by Paul Simister
on May 21, 2015
The full title of this book by Richard Rumelt is
“Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters“.
In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
It’s time to get serious about strategic planning
This is a thought-provoking book which challenges many of the practices that are passed off as strategy today. Richard Rumelt is particularly against wish driven strategies like “our strategy is to grow by 20% per year because we want to grow by 20%.”
According to Richard Rumelt, the kernel of good strategy has three elements:
1) A diagnosis of the issues and problems facing the business
2) A guiding policy to overcome the obstacles
3) Coherent action
[continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 21, 2015
The full title of this book by Gary Booth is
“Niche Marketing Expert: The Art of Selling to a Hungry Crowd“.
In my review on Amazon, I gave the book a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
Internet MARKETING rather than INTERNET marketing
This is a book about Internet marketing but not about the technology side of building a website or getting more traffic. It’s not about bright shiny objects and the next big thing that will prise money out of your wallet with a promise that you’ll get rich, just like these other people.
Instead it’s about choosing a niche, building a tribe and strengthening the relationship with them. Yes it’s Internet MARKETING rather than INTERNET marketing. The difference is huge. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 20, 2015
The full title of this book by AG Lafley and Roger Martin is
“Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
Nice overview of strategy dominated by examples from Procter & Gamble
This takes a simple look at developing strategy based around answering five (not so easy) questions:
1) What do you want to achieve?
2) Where are you going to play?
3) How can you win?
4) How to improve/develop the core capabilities needed to win?
5) What management system is needed to make sure you win and to keep everything aligned?
[continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 19, 2015
The full title of this book by Joan Magretta is
“Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to Competition and Strategy“.
In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
An easy to understand introduction to the main strategy guru
Michael Porter shook up the world of strategy and big business with two books – Competitive Strategy in 1980 and Competitive Advantage in 1985.
Since then, he has become the established view and to often, other experts have tried to make their names by misrepresenting his work and arguing against these misrepresentations.
What’s covered in the book will be taught in every business school and it certainly was in my MBA studies although, by then, I’d read the original books. He fought back against his critics with a famous article in the Harvard Business Review called “What is Strategy” and also updated his five forces commentary in another article. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 18, 2015
The full title of this book by Cindy Barnes, Helen Blake & David Pinder is
“Creating and Delivering Your Value Proposition: Managing Customer Experience for Profit“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated this book as Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
A detailed look at value propositions for big companies
I’d better begin by clarifying what the authors mean by a value proposition because it may not be quite what you think if you use value proposition and unique selling point interchangeably.
The book says “A value proposition statement is a clear, compelling and credible expression of the experience that a customer will receive from a supplier’s measurably value-creating offering.” (page 22) [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 17, 2015
The full title of this book by Ben Settle is
“Crackerjack Positioning: How To Control the Way People Think About You in the Marketplace“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
Great ideas to stand out
It’s ironic for a book about separating yourself away from your competitors has the same title as another excellent book about positioning yourself in a niche.
Put that to one side. This is well worth reading as it presents some excellent ways to create perceived space between you and most of your competitors. Combine approaches and your business can be seen as unique. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 16, 2015
The full title of this book by Don Reynolds is
“Crackerjack Positioning: Niche Marketing Strategy for the Entrepreneur“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and it is Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
This is inspiring, even if it doesn’t tell you how to do it
I thought this was a super book when I read the hardback version and wrote my review on my Differentiate Your Business Blog on May 3, 2011.
Since then, I saw it was going cheap as a Kindle and I bought it again although I can’t yet comment on the quality of formatting for Kindle.
This book is a very enjoyable, interesting and thought-provoking read for any small business owner who wants to build a unique position in a niche market. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 14, 2015
The full title of this book by Dan Kennedy is
“No B.S. Marketing To the Affluent: No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Guide to Getting Really Rich“.
In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I gave this a Four Stars rating. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
The rich have the money so why aren’t you selling to them?
I’m often disappointed by the books written by Dan Kennedy. I have huge respect for his entrepreneurial and marketing skills but his books have a tendency to promise more than they deliver.
This one is different.
You may not agree with everything Dan Kennedy writes… and you may not like the world it presents but it’s time to face up to some bitter truths. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 14, 2015
When I reviewed Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got by Jay Abraham, I gave it a Five Star rating. I think it’s essential reading for most small business owners.
Summary: Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got: Review and Analysis of Abraham’s Book
Does the Summary of the book capture enough of the good bits to be worth being as well as or instead of the main book?
When I review the summary on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Four Stars. This means Good.
Here is my book review.
Good but the full book is better
The summary is well written and presents a nice précis of the longer book.
Jay Abraham is a legendary marketing consultant who has helped tens thousands of small businesses directly and indirectly. He and another author, Michael Gerber, have laid the foundations for much of the small business coaching and consulting done by many of us around the world. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 13, 2015
The full title of this book by Christ Lewis is
“Critical Thinking: 50 Best Strategies to Think Smart and Clear, Get Logical Thinking, and Improve Your Decision Making Skills“.
In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.
Here is my book review.
Very useful guide on the important topic of thinking more clearly
I believe we live in a world where too many of us, too often, don’t think deeply enough. Instead we opt for the easy option which means we are left believing the wrong things and making the wrong decisions.
It’s not necessarily our own fault because we humans are designed to do much of our thinking below the awareness level but it does create problems and we can do something about it. [continue reading…]
