meyer and Julia Kirby discuss how capitalism is morphing from the pursuit of financial gain to the pursuit of value. Many of the modifications to traditional rules of capitalism are occurring in emerging economies. The authors explain the factors driving the renaissance of capitalism and how different varieties of this economic system are developing around the world.

Do Cool Sh*t

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for people to have enjoyable careers and work with like-minded people who share their interests. In Do Cool Sh*t, Miki Agrawal, a young, successful entrepreneur, shares her journey of finding work she loves rather than working only to make money. For her, making money is not how she defines success. Rather, success is about doing the absolute best with the capabilities a person has rather than putting in hours in exchange for a paycheck and a boring existence. Her belief is that people truly can have it all.

According to Agrawal:

*People who step outside their existing social networks to make new connections may find it difficult at first, but it could create opportunities to meet potential investors for new business ventures. Without taking chances, these connections will never be made.

*Before asking for something, it is important for individuals to first understand exactly what they want. Clear proposals will make recipients more accepting of the "ask."

*Although there is a place for passion, entrepreneurs also need to stop and identify what they are good at. It is difficult to be successful in a venture without the skill set to back it up.

*Opportunities do not have to be strictly entrepreneurial--there is also an "intrapreneurial" approach where people expand their reach with their existing employers by growing their internal programs. This can only happen in work environments where creative thinking is encouraged.

*Part of the journey to success includes creating a list of admirable people. Entrepreneurs must connect personally with the people they admire in order find mentors who can help them launch their businesses.

*Teams are vital to success. Not investing the time to hire the right people can result in constantly re-hiring and training new people.

*If people are not willing to change the way they do business, they will never get the chance to experience new things. New experiences are vital for achieving success.

*The type of communities people spend time with strongly influence the types of people they become. Part of creating new lifestyles and mindsets involves finding new people with whom to spend time.

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