In 2004, I completed my MBA. It was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but was afraid of the amount of time it would require along with the huge financial commitment. I believed that an MBA would create better employment opportunities for me, but that was not necessarily the case. Most prospective employers that I spoke with considered me over qualified…so, I soldiered on and created opportunities for myself.
Overall, if I had to do it over again… I would. The theoretical and practical knowledge I gained was important, but what I learned about myself was profound. The intense three year Graduate Program had me reading hundreds of case studies and thousands of pages of text on business law, marketing strategies, business statistics, business management, business ethics, etc, etc…and writing…oh, there was a lot of writing. At the end of the program, I didn’t think I had another word left in me to write. This got me thinking. Do you really need a business degree to run a successful business? My answer may surprise most people because I decided that the answer is ‘no’…You don’t need to look far to find some of the successful ‘legacy’ businesses that still exist, like the McDonald’s and Carvel franchises, where true grit lay the foundation for their initial success…but the real question is, how have they managed to succeed for so long? I know that having money can cushion the blow of some business mistakes, and I am sure that many successful businesses have made their share. But, we have to remember that we are not born with the seed of omnipotent knowledge. Some education in certain areas would be helpful to get us started in the right direction.
My education did not come cheap…the price tag of $45,000 rudely interrupted my blissful existence six months after graduation when the loan had to be consolidated and monthly payments began!
I realize that many people may not have the interest in attending an intense graduate program and making a substantial financial investment, so I thought that I would help potential business owners by compiling a Corporate Reading List. These books explain some core business practices that are important to every business. I continue to add to the list from time to time, because successful business practices always include an element of creativity…especially when you are trying to survive in a challenging economy.
There are many pearls of wisdom that potential business owners can garner from each book and incorporate into their daily regimens. The big difference is that you still need to put in some time, but you can do it at your leisure.
Corporate Reading List
- Time Traps, Todd Duncan
- Blue Ocean Strategy: How To Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant, W. Chan Kim
- Overpromise and Overdeliver, Rick Barrera **
- Brand Sense, Martine Lindstrom **
- It’s Your Ship, D. Michael Abrashoff
- Love Is the Killer App, Tim Sanders, Gene Stone
- Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker
- Seeing What’s Next, Clayton M Christensen, Erik A Roth, Scott D Anthony
- Why Business People Speak Like Idiots, Brian Fugere, Chelsea Hardaway, Jon Warshawsky
- The 8th Habit, Stephen Covey
- The Little Red Book of Selling, Jeffrey Gitomer
- The Daily Drucker, Peter F Drucker
- Smart Women Finish Rich, David Bach
- Good To Great, Jim Collins
- Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham, Donald O Clifton
- Execution, Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan
- Who Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson
- Fish! Stephen C Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christensen
- First Break All the Rules, Marcus Buckingham, Curt Coffman
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R Covey
- The E-myth Revisited, Michael Gerber
- Getting To Yes, Roger Fisher, William Ury, Bruce Patton
- The 21 Indispensible Qualities of a Leader, John C Maxwell
- Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich
- Changing Minds, Howard Gardner
- Purple Cow, Seth Godin
- Raving Fans, Ken Blanchard, Sheldon Bowles
- The Power of Focus, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Les Hewitt
- The Girls’ Guide to Starting Your Own Business, Caitlin Friedman, Kimberly Yorio
- The Complete E-Commerce Book: Design, Build & Maintain a Successful Web Based Business, Janice Reynolds, Roya Mofazali
- From Kitchen to Market: Selling Your Gourmet Food Specialty, Stephen F. Hall
- Strategic DB Marketing: The Master Plan for Starting & Managing a Profitable Customer Based Marketing Program, Arthur M. Hughes
- How To Win Friends & Influence People, Dale Carnegie
- Complete Guide To Internet Publicity: Creating & Launching Successful Online Campaigns, Steve O’Keefe
- Planning Your Internet Marketing Strategy, Ralph F. Wilson
- Marketing Without Advertising: Inspire Customers to Rave About Your Business to Create a Lasting Success, Michael Phillips, Salli Rasberry, Barbara Kate Repa
- Drive a Modest Car & 16 Other Keys to Small Business Success, Ralph E. Warner
- The Anatomy of Buzz, Rosen
- Understanding Your Financial Statements, Jim Schell
- Built for Growth, Arthur Rubinfeld
- AirVision, Arthur Rubinfeld
- Return on Marketing Investment, Guy Powell
- Marketing ROI, James Lenskold
Leave a Reply