Playing by the rules can really pay off, especially for small-business owners seeking growth and profitability. In this book the rules are broken out into seven easy-to-read chapters that offer suggestions and a common-sense approach to understanding your market, putting technology to work, developing a customer-driven process, and building effective growth planning. While this is not a get-rich-quick or how-to book, it does offer concrete advice and reality checks whether you are starting or sustaining a small business.
Author Steven Little began his career in advertising before becoming president of three fast-growth companies. He makes it very clear to readers that he has learned more about small-business growth since he got out of the practitioner role, immersed himself in the study of entrepreneurial opportunity, and made a career of speaking and consulting on the topic.
Although his seven "irrefutable" rules are not scientifically proven, he argues that they should be recognized and acknowledged because "they just make sense." We agree.—S.J. Johnston
Table of Contents:
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Preface: Did I really say "irrefutable"?
- A realist's view of the small business landscape
- Are you really the entrepreneurial type?
- Rule 1: Establish and maintain a strong sense of purpose
- Rule 2: Thoroughly understand the marketplace
- Rule 3: Build an effective growth planning system
- Rule 4: Develop customer-driven processes
- Rule 5: Put the power of technology to work
- Rule 6: Attract and keep the best and the brightest
- Rule 7: See the future more clearly
Appendix: Personality tests that measure entrepreneurial types