The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses


Eric Ries - 2011
    But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on "validated learning," rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute.Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs - in companies of all sizes - a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it's too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.

Saving the World at Work: What Companies and Individuals Can Do to Go Beyond Making a Profit to Making a Difference


Tim Sanders - 2008
    How? Through simple acts of leadership and compassion. Open up this book, and discover the true stories of people whose actions have caused a chain reaction at work and in their communities. Among them:A manager who gives an employee some supportive praise, and as a result literally saves his life (page 231). A small group of bank tellers who spearhead a movement to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer, making it the biggest fundraiser in North America, and enhancing their company’s reputation (page 213). A sales manager who gets a copy of a groundbreaking book that leads to a transformation of the company’s operations. As a result, hundreds of millions of pounds of carpet waste avoid the landfill, and the company sparks a revolution in its industry (page 12).A “responsibility revolution” is shaking up corporate America. In this provocative and insightful book, bestselling author Tim Sanders reveals why companies must to go beyond making a profit and start making a difference.Every one of us, regardless of title or position, can inspire our companies to change the way they do business, helping them to become a positive force for enriching people, communities, and the environment. When this happens, not only do we help save the world, we help save our companies from becoming irrelevant. We also become part of what Sanders calls the Responsibility Revolution. Companies that don’t participate in this revolution risk becoming obsolete. Today customers, employees, and investors are demanding that companies focus on their social responsibilities—not just their bottom lines. Sixty-five percent of American consumers say they would change to brands associated with a good cause if price and quality were equal; 66 percent of recent college graduates will not work for companies with poor social values. And more than sixty million people are willing to pay a premium for socially and environmentally responsible products. In SAVING THE WORLD AT WORK, Tim Sanders offers concrete suggestions on how all of us can help our companies join the Responsibility Revolution. Drawing on extensive interviews with hundreds of employees and CEOs, and illuminated by countless stories of people who are making a difference in the workplace and in the world, Sanders offers practical advice every individual and company can use to make the world a better place--now and in the future.

Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors


Michael E. Porter - 1980
    Porter's Competitive Strategy has transformed the theory, practice, and teaching of business strategy throughout the world. Electrifying in its simplicity -- like all great breakthroughs -- Porter's analysis of industries captures the complexity of industry competition in five underlying forces. Porter introduces one of the most powerful competitive tools yet developed: his three generic strategies -- lowest cost, differentiation, and focus -- which bring structure to the task of strategic positioning. He shows how competitive advantage can be defined in terms of relative cost and relative prices, thus linking it directly to profitability, and presents a whole new perspective on how profit is created and divided. In the almost two decades since publication, Porter's framework for predicting competitor behavior has transformed the way in which companies look at their rivals and has given rise to the new discipline of competitor assessment. More than a million managers in both large and small companies, investment analysts, consultants, students, and scholars throughout the world have internalized Porter's ideas and applied them to assess industries, understand competitors,, and choose competitive positions. The ideas in the book address the underlying fundamentals of competition in a way that is independent of the specifics of the ways companies go about competing. Competitive Strategy has filled a void in management thinking. It provides an enduring foundation and grounding point on which all subsequent work can be built. By bringing a disciplined structure to the question of how firms achieve superior profitability, Porter's rich frameworks and deep insights comprise a sophisticated view of competition unsurpassed in the last quarter-century.

Hot Seat: What I Learned Leading a Great American Company


Jeff Immelt - 2021
    

How to Make $1,000 Per Day Clear Profit on Amazon with One Single $35 Product You Choose: - and - How to Become an After-Tax Cash Millionaire in 3 Simple ... Make Money on the Internet, Small Business)


Bradford Sullivan - 2014
     * Compelling evidence that selling products on Amazon may be the best home-based business opportunity ever created * The Simple Profit Blueprint – How to Make $1,000 Per Day Clear Profit on Amazon with One Single $35 Product You Choose * The biggest obstacle in your way of achieving that goal and how I will help you overcome it (Hint: It's all in your head) * What selling products on Amazon is all about * The common misconceptions about selling products on Amazon * The powerful advantages to selling on Amazon as opposed to trying to sell products online on your own * The PRICELESS benefits to “Partnering” with Amazon * The basics of selling products on Amazon * The basics of finding profitable products to sell on Amazon * The two distinctly different methods to find the products you’ll be selling on Amazon * The “Retail Arbitrage” method of sourcing products to sell on Amazon * The “Private Label” method of sourcing products to sell on Amazon * Two distinctly different methods of Private Labeling products to sell on Amazon * Two distinctly different ways to sell your products on Amazon * Our (my partner and I) experience in our first year as Amazon sellers, exactly how much money we made and what it taught us * Retail Arbitrage vs. Private Label * The two major obstacles to making really big money with Retail Arbitrage * How to sign-up as an Amazon seller today for free and why you'll soon want to pay $39.99 per month to go "Pro" * You're creating "AZ Money Machines" (AMMs instead of ATMs) * How Amazon pays you and the breakdown of the check Amazon would be sending you every two weeks (or depositing directly into your bank account) * How the blueprint creates a self-perpetuating NET annual income of $360,720 * Why you should NOT make your goal $1,000 per day * How to become a cash millionaire in 3 simple steps * How building an enormously successful Amazon business is a simple step-by-step process * How to earn insanely high annualized returns on your product investments * How you can “fail” your way to success * The “Beyond Amazon” Bonus * How to scale your business up with three simple steps to where you are a bona fide cash millionaire * Can you really make more money in one week than you've ever made on your old job in one year? (Simple answer – YES!) * Where to get 100% of the money you need to grow your Amazon business as large as you want – at 0% interest * Where to find MORE money to build your business * Your Free* Training * Your Shortcut to the BIG Money * Your action steps to get started today * Chart your success to $1,000 per day – and more * The "Secret Sauce" that will supercharge your motivation and determination to succeed in this business Tags: Amazon Private Label FBA, FBA, Private Label FBA, Amazon FBA, Amazon FBA Secrets, Sell on Amazon, Retail Arbitrage, Physical Products, Private Label, FBA, Private Label, Home-Based Business, Amazing Selling Machine, Fulfillment by Amazon, Private La

Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters


Jon Acuff - 2013
    But three things have changed the path to success:Boomers are realizing that a lot of the things they were promised aren't going to materialize, and they have started second and third careers.Technology has given access to an unprecedented number of people who are building online empires and changing their lives in ways that would have been impossible years ago.The days of "success first, significance later," have ended.While none of the stages can be skipped, they can be shortened and accelerated. There are only two paths in life: average and awesome. The average path is easy because all you have to do is nothing. The awesome path is more challenging, because things like fear only bother you when you do work that matters. The good news is "Start" gives readers practical, actionable insights to be more awesome, more often.

Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love, and Live the Life of Your Dreams


Jeff Walker - 2014
    Whether you've already got a business or you're itching to start one, this is a recipe for getting more traction.Think about it: what if you could launch like Apple or the big Hollywood studios? What if your prospects eagerly counted down the days until they could buy your product? What if you could create such powerful positioning in your market that you all but eliminated your competition? And you could do all that no matter how humble your business or budget?Since 1996 Jeff Walker has been creating hugely successful online launches. After bootstrapping his first Internet business from his basement, he quickly developed an underground process for launching new products and businesses with unprecedented success.But the success-train was just getting started; once he started teaching his formula to other entrepreneurs, the results were simply breathtaking. Tiny, home-based businesses started doing launches that sold tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even millions of dollars in sales with their launches.Launch is the treasure map into that world; an almost secret world of digital entrepreneurs who create cash-on-demand paydays with their product launches and business launches.Whether you have an existing business, or you have a service-based business and want to develop your own products so you can leverage your time and your impact, or you're still in the planning phase, this is how you start fast. This formula is how you engineer massive success.Now the question is this : are you going to start slow, and fade away from there? Or are you ready for a launch that will change the future of your business and your life?

Upgrade Yourself: Simple Strategies to Transform Your Mindset, Improve Your Habits and Change Your Life


Thibaut Meurisse - 2018
    Do you want more from life? Have you ever thought you’re capable of so much more, but don’t know how to get there?  Do you feel overwhelmed with an ever-increasing flow of information? Are you unable to identify what can really improve your life? In Upgrade Yourself, you’ll learn simple habits and strategies to transform your mindset and change your life for the better. You’ll be introduced to the core of what you need to know to become the best version of yourself—nothing less!You’ll discover:  how to reprogram your mind to overcome self-defeating behaviors  what a holocaust survivor and a man without arms or legs have in common, and what you can learn from them how an anonymous call changed Tim Ferris’s life, and how this information can change yours, too how to sharpen your skills the Benjamin Franklin way  how a simple strategy can turbocharge your productivity, and  much, much more  By the time you reach the end of Upgrade Yourself, you’ll have a stronger mindset, you’ll develop better habits, you’ll have more discipline and a more exciting vision, and you’ll be able to design a better life for yourself.So, if you want to become the best possible version of yourself, don’t hesitate, scroll to the top of this page, click the download link, and start today.

Forever Nomad: The Ultimate Guide to World Travel, From a Weekend to a Lifetime (Life Nomadic Book 2)


Tynan - 2018
    Learn all the tricks nomads use to get plane tickets for a fraction of what normal people pay, how to maximize points and loyalty programs, how to access airport lounges and other VIP perks, and how to work and make friends around the world. You’ll even discover how to have multiple homes around the world for less than it costs for a one-bedroom in your home city. Most importantly, learn how to travel in harmony with regular life, rather than have it become a stressful disruption as it is for most people. Forever Nomad is a book about making the entire world into your world, and doing so in a sustainable and enjoyable way.

Traction: A Startup Guide to Getting Customers


Gabriel Weinberg - 2014
    What failed startups don't have are enough customers.Founders and employees fail to spend time thinking about (and working on) traction in the same way they work on building a product. This shortsighted approach has startups trying random tactics - some ads, a blog post or two - in an unstructured way that's guaranteed to fail. This book changes that. Traction Book provides startup founders and employees with the framework successful companies have used to get traction. It allows you to think about which marketing channels make sense for you, given your industry and company stage. This framework has been used by founders like Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Alexis Ohanian (Reddit), Paul English (Kayak.com), and Alex Pachikov (Evernote) to build some of the biggest companies and organizations in the world. We interviewed each of the above founders - along with 35+ others - and pulled out the repeatable tactics and strategies they used to get traction. We then cover every possible marketing channel you can use to get traction, and show you which channels will be your key to growth. This book shows you how to grow at a time when getting traction is more important than ever. Below are the channels we cover in the book:Viral Marketing Public Relations (PR) Unconventional PR Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Social and Display Ads Offline Ads Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Content Marketing Email Marketing Engineering as Marketing Target Market Blogs Business Development (BD) Sales Affiliate Programs Existing Platforms Trade Shows Offline Events Speaking Engagements Community BuildingThis book draws on interviews with the following individuals: Jimmy Wales, Co-founder of Wikipedia Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of reddit Eric Ries, Author of The Lean Startup Rand Fishkin, Founder of SEOmoz Noah Kagan, Founder of AppSumo Patrick McKenzie, CEO of Bingo Card Creator Sam Yagan, Co-founder of OkCupid Andrew Chen, Investor at 500 Startups Justin Kan, Founder of Justin.tv Mark Cramer, CEO of SurfCanyon Colin Nederkoorn, CEO of Customer.io Jason Cohen, Founder of WP Engine Chris Fralic, Partner at First Round Paul English, CEO of Kayak.com Rob Walling, Founder of MicroConf Brian Riley, Co-founder of SlidePad Steve Welch, Co-founder of DreamIt Jason Kincaid, Blogger at TechCrunch Nikhil Sethi, Founder of Adaptly Rick Perreault, CEO of Unbounce Alex Pachikov, Co-founder of Evernote David Skok, Partner at Matrix Ashish Kundra, CEO of myZamana David Hauser, Founder of Grasshopper Matt Monahan, CEO of Inflection Jeff Atwood, Co-founder of Discourse Dan Martell, CEO of Clarity.fm Chris McCann, Founder of StartupDigest Ryan Holiday, Exec at American Apparel Todd Vollmer, Enterprise Sales Veteran Sandi MacPherson, Founder of Quibb Andrew Warner, Founder of Mixergy Sean Murphy, Founder of SKMurphy Satish Dharmaraj, Partner at Redpoint Garry Tan, Partner at Y Combinator Steve Barsh, CEO of Packlate Michael Bodekaer, Co-founder of Smart Launch Zack Linford, Founder of Optimozo

Rising Above a Toxic Workplace: Taking Care of Yourself in an Unhealthy Environment


Gary Chapman - 2014
    The environment causes people to have physiological responses as if they’re in a fight-or-flight situation. Healthy people become ill. Colds, flu and stress-related illnesses such as heart attacks are more common. By contrast, in resonant organizations, people take fewer sick days and turnover is low. People smile, make jokes, talk openly and help one another." - Annie McKee (author, consultant)Many employees experience the reality of bullying bosses, poisonous people, and soul-crushing cultures on a daily basis. Rising Above a Toxic Workplace tells authentic stories from today's workers who share how they cope, change, or quit. Candidly they open up about what they learned, what they wish they had done, and how to gain resilience.Insightfully illustrating from these accounts, authors Gary Chapman, Paul White, and Harold Myra blend their combined experiences in ministry and business to deliver hope and practical guidance to those who find themselves in an unhealthy work environment.Includes a Survival Guide and Toolkit full of strategies and realistic insights

97 Things Every Engineering Manager Should Know: Collective Wisdom from the Experts


Camille Fournier - 2019
    With 97 short and extremely useful tips for engineering managers, you'll discover new approaches to old problems, pick up road-tested best practices, and hone your management skills through sound advice.Managing people is hard, and the industry as a whole is bad at it. Many managers lack the experience, training, tools, texts, and frameworks to do it well. From mentoring interns to working in senior management, this book will take you through the stages of management and provide actionable advice on how to approach the obstacles you'll encounter as a technical manager.A few of the 97 things you should know:"Three Ways to Be the Manager Your Report Needs" by Duretti Hirpa"The First Two Questions to Ask When Your Team Is Struggling" by Cate Huston"Fire Them!" by Mike Fisher"The 5 Whys of Organizational Design" by Kellan Elliott-McCrea"Career Conversations" by Raquel V�lez"Using 6-Page Documents to Close Decisions" by Ian Nowland"Ground Rules in Meetings" by Lara Hogan

Starting a Business QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business, Turning Your Vision into Reality, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial Dream


Ken Colwell - 2019
    Buy now and start reading today! Are you a current business owner who struggles to identify your customers and deliver true world-class value? Everything you need to know is included in these pages! Do you want to build your hobby business into a fully-fledged venture that will help you build the life you deserve? Then you NEED this book. Buy now and start reading today! The most comprehensive guide ever developed for starting and growing a business in 2019! In the highly competitive world of business, what makes or breaks a new entrepreneur? Sourced from over twenty years of firsthand experience working with entrepreneurs, new ventures, and high-growth startups, author Ken Colwell, PHD, MBA has the answers. In his comprehensive Starting a Business QuickStart Guide, Ken Colwell concisely presents the core fundamentals that all new entrepreneurs need to know to get started, find success, and live the life of their dreams. Business and entrepreneurship students, small business owners, managers, and soon-to-be entrepreneurs will all find a wealth of value within the pages of the Starting a Business QuickStart Guide. From the very first steps conceptualizing your venture to winning your first customers, delivering value, and turning a profit, this book acts as an invaluable blueprint for your path to entrepreneurial success. Colwell’s clear voice, extensive experience, and easy-to-understand presentation come together to make this book a must-have resource in the library of every budding entrepreneur! Perfect For: Would-Be Entrepreneurs With a Ton of Passion! Entrepreneurial Students of All Ages! Beginners with Zero Prior Experience! Managers, Business Owners, and Decisions Makers Growing into a New Role! You'll Discover: The Difference Between an Idea and an Opportunity! What Makes an Entrepreneurial Opportunity Great! The Very First Steps You Need To Take To Get Your Venture Off The Ground! Pricing, Competition, Customer Identification, Marketing, and Distribution Demystified! The REAL Components of an Entrepreneurial Mindset! Exactly How To Craft Your Value Proposition! How to Write a Comprehensive Business Plan! ** LIFETIME ACCESS TO FREE RESOURCES & INVESTING SUPPORT *: Each book comes with free lifetime access to tons of exclusive online resources to help you become a better business owner such as workbooks, cheat sheets and reference guides. You also receive lifetime access to our online coaching community to help you achieve all of your financial goals!.* * GIVING BACK : * ClydeBank Media proudly supports the non-profit AdoptAClassroom whose mission is to advance equity in K-12 education by supplementing dwin

Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's


Ray Kroc - 1977
    His revolutions in food service automation, franchising, shared national training and advertising have earned him a place beside the men who founded not merely businesses but entire new industries.But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business legend is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 when he met the McDonald brothers and opened his first franchise.Now meet Ray Kroc, the man behind the business legend, in his own words. Irrepressible enthusiast, perceptive people-watcher, and born storyteller, he will fascinate and inspire you. You'll never forget Ray Kroc.

20 Things I've Learned as an Entrepreneur


Alicia Morga - 2012
    If you’re an entrepreneur or if you’ve only dreamed about starting your own business, this quick important read is for you.The author, Alicia Morga, is a venture-backed Silicon Valley entrepreneur. She’s been featured in Inc. Magazine, the Financial Times, and Fast Company named her one of the Most Influential Women in Technology. She believes that entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business. It’s about leading a life. For further information see www.AliciaMorga.com.