How to Sue A Telemarketer by Stephen Ostrow, Esquire

The vast majority of people dislike telemarketers. While we know that it is a job and people need to work and make money, but do that have to call and bug me at the worst possible times – to make a living? Some people seem to have unreal timing – where they always call or show up at the worst possible time. Telemarketers are like that – they almost always call at a bad time – like at meal time or when we’re racing to get ready to go out.

It seems that telemarketers are here to stay. Even with the “do not call” list – we still get telemarketer phone calls. So, is there anything we can do about telemarketers? And, while many people may dream of suing telemarketers, is it a legitimate option? Attorney, Stephen Ostrow gives us the answer in his book which gives valuable details about how to handle telemarketers, along with the legal perspective peppered with his own unique brand of humor.

I’ll admit up front that I hang up on telemarketers. I feel no shame or embarrassment about this and I don’t apologize for it. Yes – I have had them call me back and claim that we were disconnected. Being me, I hang up on them again. I know people who pay for caller ID or refuse to pick up “out of area” or “caller unknown” calls, because it may be a telemarketer. It seems ridiculous that people feel the need to act like this and it amazes me that more people don’t hang up on them.

For about two weeks I was a telemarketer for a local newspaper and I promised myself that I would never do that again – thankfully I haven’t needed to resort to that work. But there are plenty of people who work as telemarketers to put food on their tables and to keep a roof over their head. So, how can we deal with telemarketers and what can we do legally when telemarketers do cross the line? Those are two of the reasons why you need to read Stephen Ostrow’s book How to Sue a Telemarketer.

This is the table of contents:

• What to Do When A Telemarketer Calls
• About the Telemarketing Act of 1991 and Updates
• How to Research the Telemarketer’s Legal Name and Address
• Agent for Services to Process and Service of Summons
• Legal Complaint and Forms
• How to Prove Your Case
• Collection of Your Damages
• Unsolicited Faxes
• Specific TCPA Causes of Action

On the very first page Ostrow tells the reader that picking up this book is proof that they have decided to stop being a victim of telemarketers and to be pro-active about “reclaiming the sounds of silence”.

Through the pages of his book, Ostrow gives specific examples of how to handle telemarketers. This includes the information you need to get from them, whether you can record them, how to record them legally, what to do and who to reach out to if they do cross the line and much more. He also explains the laws regarding telemarketers and when you do have a legal recourse against them.

Each chapter is packed with information on what to do and there is a “Check List Review” at the end of each chapter to make sure you got the points. I like simple reviews at the end of each chapter and especially since my reading time is often interrupted – it helps me be sure that I got the points. I know many other people have plenty of interruptions when they try to read too.

If you want to know what you can do to eliminate telemarketers from your life and how to do it properly — you need to read How to Sue a Telemarketer: A Manual For Restoring Peace on Earth One Call at a Time by Stephen Ostrow and Ozmo Kramer. This is a simple read – even when he discusses the legal details and lays out the specifics easily for anyone to understand. Take back your “peace” and learn how to handle “newbie” telemarketer and even the most experienced callers. Imagine – handling a telemarketer instead of having them handle you for a change.

For more information about this virtual book tour, please visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/07/05/how-to-sue-a-telemarketer/ For more information about Steve visit his site at http://howtosueatelemarketer.com/

Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training by Jonathan Bernstein

It seems that every time we turn on the news, there is a new scandal. It may be a celebrity marriage on the rocks, a fading star in trouble again with the law, a politician being accused of breaking the law or international companies dealing with a catastrophic disaster – all these people have one thing in common. They need to handle the crisis and that means handling the media. What better resource to understand the process than a crisis management expert.

Who hasn’t had an interview that they feel like they messed something up? Even when the interview is about good news or positive things, it is still possible and likely that something won’t go “right”. So, imagine the possibility of saying something wrong if it is bad news or a crisis.

I really like how this book goes through every step and its easy to understand. That does not mean is overly simplified – but you can go into this book with limited know how and understand how media and interviews work.

We have all seen people that are very skilled with the media and who give awesome interviews. Let’ be serious – most people aren’t like that naturally, but YOU can learn how to handle the media and how to give a great interview, even in a crisis.

Bernstein takes you into the mind of the media – it is beneficial to you to understand the person and the mentality they bring to an interview. I love that he moves into talking about how important attitude is – and keep that in mind as you learn about the conundrums of media relations. Before you start an interview – check out page 25 and go through the pre-interview relaxation exercises. I know that any time I have an interview, I’m a nervous wreck for a little while – but as soon as I can relax, the interview goes fine. This was something I have had to do whether I’m interviewing someone or if I am being interviewed.

The Three C’s of Crisis Communication: Compassion, Competence and Confidence.  He gives us the awesome example of Rudy Giuliani on and after 9-11. Who doesn’t remember his composure, how he communicated with the people and the media, we saw his compassion and his passion about the situation and finally, we saw his quiet confidence in this unimaginable disaster. Who of us could handle that situation with those same qualities?

We dig into how to talk with saying a word. We reveal so much by the way we stand, how we hold our arms, our eyes and expressions and so much more. Look over this section and I would recommend practicing in a mirror. Once you have your presentation down pat – review the section about delivering your message.

If you aren’t already convinced that you need to read this book – you only need to peak at pages 34 to 37, where you will get the 15 Keys to Media Interviews. This section should be made into crib notes to take with you to an interview.

When you are in a crisis – honestly, you need to be prepared for tough questions. That makes the “Guidelines for Confrontational Interviews” and “Question Turnaround” sections critical. How many times have you gotten a question and you cannot think of any way to make your answer sound positive? This section helps you learn how to turn any question to your advantage. This is only the beginning, these are the headings for each chapter in Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training:

• A New Way of Thinking About Media Relations
• Understand the Media
• Getting Ready to be Interviewed
• Media Tactics – Dancing the Dance
• Media Logistics
• Practice Makes… Better
• Special Circumstances

You will also learn details about radio, print and television interviews – this book gives details about all elements of how to handle the media in an interview and especially in a crisis situation. Also, think about how a normal interview can turn into a crisis if you don’t handle the interview right? In the age of YouTube, how many people have said something they regretted in an interview, only to find out that it’s the latest hit on YouTube. Do yourself and your business a huge favor, invest in positive media relationships – by buying this book today. Jonathan Bernstein is the owner of Bernstein Crisis Management and he proves in the pages of this book, why he is the man to call when you have a crisis. In the mean time, read this book and prepare yourself on how to deal with media interviews and keep Jonathan’s number in your rolodex when things hit crisis mode.  Now it is time for me to go back and read the book again – there is far too much information to absorb all the suggestion and details the first time you read this book.

How to Get Financing For Your New Small Business by Sharon Fullen

In good financial times it can be hard to secure financing for a new small business. So, getting financing in these tough and uncertain economic times are even harder. That’s a reason why you need to know about this book.

We all know that a business can be run in the ground by bad management, poor planning, a downturn in the economy and many other reasons. But improper financial planning is the #2 reason that businesses fail – that is why this book is a valuable resource. Far too many people plan to open or expand a business and incorrectly calculate how much money they will need. Having sufficient money available is critical in being successful.

Compiling a thorough and accurate financial statement is one key. Another key is having a thorough and complete business plan. Both of these items enable you to launch or expand the business with a solid plan and sufficient financing and it allows the lending institution to make the best loan to you and also to give you the best feedback for your  situation.

This book delves into some of the more creative financing options – and in these times, it doesn’t hurt to get creative when you look for financing.

Some of the topics covered in this book include:

Chapter 1 – Learning Your Money Formula

Chapter 2 – The Money is Out There

Chapter 3 – Your Business Plan

Chapter 4 – Investing in Your Own Dream

Chapter 5 – Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be

Chapter 6 – Your Loan Proposal

Chapter 7 – Valuation of Your Business

Chapter 8 – Debt Financing Versus Equity Financing

Chapter 9 – Uncle Sam Helps Out

Chapter 10 – Grants

Chapter 11 – Venture Capital

Chapter 12 – Investor Angels

Chapter 13 – Initial Public Openings

Chapter 14 – Direct Public Offerings

Chapter 15 – Strategic Alliances

Chapter 16 – Legal Considerations

Chapter 17 – The Pitch

Chapter 18 – Glossary

Chapter 19 – Resources

There are many unusual and creative financing options that are discussed in this book in detail. So – if you are looking for a very thorough book that walks you through the traditional and the more creative financing process for your business – this is the book for you. The resources section is also packed with all kinds of resources to get much more information to help you in search to get financing for your business. Like Chapter 2 says — the money is out there, you just need the details on how to get it.

Note – This book was written several years ago and there are new programs — however, this book will give you a great foundation to search for business financing and to better understand the process and to understand the terminology during the process.

Heart of Marketing by Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski

Customer service and really good customer service seems to be a thing of the past in many businesses. When I was growing up – my grandfather reinforced the importance of stellar customer service to me and that lesson has served me very well of the last two decades.  This book explains how to put “heart” back into our businesses and our marketing.

The full title of this book is Heart of Marketing: Love Your Customers and They Will Love You Back.

This book is made up of the answers to 45 questions about the “soft sell marketing” concept. There were MANY questions submitted, but Judith and Jim narrowed it down to 45 questions and share the answers with all of us in Heart of Marketing.

Some of the topics include:

• What is Marketing?

• What is the primary benefit of soft sell marketing?

• How does soft sell marketing differ from hard sell?

• People say to succeed you have to get your ego out of the way. What does that mean?

• When creating soft sell marketing messages, which words reassure and establish a relationship quickly?

• Do you use “urgency” or “scarcity” in soft sell marketing?

• How do I sell without making a nuisance of myself?

• How can you close a sale without pushing too far?

• How do I train my brain to realize its ok to ask for the sale because what I am offering is of value of them and not just money for me?

• What are the pitfalls of soft sell marketing?

• How do I measure the success of soft sell marketing?

These are just a few of the questions that are included in Heart of Marketing.

Are you the type of business person or sales person who has a hard time with the traditional hard sell approach? You NEED to read this book. I learned long ago that you can make the sale and succeed with using hard sell techniques. This book takes that premise and walks you through the soft sell process. Even if you like the “hard sell” – you can learn valuable tips from this book and you may find ideas that you can incorporate into your current selling techniques. It could help you take your current success to a much higher level.

Are you an entrepreneur and business owner who wants their sales people to use the soft sell sales approach? You need to recommend this book to your sales team or better yet – buy copies for them and help them learn how to love your customers – your business will reap the benefits.  I worked with Judith and Jim on the campaign that helped them reach Amazon Best Seller status – now you can find out what all the excitement was about – and learn the soft sale tips that made this book a best seller.

Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by James L Wilson

Every business person faces stress and fatigue. Every business owner and entrepreneur faces stress and especially in these tough economic times. So – maintaining our health can be a key to being able to continue giving our best to our business, ourselves, our families and our customers.

A few months ago I heard about a medical condition that was new to me. It is adrenal fatigue. This book explains what it is and how we can recover — our energy, our immune resistance, vitality and our enjoyment of life. That sounds like something we all need to know. Seemed like valuable information to have to maintain our health.

This is some of the content of this book – and it is packed with great information —

• Part One – Your Adrenal Glands and You

• Part Two – Do I Have Adrenal Fatigue

• Part Three – Helping Yourself Back to Health

• Part Four – Functions of the Adrenal Glands

• Appendices – Glycemic Index and Food Lists

Part One explains how the glands work, what factors in our lives can affect their function (its a huge list), what sort of people have adrenal fatigue and explains how the condition progresses and the symptoms.

Part Two has a questionnaire to see if you have adrenal fatigue and if it is a mild, modest or severe condition. It includes full details about how to read the results. Then something unusual that I really liked is a section to explain how the condition develops in our bodies and our health. There are also details about home tests and lab tests to determine the existence and severity of the condition.

Part Three is full of information about how to treat the problem. From lifestyle changes, the connection between the food we eat and adrenal fatigue – including details about food allergies and sensitive and using supplements. Hormone replacement is also discussed as it relates to adrenal fatigue.

Part Four is full of specific information about the adrenal glands, their function, and much more.

This book is great for anyone that is experiencing any of these conditions –

Tired for no reason

Trouble getting up in the morning

Need caffeine to keep going

Run down and stressed

Craving salt or sugar

Struggling to keep up

Hard time bouncing back from illness or stress

Not having fun

Decreased sex drive

How many entrepreneurs do you know that are dealing with any of these problems? This is the kind of condition that you can manage – I opted to be tested and then got on a daily regiment of supplements to get my body functioning better. So far -so good and it is very easy to do.  There is also a wonderful Adrenal Fatigue website to get great preliminary information and to see if there is a practitioner near you — if you find that you do have adrenal fatigue – I highly recommend getting the book to learn the ins and outs of this condition and how to get your body, your health, your life and your business back to normal.

Guerilla Marketing Weapons: 100 Affordable Marketing Methods For Maximizing Profits From Your Small Business by Jay Conrad Levinson

I’ve been a fan of the guerilla style of marketing for many years. It is the type of marketing approach I used for years and I was pleasantly surprised when I found the Guerilla Marketing website. That gave me the chance to find other marketing techniques that I could use in my promotional work. In these tough economic times – it is more important than ever to find inexpensive and effective ways to market our businesses.

First – you may be wondering: What is Guerilla Marketing? (Visit the official website for Guerilla Marketing)

The concept of guerrilla marketing was invented as an unconventional system of promotions that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional; potentially interactive; and consumers are targeted in unexpected places. The objective of guerrilla marketing is to create a unique, engaging and thought-provoking concept to generate buzz, and consequently turn viral. The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing. The term has since entered the popular vocabulary and marketing textbooks.

Guerrilla marketing involves unusual approaches such as intercept encounters in public places, street giveaways of products, PR stunts, any unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources. More innovative approaches to Guerrilla marketing now utilize cutting edge mobile digital technologies to really engage the consumer and create a memorable brand experience. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_marketing

As a business manager, business owner and promoter – I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive ways to promote – for my clients and myself. Let’s take a look at the table of contents:

Chapter 1 – The More Weapons You Use, The More Profit You Make

Chapter 2 – Weapons for the Outset – (The Building Blocks to Get You Started)

Chapter 3 – Weapons Not Recognized as Marketing – (Misc Items that Will Represent Your Business to the Public)

Chapter 4 – Weapons That Begin With Attitude – (Elements of Business When You Interact With Customers)

Chapter 5 – Weapons Overlooked By Non Guerillas – (Creative Ways to Get Promotional Exposure for Business)

Chapter 6 – Weapons That Make You Easy to Buy From – (Ways to Make It Easy For People to Buy From You)

Chapter7 – Weapons That Are Frequently Misused – (Tried and True Ways to Promote – That Many People Use Wrong)

Chapter 8 – Weapons That Produce Instant Results – (Many Ways to Interact With Your Potential Customers)

Chapter 9 – Weapons That Have Extra Fire Power – (Weapons That Cost More About Can Generate More Results)

Chapter 10 – A Strategy For Using the Weapons – (Details On The Most Effective Way to Use These Tools)

Those 10 chapters contain an arsenal of promotional weapons for your business. The book lists 100 weapons that you can use – and on page 12 – there is a list of 50 FREE promotional tools. Any and every business person should review that list before completing their business plan – these weapons are THAT important.  Each and every weapon is explained throughout the pages of this book.

If you want to use unique, creative and inexpensive marketing for your business – this is a book that needs to be in your office. I’ve had my copy for some time and it is dog eared – like all great books. It is a very easy read, easy to understand and even though it has been on the market for years — the information is invaluable. It will also give you some great insights into the sorts of things that are Guerilla Marketing tools. I would bet you have used many of these weapons in your business – and you may not have considered many of these to be promotional weapons. Realizing that they are part of your promotion could help you to use them more effectively.

Passion, Plan and Profit by Christy Strauch

Having your own business is said to be a part of the “American Dream”. Even in these tough economic times, many people are still working toward having their own business. Actually, I’ve read that a financial recession can be the perfect time to lose a fortune — but also the perfect time to make a fortune. So, is this the time for you to get serious about starting your own business?

I wanted my own business for years and started it about 10 years ago. But for years before and after that, I ran businesses for other people and learned something new on each and every job I had. Finally about 4 years ago I had the opportunity to focus on my business fulltime and I haven’t looked back. This background and experience has been invaluable to me and I know there are many people out there who would like to have their own business.

The thing about my business is that I love what I do — the creative outlet, the ability to help others grow their business and seeing the results we get – all make this something I love to do. Having a business of my own that I love is not something I take for granted and there are many other people who would like to have the same opportunity. That is what Passion, Plan and Profit by Christy Strauch is about.

In the beginning of this book you will find sections that include: Read This Before You Begin, Caution, How to Use This Book, etc. I like to include these sort of sections to lay the groundwork in my non fiction books – be sure you read all of these sections. Then we move on to the heart of the book.

Section One – Why Are You In Business (Purpose, Vision, Mission and Value)

Section Two – How Are You In Business (Target Market, Strategies, Unique Selling Proposition, Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats)

Section Three – (Income, Expenses, Key Measurements)

Section Four – (Clarity)

Strauch covers so many great topics that all business owners or people who want to be business owners need to understand. But she doesn’t stop there. In the back of the book you will find a business plan template, a checklist to track your progress, resources, the Footwork Calculator and Business Plan Review Processes – including monthly and quarterly reviews.

There are so many topics that business owners need to manage. All the sections of this book are valuable, but I was really impressed with the “Numbers” section. Not only does she explain the incomes and expenses, but she also included directions to help you estimate these numbers properly. Getting these estimates is critical to the success of any business and need to be calculated to complete a thorough business plan and to secure sufficient financing.

Another thing that I really like is that Strauch included a number of worksheets in the book. I love non fiction books that provide ways for the reader to interact and utilize the information. This book is highly recommended for people who want to start a business and especially people who want to start a business that incorporates something they love.

136 Effective Presentation Tips by Tony Jeary and David Cottrell

In these tough economic times we should all be on the lookout for ways to make ourselves stand out in business – in a good way. Being able to step up on the job and to create and do an effective presentation is a great way to make ourselves stand out. Are you an entrepreneur who does presentations for your business? Are you a sales person who does presentations for clients? Are you a speaker who speaks in front of crowds on a regular basis and you want to stay at the top of your game? Are you in a business and you want to advance and impress your boss? All of these people can use the information in this book.

This is one of the smallest books I’ve read lately – but its packed with great information. One the very first page it says:

Greatest Fears Among Americans

1. Speaking before a group
2. Heights
3. Insects and bugs
4. Financial problems
5. Deep water
6. Sickness
7. Death

— from The Book of Lists

Okay – I’m in agreement with most of that list. Although I’ve been speaking in front of groups since I was young. However, I realize that most people don’t have that background and even with all that experience, I’m still nervous before I start to speak. So,  I was intrigued with this book. I was also curious to see how much they could squeeze into about 45 pages.

First – the full title is

136 Effective Presentation Tips: Inspire, Inform & Influence Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime

The table of contents gives us a glimpse inside –

Tips on Getting Started

– Moving From Nervous to Natural

– Getting Your Act Together

Tips on Getting Attention

– Beginning Strong

– Setting the Tone

Tips on Keeping Attention

– Involving the Audience

– Maximizing Visual Aids

—– Powerpoint

—– Flip Charts

—–Presentation readiness

—– Handouts

Tips on Gaining Buy In

– Earning the Right to Call for Action

– The Summary and Closing

A Closing Thought

All the important elements are here – so does the book deliver. I think it does. Under each heading, there are a series of tips and an explanation to implement the tip. Near the very beginning they tell us not to apologize for being nervous. How many times have you or someone you heard started a presentation like that? First point, don’t apologize.

There is a great chart that is called the 3-D outline. It very simply and clearly outlines what, why and how to execute each part of the presentation AND how long each segment should be. Its very simple and very powerful. That chart is worth buying this book.

We learn how to take control of the environment — the tips are very easy to implement, but they work. Tips to reduce your stress – physical and psychological stress. We get the Top Ten Ways to Kill a Presentation. How many times have you wanted to hand that to a presenter when they were finished? These are great tips and I’ve seen people do most of these in past presentations. There are even tips for virtual presentations.

Like I mentioned this is a small book, but I’d highly recommend it to anyone who does presentations or may need to do a presentation in the future. Its a quick read, easy to go back to for reminders and packed with great tips. Do yourself a favor and order a copy of this book and study it from cover to cover before your next or your first presentation.

There is order information in the back of this book – which I’ll share here.

Cornerstone Leadership

P O Box 764087

Dallas, TX 75376

www.cornerstoneleadership.com

The Fearless Factor by Jacqueline Wales

We’ve all heard the saying that life is a jungle and that idea is a big part of The Fearless Factor by Jacqueline Wales.  She shares her story of what happened in her life, the trials and addictions that she went through and how she ultimately faced her fears and created the life that she wanted. This information is good for anyone facing  fears, but for women or men who want to own their own business – the content of this book can be invaluable in their journey to success personally and in business.

The Fear less Factor: Overcome the Fears, Doubts and Anxiety That Stop You From Being Your Best Self Now by Jacqueline Wales is for anyone who is facing any fear and obstacles in their life. Do you know anyone who needs to deal with fear or obstacles in their life? Maybe you need to deal with some fears. There are so many things that people need to handle in their lives and those are the people who need to read The Fearless Factor.

The Section Headers in the Fearless Factor set the stage for the content –

Part 1 – Enter the Jungle

Part 2 – Choose the Right Path

Part 3 – Arrive at the Clearing

Part 4 – Master the Jungle

In Part 1, Jacqueline Wales discussed identifying what fear is, why do we ignore fear, how much pain are you in, what are you willing to give up, what is your commitment to change, where do you want to go, what do you want to achieve, do you think change is easy, determine what you are grateful for, keep smiling, age and attitude and much more.  Part 1 sets the stage and lets you evaluate what you need to deal with and to begin evaluating yourself. Another element is – are you ready to make a change? That may sound funny, but not everyone is ready to make the commitment to make a real change.

When you’re ready to move to Part 2, you need to learn how to choose the right path. Jacqueline Wales hits on many points that are important and that will likely be hard to face. But, to move forward through the jungle of life – you must face these concerns and be honest with yourself. She starts by asking what stories you tell yourself. Then you evaluate when opinions and expectations influence your life. Are you avoiding issues? She tells you to stop second guessing yourself and to be honest about whether you are all right. Chapter 8 starts by asking are you ready to change your life. You must develop compassion and forgive yourself. She wants you to answer the lies you tell yourself and what motives you to do this. Part 2 is not light reading, but a very integral part of your journey.

Appropriately Part 3 is titles Arrive at the Clearing. After considering the elements of Part 2 – you will indeed reach a clearing mentally and emotionally. This is the time to start identifying your values, skills and experience. These will help you define who you are. Mistakes and failure are the next topics – and she wants you to understand the positive elements of “failure”. Its time to get rid of the negativity and to learn to love yourself. An entire chapter is dedicated to risks – where to take risks and where to avoid risks.

This has been a powerful journey and Jacqueline Wales says it is time to move onto a bigger game – so you need to understand what is holding you back. Evaluate where you give up the control in your life and get rid of the distractions. Chapter 18 helps you to define, refine and accept your dreams. Isn’t it amazing how a person can go from not understanding fear and then being able to realize their dreams? This is a huge step for many people and the trek that Jacqueline Wales lays out  in her book will enable you or someone you love to make this sort of change in your life.

I can tell you from personal experience that facing you r fears, learning to love yourself, understand your skills and values, understand its all right to fail sometimes and many of the other things that Wales talks about in The Fearless Factor – are wonderful steps to making great changes in your life. These are some of the things I did several years ago that helped me to lead a much happier, more fulfilling and successful life. I didn’t say it is easy, but I wish I’d had this guide to help me through my personal struggles. It is available for you – and the principles in this book can make a major difference in your life – to make it better.

For More Information –

Jacqueline Wales is known the world over as The Black Belt Millionaire. Her unique programs have helped women around the globe develop strong personal success, confident communication and clear visions of their goals. She is the author of five books including The Fearless Factor. The Fearless Factor. For information on how to get YOUR copy of The Fearless Factor visit http://www.thefearlessfactorbook.com/

Young Guns by Robert Tuchman

Young Guns: TheFearless Entrepreneur’s Guide too Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own by Robert Tuchman

Part of the American Dream is to own your own business. Millions of people have done this – but we also know that many people fail in business every year, many in the first years. So, is there a secret to succeeding as a new entrepreneur? There are a number of factors and Young Guns by Robert Tuchman is a very good place to get started.

Anyone who is in business for themselves knows that there are many things that make a difference in the success or failure of any business. I’ve managed businesses for over 20 years for a wide variety of business owners and usually I was hired to reorganize and fix struggling businesses. This gives me a unique perspective in the qualities and decisions that make a successful entrepreneur. So, I was very interested to read Young Guns and to see what Robert Tuchman had to say.

I cringe every time I hear someone say “All you need is a great idea and you’ll be a success.” I was participating in a writer’s conference symposium for business authors and the man beside me said that and I had to chime in and disagree. It made for an awkward hour – but it had to be said. So, I opened this book and waited to see if the author would say that. I’m very glad to report that he did not.

I was very glad that the first chapter is titled “Why Not Me?” What a great way to start the book? It made me even happier when I looked at the table of contents and found “The Idea” was chapter 3. This is the table of contents.

• Chapter 1 – Why Not Me?
• Chapter 2 – The Decision.
• Chapter 3 – The Idea.
• Chapter 4 – The First Test and The First Plan.
• Chapter 5 – The Partner Principle.
• Chapter 6 – Gut Check: Getting Started.
• Chapter 7 – Priorities for That First All-Consuming Year.
• Chapter 8 – You Are the Company.
• Chapter 9 – Technology: Our Generation’s Great Equalizer.
• Chapter 10 – Service is What You’re Selling.
• Chapter 11 – Back Up Your Sell.
• Chapter 12 – Inside Players: Your Team.
• Chapter 13 – Celebrate Failure, Reward Success.
• Chapter 14 – Your Vendor Relationships Matter.
• Chapter 15 – By The Numbers.
• Chapter 16 – Why Not You?

Robert Tuchman tells the reader to be sure that it is really a big idea. Just being excited about an idea isn’t enough and many times we hear that its only important to find something that the market needs. While these are all elements of a successful idea – Tuchman says that its also important to find something that you are truly interested in. This proves that my “big idea” probably wouldn’t be your “big idea”.

I’ve always said that people should never make the decision to start a business without putting together a business plan. This can be daunting, but its also very revealing. In Young Guns, Tuchman provides a simple game plan to help the aspiring entrepreneur get started. This is not a complete and in depth business plan, but it is enough to help you get started and to evaluate your idea to see if its feasible.

There is a chapter about business partners. Should you have one? If so, what sort of person should you choose? The right or wrong decision about a business partner can have a huge impact on your business and your life.

He talks in depth about service – just selling a product or service is not enough. You need to back up your product or service with great customer service. As I was told years ago by my grandfather – great customer service guarantees you have customers and without customers you won’t have a business.

These are just a few of the things I really enjoyed about Young Guns and I highly recommend it for a person who is considering starting their own business. This is a book that you can and should read before you have an idea – it could even spark a great business idea and he will also help you develop the skills you need to launch a business.